The discriminatory application of "Zero Tolerance" policies in the Ontario Safe Schools Act against children with disabilities helped to spawn the SchoolAdvocacy.ca website, says Jan Burke-Gaffney, director of the Hamilton Family Network.

The website, www.schooladvocacy.ca, was born after Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO), who provide free legal service to persons of limited means, teamed up with the Hamilton Family Network, an advocacy group for parents of children with disabilities, and the Settlement and Intergration Services Organization (SISO), who assist new immigrants with information and integration.

The organizations noted that kids with disabilities in the Hamilton region were suspended from school at roughly twice the rate of other students.

A complaint to the Ministry of Education and the Toronto District School Board by the Ontario Human Rights Commission - who found the Safe Schools Act discipline policies had a disproportionate impact on minority students and students with disabilities - also informed the site, says Burke-Gaffney.

"Kids and parents were being unfairly targeted," she says. Discipline was the first recourse, she says, rather than negotiating a child's behaviours through re-examining their diagnosis.

The PBLO, who conducted education research in the Hamiton area, felt that education should precede litigation.

Instead of a lawyer, parents needed information on how to navigate the school system and special education programs.

"[The website] demystifies the process," says Burke-Gaffney.

Burke-Gaffney says the website, which was funded through a $12,000 Trillium Grant, is "very good for information," and will help parents learn about advocacy, rights, and ways to effectively communicate with school representatives.

The site features extensive links to related organizations and news, both national and international, about disabilities, special education, and disability and human rights.

"We like the look of it," says Burke-Gaffney. The website was designed by Mark Williams, who was hired by the PBLO.

The website's funding was a one-shot deal, she explains, and although they currently don't have extra funding to augment it over time, the idea will be considered.

Since the website was released just prior to the end of the school year, feedback on it has been limited. Burke-Gaffney expects interest to be high come September.

"For those parents that need support, and need help, it gets you started and explains your rights," she says.