Understanding and Utilizing the Exclusion Tracker
Exclusion from school and child care has long been a reality for many children and youth with disabilities in Canada. Yet systematic data collection has been almost non-existent. Families have carried these stories for decades, but without coordinated reporting, the true scale of exclusion remained invisible.
The Exclusion Tracker was created in 2018 by BCEdAccess, a grassroots organization in British Columbia led by parents and caregivers of disabled children. It was developed in response to widespread but often unrecorded exclusion in BC schools and quickly became a vital tool grounded in lived and living expertise. Since then, it has collected more than twelve thousand reports of exclusion, making visible the systemic barriers that disabled children and youth and their families face to equitable access to education.
Over the years, reports from the Exclusion Tracker have been cited in research, referenced provincially and nationally, highlighted by Amnesty International, and used to inform the Citizens’ Response to Canada’s submission under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The tracker has become a trusted source and example of community-informed advocacy.
At the request of BCEdAccess, the Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) has assumed stewardship of the tracker. In partnership with Inclusive Education Canada (IEC), FSI is ensuring continuity of legacy while scaling the tool to support broader policy and advocacy work across Canada.
The Exclusion Tracker continues to be rooted in the voices of children, youth, and families. Its purpose is not only to collect data, but to drive action—supporting advocacy, accountability, and the ongoing fight for truly inclusive education and care.
Visit our FAQ for more information about reporting an exclusion, or Get Started.