How do we define that?
Meaningful consultation is part of the duty to accommodate. The school districts have a duty-to-consult and it needs to be “meaningful consultation”
Here is the human rights tribunal decision that outlines the district’s duty to consult.
BC CAISE (BC Council of Administrators in Inclusive Education) in their “A Guide to Meaningful Consultation” manual on page 8 defines it as:
“Meaningful consultation is an ongoing, collaborative effort involving students, families/caregivers, and educational staff, focused on open dialogue and joint decision-making for educational matters. This inclusive process works towards ensuring all voices are heard and decisions are well-informed and clearly communicated. All parties work together towards a balanced outcome, emphasizing recurring dialogue rather than consultation being a single event.”
“When done well, meaningful consultation ensures families/caregivers feel that the school team listens to them and that their experience, knowledge and ideas have been considered.”
“Meaningful consultation encourages open dialogue; it does not mean all parties will agree.”
“When a mutual agreement is not possible, the school team will provide a rationale for their decision-making with regard to the educational programming of the child and ensure ongoing consultation and follow-up.”
Here is the manual https://bccaise.org/…/BCCAISE-Meaningful-Consultation…
If this rationale is not being provided and they refuse to provide it when you ask, you can use this manual and file an Ombudsperson complaint.
I also want to acknowledge that the consultation process can trigger a lot of emotions in us. In order to keep advocating and keep the dialogue going, there are certain rules we parents need to know to navigate this system.
Blog: 5 Rules on How to be Untouchable