Education Policy Researcher (Disability Inclusion)

Company Description

Empower students to make their schools and communities safer, more equitable, and inclusive.

The Federation of Canadian Secondary Students / Fédération des élèves du secondaire au Canada (FCSS-FESC) is an entirely non-partisan youth-led charity that aims to inform, educate, and ultimately empower high school students to foster social justice initiatives in their schools and local communities.

We use a mutual aid model where students are at the centre of our programs and initiatives. We encourage students to challenge systems of power that perpetuate social disadvantage and actively ground our work in an anti-oppressive and intersectional framework.
Job Description

As an Education Policy Researcher focused on Disability Inclusion, you will examine how students with disabilities are supported, included, and accommodated within Canada’s high school systems. This role does not involve casework or advocacy on behalf of individual students. Instead, you will conduct research into provincial legislation, school board policies, and classroom-level practices to assess how the education system advances, or hinders, equity for disabled students. Depending on personal interest and familiarity, the focus may alternatively include the inclusion of neurodiverse students in Canadian high schools. Your findings will contribute to a policy brief and set of tools that aim to guide educational stakeholders in building more accessible, inclusive, and affirming school environments.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Research provincial education policies and regulations on disability inclusion, accessibility, and accommodation in secondary education.
Analyze Individual Education Plan (IEP) frameworks, specialized program access, classroom modifications, and universal design for learning (UDL) strategies.
Assess barriers faced by disabled students, including physical, attitudinal, and procedural obstacles in both policy and practice.
Document promising practices and pilot initiatives that promote full participation of students with disabilities.
Develop a written report that outlines key findings, highlights jurisdictional differences, and proposes policy reforms.
Produce accessible tools such as checklists, sample policies, or explainer documents to support schools in implementing inclusive practices.
Engage with disabled students, families, educators, and accessibility experts to gather qualitative data and test findings.

Qualifications

Mandatory Qualifications

This job will be part of the Canada Summer Jobs Program. As per the requirements of the program, youth hired need to meet the following criteria. Please ensure you review the below before applying:

be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment*;
be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment**; and,
have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

*The youth must be 15 years of age at the beginning of the employment period. The youth may be more than 30 years of age at the end of the employment period as long as the youth was 30 at the beginning of the employment period.

**International students are not eligible participants. International students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada. Youth awaiting a refugee status ruling, as well as those who hold a temporary visitor visa, youth visa or work visa are ineligible. As the objective of the Canada Summer Jobs program is to support youth entering the Canadian labour market, the temporary nature of an international student’s time in Canada does not allow for a long-term connection to the labour market.

Ideal Qualifications

A post-secondary degree in education, disability studies, public policy, or a related field (either in-progress or completed).
Some experience conducting research or analysis on equity, accessibility, or inclusion (0.5 to 2 years).
Familiarity with the Canadian education system and special education policy frameworks (0.5 to 2 years).
Strong analytical skills and a demonstrated ability to interpret and synthesize policy materials (1 to 4 years).
Experience producing high-quality written reports, guides, or tools for stakeholder audiences (1 to 4 years).
The ability to manage timelines independently and balance multiple tasks (1 to 4 years).
Clear and respectful communication skills with attention to inclusive and affirming language (1 to 4 years).

Additional Information

Work location: remote/from home
Hours: 35 hours per week (flexible scheduling)
Pay: $17.20 per hour
Contract: 8 weeks (start on 2 June 2025)
Number of positions: 1

Equity Statement

At the FCSS-FESC, we are committed to building and fostering an environment where our Members, volunteers, and staff feel included, valued, and heard. Our belief is that a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion enables us to make our student advocacy work and services better for everyone. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and other racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, linguistic minorities in their respective province/territory, and/or people with intersectional identities.