Here is the BC HRT’s process chart.
Step One: File a complaint
When you file a complaint on behalf of your child, you may want to ask yourself if filing a fast-tracking application for them is beneficial or if a complaint for you applies. For fast-tracking, it will need to meet the legal test for fast-tracking. If you are filing on behalf of yourself, you will also need to meet the discrimination test.
- File a fast-tracking application?
- File a Family Status complaint? (parent complaint)
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Step Two: Complaint gets accepted or does not.
** If accepted, the school is then notified.
You will then receive a response to the complaint from the school district’s lawyers a few weeks after you are notified of the complaint proceeding.
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Step Three: Mediation Meeting
Right now, if both parties agree to mediate, they will automatically schedule you all for a date for mediation. There is a lot of important information to know before going in. The more prepared you are, the better.
- Navigating the mediation process and settlement amounts
- Who is making the decision of when to settle and when to fight you?
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Step Four: Document Disclosure
If mediation is unsuccessful, then you move on to document disclosure. Gathering evidence is KEY! My document disclosure page will lead you to a list of blogs with all sorts of information in them. ** Very key to read!
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Step Five: Dismissal?
This will only happen if the BC HRT agrees to let them apply for a dismissal application. They have to ask the BC HRT for permission.
- Here is a list of dismissal application decisions to give you an idea of what gets dismissed and why.
- Here is a how to respond to dismissal applications blog.
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Between the document disclosure and the hearing, you may be filing applications and attending a case conference before the hearing.
They will also give the parties another opportunity to mediate with a mediator again to see if it can be resolved.
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Step Six: Hearing
Here are some blogs about hearings that hopefully are helpful.
Hearing Preparation
Building Advantage – Hearing Preparation
Does my Child need to Testify?
Orders to Attend – Ensure staff attend
How to Gather Evidence
The Tribunal Take on Witness Testimony
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Decision gets posted. If you win, the media may be writing an article about it. Articles on this case spread across 60 different newspapers across Canada. Large cities and small towns. You never know the impact you can make. Just the awareness piece alone is fabulous.
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People have told me how helpful this video is. There is also the same video in American Sign Language on my channel, and I have posted that as well below.
English
American Sign Language
This page is current as of August 11th, 2026