The purpose of this manual is to provide a single point of reference regarding legislation, ministry policy and guidelines to assist school boards in developing programs and services that enable students with special needs to meet the goals of education. The manual also contains procedural information to assist in accessing programs and services provided at the provincial level. It is intended primarily for the use of principals, school-based teams and special educational professionals, but may also prove of interest to other professionals within the education, social service or health care communities, to parents and to members of the public at large. For more information, visit the BC Ministry of Education.