I don’t usually speak out like this, but staying quiet hasn’t helped.

My son, River, is non-verbal and diagnosed with Level 3 Autism Spectrum Disorder. Like every child, he deserves access to an education and support system that meets his needs with compassion, consistency, and proper resources.

Instead, our family has spent years fighting through barriers, long waitlists, unclear systems, and repeated rejection.

Over the past several months, River has been denied admission or support from multiple specialized educational programs in and around Calgary. Each decision leaves us facing the same devastating reality: no clear educational placement that can appropriately support his needs.

What has become increasingly concerning is the lack of transparency surrounding specialized educational admissions and support systems for children with disabilities and complex learning needs.

Many families across Alberta are reporting similar experiences:
- unclear admissions processes,
- inconsistent communication,
- little to no explanation regarding how decisions are made,
- and no publicly defined criteria outlining how children are selected for specialized programs.

Parents are often encouraged to make major educational transitions based on guidance from these programs, without any transparent understanding of how admissions decisions are actually determined.

Our family experienced this firsthand after being encouraged to transition River into a specialized kindergarten program with the understanding that it could improve his chances of acceptance into the Grade 1 program the following year. Despite following that guidance, we were later left without clear answers regarding the decision-making process used for admissions.

This issue extends far beyond one child or one family.

Across Calgary and Alberta, many families raising neurodivergent and special needs children are struggling to access appropriate educational placements and support services. Programs like Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) are intended to provide critical services such as respite care, behavioural support, aides, and family coordination. Yet many families continue to face:
- long wait times for approvals and support,
- delays in receiving services even after acceptance,
- limited availability of qualified providers,
- and insufficient support within classrooms and schools.

While children wait, critical developmental opportunities are lost.

At the same time, schools and specialized programs often have limited space and inconsistent admissions practices, leaving many families feeling unheard, unsupported, and without options.

This is not about attacking educators or schools. We recognize that teachers, therapists, and support staff work hard every day to help children with complex needs.

However, families deserve:
- transparency in admissions processes,
- clearly defined and consistently applied criteria,
- accountability in decision-making,
- equitable access to specialized educational opportunities,
- and meaningful support for children with disabilities.

Early intervention and specialized support are not optional. They are critical.

When children do not receive the support they need:
- development is impacted,
- families experience burnout,
- and long-term outcomes become more difficult and more costly for everyone involved.

This is not just a family issue. It is a societal responsibility.

⚠️ WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING

We are calling on Alberta Education and relevant oversight bodies to:

- Create transparent and standardized admissions criteria for specialized educational programs;
- Improve accountability and communication for families navigating these systems;
- Reduce wait times for FSCD approvals and service delivery;
- Increase funding so approved supports are actually accessible;
- Ensure children with disabilities are given equitable access to appropriate educational placements;
- Provide properly funded classroom supports for neurodivergent and special needs students.

✊ STAND WITH US

Families should not have to fight this hard simply to access appropriate education and support for their children.

Please sign and share this petition to help bring greater transparency, accountability, and equitable access to specialized education and disability support services across Alberta.

Our children deserve better.