Welcome Parent(s)/Guardians,
I am a parent who has advocated within the K-12 education system for many years. My last child is close to graduating from the public education system. I have filed and completed multiple BC Human Rights complaints, Ombudsperson complaints, OIPC complaints and TRB complaints. It’s been a wild ride. I certainly did not set out to go down this path when my children started kindergarten, and it took me a while to realize that external organizations were the only option that produced the results I needed for my children and myself. In the beginning, I was very reluctant to file complaints, however, it led to the support they needed. Our family has multiple invisible disabilities and neurodiversities. Most teachers and school administrators are kind-hearted, but some are not. Regardless both groups can be so entrenched in ableist teaching practices that they don’t even realize it. It’s the air they breathe, along with the rest of society. The education system has many design failures and resources are scarce. Too scarce. In the process, there is a lot of harm happening to neurodiverse &/ disabled children and their families. We all have our limits. And then we snap.
I have two decisions that made it on CANLII from the BC Human Rights Tribunal. I have experienced many avenues with a mixture of failure and success. I have learned a lot. There is no course or workshop out there that could have taught me all of this, which is why I am making them for all of you. Depending on your own neurodiversity/disability and history, going through these systems can be very triggering and the emotional regulation work can be high. Each complaint system operates differently. They each have different legislation with different processes and enforcement powers. Depending on your challenges, it will dictate which avenue is best. There are some steps we are expected to fulfil before we even file these complaints, and if these steps are not completed, it can influence the final decision. Knowledge of these options can even aid in your advocacy so that you may be able to produce the same results without even having to file these complaints.
I am completing my second degree in Criminology with a certificate in Legal Studies from Simon Fraser University. Completion by Dec 2024. I am also a Board Member of BC Ed Access. I offer legal and administrative procedural information intended to empower you on your advocacy journey. I am not a lawyer and I do not offer legal advice. I do not meet with people individually. I deliver this information through workshops. There is a lot of information that I wish I had known before I started navigating the external complaint systems in education. Please view this information as a Sunday brunch buffet of options to choose from and not a prescription of the exact steps you need to follow. I hope this information empowers parent(s)/guardians when moving forward to reflect on their own values and make their own advocacy decisions. I know for myself, that when I move down a path that aligns with my values, I feel that much stronger.
Wishing you all the best,
Kim
Areas of Complaint Services I Focus on:
BC Human Rights Complaint Tribunal
BC Ombudsperson
OIPC (Office of Information and Privacy Commissioner)
Professional Conduct Unit (Teachers Regulation Branch)
Main Focus – BC Education System
My Background
Education
BA –Degree – Major in Criminology, Legal Studies Certificate – Simon Fraser University (Vancouver) – (Completion Date December 2024)
Certificate – Human Resource Management – BCIT (Vancouver)
BA – Degree – Major in Human Relations, Family Life Education Certificate – Concordia University (Montreal)
Diploma – Developmental Service Worker – Humber College (Ontario)
Area of Focus
Disability
Human Rights
Systemic Oppression
Advocacy
Languages
English
American Sign Langauge
Experience
Current Board Member – BC Ed Access www.bcedaccess.com
Disability Advocate, Support Worker, Family Support Worker, Presenter, Writer, Facilitator – 25+ years
Worked/volunteered in the Deaf community – 20 years
Owner of Speaking Up BC www.speakingupbc.com
Author of Children’s book series Stuttering Superhero Series
As a parent – self-represented on behalf of my child at a hearing through the BC Human Rights Tribunal, TRB complaints, 3 Ombusperson complaints, multiple OIPC complaints, Freedom of Information requests
