Dear Overwhelmed and confused, 

Getting a diagnosis after many years of difficulties can feel like a relief and challenge at the same time.  You probably have many questions and may be unsure of how to get the best supports in place for your child.   
 

Collaboration 

When advocating for your child, have an attitude of collaboration.  Your child will benefit from having everyone working towards the same goal.   
 

Navigating the Education System when your Child has Mental Health Challenges 

It is natural to feel overwhelmed at the thought of contacting the school to ask for additional, or more focused, resources for your child.  As a parent, it is important to understand your rights as well as the best way to approach the school to ask for what you need.  Pleo has a comprehensive guide to help you understand how to navigate the education system, which you can find here.  

Individualized Education Plan/Program (IEP) 

Request a meeting with your child’s teacher to review their progress. Your teacher may have valuable insights into your child’s strengths and learning needs.  Together you may decide that your child needs extra support which could be provided in different ways, one of which could include the development of an IEP.   

An IEP outlines the program and/or services to be provided for a particular student and can include accommodations, modifications, and alternative programming. Publicly funded schools are obliged to take the measures needed to reasonably accommodate the requirements of your child if they are identified as exceptional.   

Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC)

An IEP alone may not meet your child’s needs. If you have additional documentation that supports your request (e.g. assessments from appropriate professionals) you can request an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) meeting from the school.  The IPRC is a Ministry of Education process to identify students with exceptionalities. The exceptionality determination will follow the child until graduation and the IPRC is considered a legally binding document. 
 

We’re here 

If you feel like you are not making progress in working with the school, we invite you to call our confidential help line.  We can provide you with additional resources specific to your situation.  We are all parents who have lived experience supporting a child or youth with a mental health challenge and have experience navigating the school system.   
 

We are open 9am-7pm Monday to Friday.  You can reach us at 613-321-3211 or 855-775-7005 (toll free). 
 

You don’t have to go through this alone.   

Sincerely, 

Your Pleo Family Peer Supporters