KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

This video breaks down the role of school board trustees—who they are, what they do, and how they can support students and families. This is important, because school board trustees play a crucial role in navigating suspensions and expulsions.

This video explains why it’s important for students and families to understand how suspensions and expulsions work, and why these conversations matter—especially for Black, Indigenous, racialized, and disabled students who are often impacted the most.

When a student is suspended, it can feel overwhelming or confusing—especially if you’re unsure what the rules are or what your rights are. This video helps break down the suspension process, what to expect, and how to advocate for yourself or your child.

This video helps students and families make sense of the expulsion process, advocate for themselves, and understand what support is available.

This video explains what exclusions are and how they differ from suspensions or expulsions. It also introduces the different types of exclusions, when they happen, and why they often affect disabled students.

This video explains the laws and policies that allow schools to exclude students, especially Section 265(1)(m) of the Education Act. It also discusses how limited legal guidance and inconsistent school board policies lead to exclusions being applied differently across schools.

This video explains the legal rights that may protect students from exclusions, including the right to meaningful education and protection from discrimination. It also describes the emotional, social, and educational harms that exclusions can cause for students.

This video provides practical advice for families on what to do if a student is excluded from school. It explains how to document an exclusion, how the appeal process works, and other legal options such as human rights complaints or judicial review.

This video explains what physical restraint and seclusion are in school settings and how they are different. It also shows how they can sometimes happen together and why they are especially harmful for disabled students.

This video explains what Ontario law and school board policies say about physical restraint in schools. It also highlights the lack of clear province-wide rules and why that leaves families with uneven protections and inconsistent practices.

This video gives practical advice on what families can do if a student has been physically restrained at school. It explains how to check school plans and policies, document what happened, and raise concerns if the restraint was inappropriate.

This video explains what physical restraint and seclusion are in school settings and how they are different. It also shows how they can sometimes happen together and why they are especially harmful for disabled students.

This video explains how seclusion connects to students’ human rights and schools’ duty to accommodate disability. It also discusses when seclusion may be used, why it should be avoided, and why inclusive supports are a better response.

This video gives practical advice for students and families who believe seclusion is happening at school. It explains how to ask questions, review school plans, document what is happening, and push for changes or complaints when needed.

This video explains what a shortened school day is and when it may be used for disabled students. It also discusses why schools should focus on giving students the supports they need to attend for the full day whenever possible.

This video explains when shortened days might be appropriate and when they may be a problem. It also breaks down how schools must take an individualized approach, try other accommodations first, and regularly review whether the plan is still helping the student.

This video explains when shortened days are legal vs. when they should not be used. It also makes clear the conditions for shortened days under the duty to accommodate.

This video gives practical advice on how to respond to shortened days. It explains how to meet with the school, ask questions about why it is happening, and keep written records in case further action is needed.

This video explains the legal rights of disabled students in school, including the right to equal treatment and meaningful access to education. It also introduces the school’s duty to accommodate students’ disability-related needs up to the point of undue hardship.

This video explains what schools, students, and parents or guardians are each responsible for during the accommodation process. It also describes how schools must gather relevant information, protect privacy, create an IEP, and put accommodations in place.

This video walks through the steps of the accommodation process from start to finish. It explains how accommodations are identified, written into an Individual Education Plan, implemented, and reviewed over time.

This video explains the legal limits to a school’s duty to accommodate disabled students. It focuses on the difference between accommodations a student needs versus prefers, and on when a school may argue that a specific accommodation would cause undue hardship.