Starting a new school year can be exciting. However, for parents of children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia or other special educational needs (SEN), it can also bring uncertainty.
Will the school understand my child?
What support can I ask about?
Who should I speak to if something is not working?
Understanding some basic SEN rights and school support arrangements in Hong Kong can help parents approach these conversations with greater confidence.
The goal is not to prepare for conflict. It is to build a practical partnership that helps your child participate, learn and develop at school.
What Does Hong Kong Law Say?
Hong Kong’s Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) protects people with disabilities from discrimination, including in education.
The Equal Opportunities Commission’s Code of Practice on Education explains how the DDO applies to areas such as admission, curriculum, assessment, school facilities and participation in activities. It also provides guidance on reasonable accommodation according to a student’s individual needs.
Reasonable accommodation may involve adjustments to teaching, communication, classroom arrangements or assessment.
In other words, SEN support is not simply about whether a child can attend school. It is also about helping them access learning and participate meaningfully in school life.
Why Does Parent-School Communication Matter?
Parents often know things about their child that may not be immediately obvious in the classroom.
For example:
- What situations cause anxiety
- How the child communicates when overwhelmed
- Which sensory experiences are difficult
- What motivates them
- Which strategies already work at home or in therapy
Hong Kong’s Education Bureau promotes a Whole School Approach to integrated education, including early identification, intervention, home-school cooperation and collaboration between professionals.
Sharing useful information early can therefore help teachers understand your child more quickly.
Four Practical Things Parents Can Do
1. Share Important Information Early
Give the school a short summary of your child’s:
- Strengths and interests
- Communication style
- Learning needs
- Sensory needs
- Common triggers
- Strategies that help
Keep it practical. A concise one-page profile may be easier for teachers to use than a long report.
2. Know Who Coordinates SEN Support
Find out who is responsible for coordinating your child’s support.
Depending on the school, this may involve the SENCO, Student Support Team, class teacher, educational psychologist, social worker or other professionals.
Public-sector ordinary schools in Hong Kong receive additional resources and professional support from the Education Bureau to support students with SEN.
A useful question is:
“Who should I contact if I have concerns about my child’s learning or participation?”
3. Talk About Strengths as Well as Difficulties
Avoid describing your child only in terms of problems.
Instead of:
“He cannot cope with changes.”
Try:
“Unexpected changes are difficult for him, but advance warning and a visual schedule usually help.”
This gives teachers both the challenge and a possible solution.
4. Keep Conversations Specific
If something is not working, describe the situation rather than making a general complaint.
For example:
“She is finding transitions after recess difficult. Could we look at what happens during that time and what support might help?”
Specific examples make it easier for parents and teachers to develop practical strategies together.
Useful Questions for a School Meeting
Parents do not need to know every SEN policy before meeting the school.
Start with a few clear questions:
- What are my child’s current support needs?
- What strategies are being used in class?
- Who coordinates their SEN support?
- What goals are we working towards?
- How will progress be monitored?
- When will we review whether the support is working?
- What can we practise consistently at home and school?
The Education Bureau’s Learning Support Grant is one of the resources schools may use to support students with SEN, and current guidance emphasises discussing students’ needs with teachers and parents when planning support.
What If Support Is Not Working?
Begin with communication.
Speak with the class teacher and explain the specific concern. If difficulties continue, involve the SENCO or Student Support Team and ask:
“What has already been tried, and what should we try next?”
If concerns remain unresolved, parents can also ask the school about its formal procedures for raising concerns or complaints. The EOC’s Code of Practice recommends that educational establishments have procedures for handling disability-related grievances.
Knowing your rights does not mean assuming every disagreement is discrimination. It means understanding what questions to ask and what steps are available.
Know Your Rights, Build a Partnership
Parents understand their child’s history and everyday needs. Teachers see how the child learns and interacts at school. SEN professionals can help turn these observations into appropriate support strategies.
The shared goal should be simple:
Help the child participate, communicate, learn and become increasingly independent.
Understanding SEN rights gives parents a stronger starting point. Collaboration helps turn that understanding into practical support.
Need Help Understanding Your Child’s School Needs?
If you have concerns about your child’s communication, behaviour, learning or school participation, Autism Recovery Network offers a FREE 30-minute parent consultation with our Program Supervisors.
Parents can discuss their child’s current strengths and challenges, school concerns and possible strategies to support communication, flexibility, learning and independence.
