Family Support Institute BC

09/07/2026

The first few weeks of school can be full of frustration for families of kids with additional support needs. Read BCEdAccess' article "When September Starts Before the Supports Do":
https://bcedaccess.com/2026/08/26/when-september-starts-before-the-supports-do/

Consider signing up for this workshop on preparing for the IEP process - Sept 19 at 10am

09/07/2026

09/06/2026

Are you a family caregiver looking to hire support staff? Are you committed to accessibility and inclusion? Join our online webinar to learn about hiring a support worker who may be blind or partially sighted!

When: Monday, October 5, 10:00-11:00am

This Support Worker Central webinar, presented by the CNIB Come to Work Program, Vela, and the Family Support Institute, will introduce practical ways to communicate and work effectively with people who have sight loss, including sighted guide techniques, workplace accommodations and strategies for creating an accessible work environment.

This session will also provide an opportunity to increase awareness, challenge common misconceptions and build confidence when working with people with vision loss.

This session isfor families and self-advocates looking to hire their own support staff.

Register: https://velacanada.org/event/hiring-someone-with-vision-loss-with-cnib/

09/06/2026

FSI Weekly News: Week of Sep 7 -

Happy September! We managed to pull through the Summer, with all its ups and downs, and that deserves recognition! Moving through the seasons comes with unique (and often invisible) experiences, victories, and challenges for families with disabilities. To every family, we want to express how happy w...

09/04/2026

An update:

A Zoom link has been added for those who want to be present in honouring Pat from a distance. You can find the link here:
https://mailchi.mp/fsibc/celebration-of-life-for-pat-tesan-online

Dear friends of Family Support Institute and everyone who knew and loved Pat,

Pat's Celebration of Life will be on:
Friday, September 4, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

We will be gathering at:
Maillardville Community Centre - Multipurpose Room 1
1200 Cartier Ave
Coquitlam, BC V3K 2C3

There is underground parking at back of building off Proulx Lane.

RSVP link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/KbJA19t2wj

Edit:
A Zoom link has been added for those who want to be present in honouring Pat from a distance. You can find the link here:
https://mailchi.mp/fsibc/celebration-of-life-for-pat-tesan-online

09/03/2026

September 10 at 10am Pacific

09/03/2026

Students are going back to school next week in most schools around Canada. But... not every child or youth is given equal opportunity to access their schooling. Here in BC, students with disabilities and complex learning needs experience systemic othering, time and time again.

The National Exclusion Tracker (FSI and Inclusive Education Canada / Éducation inclusive Canada), a tool we humbly carry forward from BCEdAccess Society, gives students and families a path to report instances of exclusion experienced in Canadian K-12 schools and child care/out-of-school care centres.

The Tracker survey for the 2026/27 school year will open on Tuesday, September 8.

>> https://exclusiontracker.com/

Save the link before you need it.

Telling your story and documenting your experience allows us to shed light on the deep-rooted systemic injustice and discrimination faced by students with disabilities and support needs. We have expanded beyond BC—you can report your experience from any province or territory.

Help us gather the data. Save this link, so that when it happens to you or someone you know, it's just a Bookmark away.

>>https://exclusiontracker.com/

09/02/2026

As we enter a new school year, we may be anxious or trepidated by how to navigate the BC school system or how to be the best advocate for our child with support needs. Find support year-round with other parents and caregivers in our welcoming online Family Hangout! We meet every other week on Wednesday afternoons, on Zoom.

This is a parent-led group and is welcoming of all families, no matter your background or situation. Whether your child has a diagnosis or is still awaiting one, you are welcome here. If you have just moved to the country or the province, you are welcome here! Together, our shared lived experience helps uplift one another.

Our next session is Wednesday, September 9, at 1:00pm.

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvcuigpjMrHNKOIAKmOwbWcIlJlO3ZbyNW #

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Family Hangouts are a safe space for families and caregivers to come together regularly for support, inspiration, and troubleshooting. They are held online on Zoom.

09/01/2026

Did you know that FASD is one of the most common neurodivergent conditions in Canada?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is at least 2.5 times more common than Autism. Yet, it is often underdiagnosed, conversations around alcohol use during pregnancy remain stigmatized, and populations with higher rates of FASD are often underserved and undersupported by the systems we live in.

FASD is not an individual issue; it is a structural one. Increased prenatal alcohol exposure happens in environments where parents and caregivers are not properly supported, including lack of safe housing, lack of access to healthcare, or cycles of poverty.

Families need support, not shame or guilt. September is FASD Awareness Month, and this year's theme is “Everyone Plays a Part: It Takes a Community.” This highlights the power of collective support in creating a society where people with FASD and their families can thrive.

Learn More:
https://familysupportbc.com/toolkits/what-is-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder/

08/31/2026

Dear PLAN Family, It is with deep sadness that we share that Pat Tesan, a pioneer parent and long time member of the PLAN family, passed away peacefully Friday, August […]