Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) releases first national data on school and child care exclusions
(February 19, 2026 – New Westminster, B.C.)— The Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) has released early findings from the National Exclusion Tracker, documenting 6,783 reported incidents of exclusion for students with disabilities from K-12 education between September 2, 2025 and January 21, 2026.
About three quarters of respondents reported that the exclusion is ongoing. Across the country, families describe exclusion as a normalized outcome for their children and youth with support needs, citing shortened school days, being sent home, gradual entry plans and reduced access to learning.
“What we hear every day through our peer-to-peer support calls echoes what the National Exclusion Tracker data show,” says Angela Clancy, FSI’s Executive Director. “Both children and their families are significantly affected by ongoing exclusion. It has lasting consequences related to emotional and financial stability.”
Experiences of discrimination, isolation and exclusion of students with disabilities and support needs have been noted by families for decades, and concern has only intensified in recent years. As pressures within education systems deepen across Canada, students with disabilities and other equity-seeking identities continue to experience disproportionate impacts, while families navigate reduced access, informal exclusion, and unresolved barriers. The National Exclusion Tracker gathers these lived experiences through the voices of families and children and youth themselves, to present a national picture and inform advocacy and policy change.
The Exclusion Tracker was initiated by BCEdAccess Society in 2018 to document exclusion in the K-12 education in BC. Created by parents and caregivers of children and youth with disabilities, the provincial tracker collected more than 12,000 responses between 2018 and 2025. The data revealed persistent identifiable systemic barriers to equitable access to education.
In 2025, management of the provincial Tracker was passed on to FSI, which expanded the Tracker nationally and added child care to the survey, in partnership with Inclusive Education Canada (IEC) and their provincial and territorial associations. The Tracker centres family- and youth-reported experiences and collects disaggregated demographic data to identify emerging equity patterns and systemic barriers.
Canada has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, affirming the rights of children with disabilities to inclusive education. “Ongoing exclusion is not just a service gap. Equitable access to education is a human right,” said Tracy Humphreys, FSI Director of Operations and former Executive Director and founder of BCEdAccess. “When reduced access becomes routine and informal practices go untracked, children are denied full participation. Inclusion requires accountability, transparency, and the infrastructure to support every child.”
Read the report here: https://exclusiontracker.com/net-interim-report-2025-26/
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About Family Support Institute of BC:
The Family Support Institute (FSI) supports families who have family members with disabilities and mental health challenges. FSI is unique in Canada and is the only grass-roots, family-to-family support organization. FSI believes families are the best resource to support one another and the most vital voice for their family members. FSI supports all families with children of all ages, disabilities, and concurrent conditions. FSI’s supports are free to any family.
About Inclusive Education Canada:
Inclusive Education Canada (IEC) advocates for equitable and inclusive education across Canada, ensuring every student, regardless of ability, has the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Angela Clancy
Executive Director
Family Support Institute of BC
(604) 540-8374 ext 6