Tag Archive for: special needs

Special Education Spotlight Fresno: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Residents of the populous city of Fresno, the largest in California’s Central Valley, can find various academic, nonprofit and community organizations devoted to special education topics.

Special Education Spotlight Fresno

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Resources in this city include support groups, professional development programs, online articles, recreational activities and workshops. From parents seeking legal advice to special needs students seeking to become more active or engaged through sports or recreational therapies, Fresno provides a variety of options for anyone with a personal or professional interest in special education.

Academic Resources for Special Education Students in Fresno

The website of the Fresno Unified School District provides information about a Community Advisory Committee and links to the Special Education Local Plan, forms detailing parents’ rights, an IEP satisfaction survey  and services for deaf and hard of hearing students.

The Fresno County Office of Education offers intervention and support programs for children with disabilities. Besides overseeing special education curriculum and instruction for students at the elementary, middle and high school levels, the office provides or assists in leading parents and special education students to:

  • speech and language pathology services
  • audiological services that includes hearing assessment and otoscopic exams
  • visual impairment assessment and consultation, including Braille instruction
  • preschool assessment
  • parent workshops

Resources for Fresno Special Education Parents and Students

Various community centers and nonprofit organizations based or with offices in Fresno are great sources of information and activities for special needs children and their parents.

EPU Children’s Center in Fresno has a Family Resource Center that provides advocacy services, parent support groups and IEP training clinics. A teenager and young adult group allows those with special needs to meet others and helps to develop communication and social skills.

The Central Valley Children’s Services Network is a Fresno-based nonprofit organizations with parent and professional workshops, support groups, advocacy services and child care resources for special needs children. The network’s site has links to telephone counseling services, mental health counseling and local agencies.

Special Olympics Northern California partners with the Fresno Unified School District to provide a community sports program for special needs children.

More Fresno Resources for Special Education Students, Teachers and Parents

Other Fresno or nearby organizations addressing specific disabilities or disorders include:

Parents of special education students in Fresno who are seeking legal support or assistance, such as with IEP development or navigation of special education laws, can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG). Though based in Costa Mesa, the firm provides services throughout the state.

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Special Education Spotlight Pasadena: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Special Education Spotlight Pasadena

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Pasadena, one of the larger cities in Los Angeles County, is home to various special needs organizations and groups offering support, educational and professional development programs and information to special education students, teachers and parents.

From academics to recreation, special education students in Pasadena can find programs to meet their needs. Parents and teachers can turn to school districts, private schools, nonprofit organizations and community programs to help them raise and educate special needs children.

Educational Resources for Special Needs Students and Teachers in Pasadena

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) oversees inclusive special education programs for elementary, middle and high school students. It also offers a smaller, structured program through its Focus Point Academy, which emphasizes the development of behavior skills and utilizes counseling and nursing services.

The district also has a Community Advisory Committee and a Special Education Task Force. The school district’s website provides helpful links to  brochures, articles and special education documents outlining parent rights and task force meetings.

The Frostig Center offers a school for children with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia and dysgraphia. The school is accredited and certified and offers small classes. The Center also trains special education elementary, middle and high school as well as early education teachers through on-site consultations, workshops and seminars.

Like The Frostig Center, Villa Esperanza Services is a non-profit organization that has a school program for children with various developmental disorders. It also provides speech and occupational therapy programs. The organization’s site has links to advocacy practices, nonprofit organizations for specific disabilities and an events calendar for meetings, fundraisers and more.

Resources for Pasadena Special Needs Students and Parents

Whether parents or special needs students are seeking further educational opportunities outside of the traditional classroom or recreational activities designed for special needs children, they will find several organizations that can help them achieve their goals.

Professional Child Development Associates is a nonprofit organization that provides a team made up of psychologists, therapists, nurse specialists, teachers and other professionals that evaluates and intervenes for children with developmental or behavioral disabilities. The organization also offers training for professionals, consultative services, screening and counseling services.

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AbilityFirst provides an afterschool enrichment program and Friday Night Socials to help special needs students develop social, communication and life skills. A seasonal aquatics program and a camp for special needs children are also offered.

Easter Seals has a Pasadena office that offers various therapy service for those with autism. Children can be enrolled in speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy programs. Behavior analysis is also provided.

South Pasadena Parents of Children with Special Needs Support Group‘s website has links to newsletters, articles, upcoming lectures and seminars, support group meetings and more.

Center for Developing Kids provides intervention services for children with, among other disabilities, autism, ADD and Sensory Integrative Dysfunction.

Pasadena-based Move a Child Higher has a therapeutic horseback riding program designed for special needs students.

Legal support for parents of special education students who might be in conflict with school administrators or boards can seek help from California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG). The firm provides legal representation to parents for IEP meetings, hearings and mediation throughout the state.

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Special Education Spotlight Oakland: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Residents of the Bay Area city of Oakland, California, who are in need of special education support, programs or legal advice will find a few organizations providing the information they might be seeking.

Special Education Spotlight Oakland

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Within the city of Oakland itself, special education resources are somewhat limited, but parents, teachers and students can often look to nearby areas for educational, recreational and legal programs and information through state and national public and nonprofit organizations.

Oakland Educational Resources for Special Education

Oakland Unified School District’s Special Education Office offers Programs for Exceptional Children (PEC), which modifies academic programs and provides social skills development for special needs students in both charter and non-charter schools. The district also supplies psychological counseling and consultative services. In addition, the Special Education Office manages an occupational therapy program and reading clinic.

Raskob Day School and Learning Institute is a non-profit organization based in Oakland. It offers a school, clinic and diagnostic program for students with learning disabilities.

WestEd, a nonprofit agency with a regional office in Oakland, California, offers services designed to help teachers and schools deliver improved special education instruction and programs through its Center for Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI) and Learning Innovations (LI). These services include teacher coaching and collaborative assistance.

Special Education Parent and Student Resources in Oakland

United Cerebral Palsy of the Golden Gate is located in Oakland. The organization offers an afterschool care program that enables special needs students to work with a recreation assistant. The website also provides links to many other resources, including child care services, support groups, recreational programs and state and national special education organizations.

Other special needs organizations, while not based in Oakland, are located in or close to nearby San Francisco and can offer services to those in Oakland. These include:

Based in San Leandro, California, about ten miles south of Oakland, CHADD (Children and Adults with AD/HD) of Northern California services Oakland and surrounding areas. CHADD offers parent training sessions, support meetings and lectures in and near Oakland. The website also provides links to national associations and foundations for those with disabilities.

Ala Costa Center, with a location in Oakland, has after-school and camp programs designed to help special needs children improve their academic and social skills. A Respite Program, one of only a few of its kind in the area, provides recreational activities and trips for special needs children on some Friday evenings and Saturdays.

Parents of special education students in Oakland who are seeking legal support for possible disputes with the school system or assistance with IEP development can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG). The firm provides services throughout the state.

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Special Education Spotlight Long Beach: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Residents of Long Beach, California, who are raising, educating or administering programs for special education students will find a few school, nonprofit and government organizations supplying helpful resources.

Special Education Spotlight Long Beach

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Special needs students themselves will also find programs designed to assist them with educational, recreational and other activities through camps, tutoring and community events.

Since special education resources in Long Beach are fairly limited, in some cases residents may have to look beyond the city limits to find the information or support they are seeking.

Long Beach Schools and Special Education Resources for Parents and Teachers

The Long Beach Unified School District has a Community Advisory Committee, providing a voice for teachers, parents and administrators. The school district’s website provides links to .pdf files detailing parents’ rights in three languages. In addition, it provides information about the school’s dispute resolution process for parents of special education students.

The website also provides links to learning programs, associations and federal resources. Teachers can find a link offering information about managing a special education classroom, developing special education lesson plans, accommodation strategies and more.

Parents can find family resource links to national associations and federal agencies focusing on special needs children as well as special education curricula details, study guides and a state reading list.

At the county level, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), an educational agency operated by the Superintendent of Schools and Board of Education that encompasses Long Beach schools, offers counseling and therapy services for special education students. Psychologists, curriculum specialists and nurses combine to provide these services through LACOE.

Resources for Long Beach Special Education Parents and Students

The Family Resource Center at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach provides parent support groups, informational videos and brochures, workshops and training programs targeting the parents of special needs children.

Parents will also find referral services, a 24-hour phone help line and a mentoring program for children with specific diseases or disabilities.

AbilityFirst Long Beach Center is the local office for an organization with locations across Southern California. Included in this organization’s offerings are camps and a swimming program for both adults and children with disabilities.

Special Education Spotlight Long Beach

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The website of the Greater Long Beach/South Bay Chapter of the Autism Society of America has a resource page providing links to and contact information for psychologists, support groups, tutors and camps. Information for various therapists in the area is also included; therapies include music therapy, animal assistance therapy, behavior therapy and speech therapy.

Autism in Long Beach offers members group activities, family support and links to resources such as online blogs and forums, inspirational articles and stories, an online library and an events calendar.

Though based in Irvine, California, about 25 miles from Long Beach, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) sometimes hold support meetings and talks in and near Long Beach.

For legal support and representation, Long Beach residents can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG), which serves clients throughout the state. Among other services, CSNLG can help parents with Individual Education Plan (IEP) development and help to settle any possible disputes between special education parents and their child’s school system.

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Special Education Spotlight Sacramento: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Schools, nonprofit organizations and county offices in Sacramento, California, provide programs and services for special education students,  families and teachers in this city. These programs and services encompass a wide range of supportive and informative activities, websites, articles and seminars which can be used to assist those with legal, academic or personal issues.

Whether you’re seeking settlement of a dispute with your child’s school or staff development programs for special education teaching personnel, you are likely to find the help you need if you are a resident or professional in Sacramento.

Special Education Spotlight Sacramento

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Special Education Resources Within the Sacramento Educational System

The Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) has a Special Education department providing a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and a conflict resolution process to assist parents who have a special needs child and are in dispute with the school system.

The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) oversees the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). SELPA helps districts comply with special education laws and helps to build relationships between schools and special education families. The office’s website has a link to “A Parent’s Guide to Special Education” and a brochure for the Community Advisory Committee.

The California Department of Education is headquartered in Sacramento. The department’s website devotes a page of links for special education resources. Parents, teachers and students can find information about special education Common Core Standards, federal and state special education laws and regulations, children and parent rights, and various articles, handbooks and other publications for such subjects as teacher training, research and school issues.

Sacramento’s Special Education Legal Resources

Representing private schools and agencies, the California Association of Private Special Education Schools (CAPSES), an advocacy organization based in Sacramento, strives to help teachers, parents and others involved in special education understand laws, policies and legislation. It does so through seminars, conferences and regional networking practices.

Though not based in Sacramento, California Special Needs Law Group provides advocacy and legal support , with the goal of protecting the rights of special needs children and their families, to clients throughout the state.

Support for Sacramento Special Needs Families and Students

From advocacy to recreational activities, parents and special needs students themselves can turn to a few organizations in Sacramento.

Special Education Spotlight Sacramento

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The Sacramento Autistic Spectrum & Special Needs Alliance (SASSNA) offers advocacy assistance, case management services, and informational and support events for autistic children and their families who join this organization. These services are free of charge.

The WarmLine Family Resource Center in Sacramento is a great link to support groups, recreational activities, special education handouts and early intervention programs. These programs range from IEP training and behavior support to parent socials and play dates. The Center even hosts a Sibling Workshop, in which children can get together with others who have a brother or sister with a disability.

Child Action Inc. serves Sacramento and provides referral services for parents seeking child care for those with special needs.

Other organizations with offices in Sacramento include:

  • Society for the Blind in Sacramento: offers several youth programs to help children achieve their educational goals. Its Realizing Education and Career Hopes (REACH) operates workshops, social events and educational activities to help these special needs children develop college preparatory, social and other skills.
  • United Cerebral Palsy of Sacramento: provides resource links to parent and caregiver support programs. Its Autism Center for Excellence (A.C.E.) runs an after-school program for autistic children and a camp in which children can fish, kayak and make crafts. It also offers a Family Respite program, designed to help parents raising special needs children with everyday errands and activities.
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness Sacramento: hosts support group meetings for parents and families of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and OCD.
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Special Education Spotlight San Francisco: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Special Education Spotlight San Francisco

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Those in San Francisco who are seeking special education resources need not look far for the information they need. From the public school district to nonprofit organizations, San Francisco residents can turn to several institutions to access an abundance of articles, handbooks, online tools and guides designed to help them teach, raise and support those with special needs.

Parents and teachers seeking a better understanding of Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and special education laws, teachers wishing to improve their special education instructional strategies or special needs students and their families eager to learn more about specific disabilities have a large support network in the city of San Francisco.

Special Education Resources Through the San Francisco Education System

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) offers an online Supplemental Guide that details the special education enrollment process, placement options and information about IEPs. In addition, it provides information about other special education services, such as counseling, speech and language therapy, alternative communication and assistive technology.

SFUSD also has a Community Advisory Committee for Special Education. Its site has links to helpful blogs, special education law information and support services for parents of special needs children.

Support for San Francisco Special Education Teachers

The goal of United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) is to help teachers maximize learning opportunities for all students. UESF has a Special Education Committee that provides several resources for teachers, such as links to the California Teacher Association Special Education Resource Guide, teaching tools and tips, California Department of Education intervention guidelines and teacher rights in regards to IEPs.

The Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association serves the San Francisco Bay Area and provides training programs for elementary, middle and high school special education teachers. Both special education and mainstream teachers are taught introductory and advanced techniques proven to help both traditional students and those with special needs.

Special Education Support from Nonprofit Organizations in San Francisco

The non-profit Community Alliance for Special Education (CASE) provides parents with information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and is an advocate for special education. Its website provides a link to the Special Education Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. CASE also offers consultative services, parent and teaching staff training and representative services in which CASE advocates attend IEP meetings.

Special Education Spotlight San Francisco

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San Francisco’s Support for Families of Children with Disabilities is a nonprofit organization designed to provide support services for families and students. Online links direct readers to information about parent support groups, special education legislation, advocacy organizations and early intervention programs.

People with Disabilities Foundation of San Francisco has free seminars and workshops designed to help disabled elementary and high school students develop and strengthen coping skills.

KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) San Francisco offers Bay Area special needs children the opportunity to participate in non-competitive recreational activities. Unstructured programs are offered in swimming, basketball, tennis and more.

More San Francisco Special Needs Nonprofit Organizations

Several nonprofit organizations focusing on specific types of developmental or other disorders or disabilities have chapters in or serve San Francisco. Workshops, support groups, youth camps and online articles are some of the resources made available by these types of organizations, which include:

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Special Education Spotlight San Diego: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

From educational offices to nonprofit organizations, San Diego seems committed to providing a broad support network for special needs parents as well as special education teachers and students.

Special Education Spotlight San Diego

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Throughout this city, these individuals can find support groups, online links, publications, articles and many other resources that can aid them in teaching and raising special needs children. In  the case of the children themselves, resources are available that will direct them to educational and community support services, as well as literature and organizations that can help them better understand their specific disability.

Special Education Resources Through San Diego Schools and Educational Organizations

The Special Education Division of the San Diego Unified School District operates a Parents Services Office dedicated to supplying aid to parents seeking helpful resources. The office has a Parent Helpline number to assist these individuals in finding information about workshops and other support, including links to support groups, articles and fliers.

With about two-thirds of their schools located in San Diego, the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) can also serve San Diego parents, teachers and students. PUSD has a Parent Resources page on its website with several helpful links. Parents can find assistance for creating Individual Education Plans (IEPs), a link to a handbook detailing parent rights and special education advocacy, information about a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and a link to the PUSD Special Education Foundation, which oversees special education activities and a mini-grants program for teachers.

San Diego County Office of Education is instrumental in providing special education staff development and program reviews, among other responsibilities. The office also oversees an early intervention program for children aged three and under. In addition, the office’s Special Education Unit provides a special education program and as well as services for Juvenile Court and Community Schools students in the county.

Sierra Academy of San Diego provides programs outside of traditional school settings for students with learning and developmental disabilities. The Academy offers speech and occupational therapy, life and social skills training and a behavioral management  program. The academy is run by Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a national organization with schools throughout California, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania as well as locations in Virginia and Rhode Island.

One Stop Shopping for San Diego Special Education Parents and Students

Parents and special education students in San Diego need to look no further than the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego. This nonprofit organization, created in January 2014 by the for-profit company San Diego Family, keeps resources for special needs children and families in one place. This information can be accessed online or through an annual publication called Flourishing Families.

Special Education Spotlight San Diego

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Want to find a camp for your special needs child? Are you a teacher or educational administrator looking for grant sources? Want ideas of after school activities or fundraising events? Or maybe you’re a special needs child or parent who wants to find out more about your or your child’s disability.

Whatever the case, this foundation has links and contact information for agencies, nonprofit organizations, community organizations and more. Those accessing this website can also find helpful articles, videos and research updates as well as an events calendar detailing information about upcoming conferences, seminars, lectures and other presentations. Many of these are directed at parents or other caregivers and provide hints and practices for managing specific types of disorders.

Links are available to organizations devoted to the support of specific disabilities, such as:

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Down’s Syndrome
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Dyslexia
  • Epilepsy

The site also breaks down resources by areas of need; thus, links are provided for various types of therapies, social programs, advocacy and other support services.

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Special Education Spotlight Los Angeles: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Whether you’re looking for parenting support, to develop a deeper understanding of a learning or developmental disorder or wondering what educational programs are available for your special needs child, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for in Los Angeles.

Special Education Spotlight Los Angeles

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From school-based programs to nonprofit organizations, Los Angeles is home to a great support system for those parenting or teaching children in need of special education. Special needs children themselves will also find many useful resources.

Special Education Programs in Los Angeles Schools

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) provides many resources for special needs students, teachers and parents. From a Community Advisory Committee that offers workshops about special education policies in the district to online links to brochures about developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), LAUSD ensures that special education is a top priority in this city.

Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is an educational agency run by the county’s Superintendent of Schools and Board of Education. Through a team effort that includes psychologists, nurses and curriculum specialists, LACOE provides support services for special education students.  These services include counseling, physical therapy, speech therapy and even transportation.

More Resources for Students, Teachers and Parents

Outside of the Los Angeles education system, parents and special needs children will find many organizations designed to help them in various ways.

The Parents Education League (PEL) of Los Angeles, for instance, supplies parents with a list of schools in the area that have strong special education programs.

Several nonprofit organizations also have offices based in Los Angeles. These provide advocacy for or information about different types of developmental disorders and disabilities. One of the main goals of many of these organizations is to raise awareness about specific disorders or disabilities through public speaking events, workshops, free literature and videos. Some of these organizations include:

Special Education Spotlight Los Angeles

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Where Else You Can Go

We’ve focused on organizations and educational institutions in this article, but students, teachers and parents have other resources in Los Angeles they can tap into.

Hospitals, clinics and government agencies are valuable sources of information about developmental disorders. Some include:

As you can see, if you are a Los Angeles resident raising or teaching a special needs child, or if you yourself have a learning or developmental disorder, you are not facing your struggles alone.

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An Overview of the Due Process Procedure In California

Your child’s education is rightly very important to you, so if ever any issues arise between you and the school, it’s important you know that there are special procedures in place for resolving disputes: mediation and due process hearings.

 

An initial response to a dispute is often mediation, where you and a school representative will meet with a neutral third party to discuss the issue. The mediator has no authority to impose a decision, and is there only to facilitate discussion in order to help you and the school reach an acceptable compromise. If you are not satisfied by the results of mediation, you may proceed to a due process hearing. If you are not interested in mediation at all, you may go directly to the due process hearing.

Every person in California is guaranteed due process by the state and federal Constitutions. Due process protects individuals’ rights, and in this case, specifically the rights of students in special education programs.

 

What is a Due Process Hearing?

 

It is an official, legal procedure meant to resolve differences between parents and their child’s school as concerns special education services and a free and appropriate public education. They are most often held over disagreements about a child’s evaluation, eligibility or placement, services such as aides and specialists, changes to a child’s IEP, or a child’s suspension. Both the parent and the school district have the right to file for a hearing. The party who files is responsible for proving whether the child’s rights are being respected.

 

How to Request a Due Process Hearing

 

Send a written request, called a Due Process Complaint, to the state and the school district. This must be filed within two years after you are aware of the issue. It must include:

  • Child’s name, address and school
  • Parental contact information
  • Description of the reason for requesting a hearing as relates to the child’s education
  • Proposed solution to the problem

It can also include the sections of federal and state codes that you believe have been violated.

 

You may increase your chance of success by hiring a lawyer or special education advocate, though legal costs can add up very quickly. The school district is not required to pay your legal fees.

 

However, filing a Due Process Complaint can incur fees and added stress, so it is wise to only go this route if absolutely necessary. You should always try every available opportunity for mediation and collaboration with the school district before resorting to filing for a due process hearing.

 

During the Due Process Procedure

 

After filing a Due Process Complaint, the student has the right to stay in his or her current placement and use the current IEP.

 

Since this can be a very stressful time, do all you can to stay organized and informed of the events. Be able to clearly define the school’s position and reasoning, as well as your concerns and proposed resolutions so as to hopefully avoid becoming overly emotional in the hearing. Most importantly, rather than getting caught up in the red tape, remember why you’re doing it- to help your child get the best education possible.

 

Timeline of the Procedure

 

 

After the parent files a request for a due process hearing

Within 10 days: the school must offer a resolution meeting or agree to proceed with the hearing.

Within 15 days: the school district must notify if it is challenging the complaint’s sufficiency, offer a resolution meeting, or agree to go forward with the hearing.

Within 75 days: the Office of Administrative Hearings decision must issue a decision.

 

If mediation is requested, this will occur approximately 35 days after the filing date. The due process hearing will usually be held about 55 days after the request is filed, and a prehearing conference will be scheduled one week earlier.

 

The Office of Administrative Hearings must issue a final decision within 45 days of the Due Process Hearing.

 

More Information
More guidance on preparing for and completing the Due Process Hearing is available from California’s Office of Administrative Hearings.

 

If you would like to get more information on these topics and more come to the Special Education Laws Made Simple Seminar Monday, May 19th in Orange, CA!

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Your Voice Matters: Selecting A Special Education Advocate

Any parent of a special needs child knows how stressful and even confusing it can be to navigate the sometimes murky waters of your school district’s special education system. Although schools today are much better equipped to handle children with special needs than they were in years past, sometimes it can still be a struggle to make sure you and your child’s needs are met and that everyone on all sides is happy.

If you’ve found yourself in a situation where you are having a hard time securing the education your child deserves,  the assistance of a special education advocate might be what you need to guide you through the deeper waters.

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What Is A Special Education Advocate?

A special education advocate is someone who is well-versed in special education. Maybe they are or were a special education teacher, or they have a degree in special education. Or it could be that they are a parent of a child with special needs who has gone through the education system, and now they want to help other parents by imparting on them what they have learned.

Many times having a special education advocate in your corner can be most helpful when working on the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your student. The IEP is what determines the plan for your child’s education with the input and direction of everyone involved — parents, teachers, school administrators, and anyone else working for your child’s education — so that your child’s education goals are clearly set and everyone is on the same page.

Selecting A Special Education Advocate

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If you find you are in need of a special education advocate, how can you find one that is right for you and your family?

The first step would be to find a special education advocate in your area, and preferably one that is knowledgeable about the area you live in — either your state, county or city — and also has experience with the particular needs of your child. Some places to find potential special education advocates would be:

  • Your local school system, either your child’s school or school district, county school district, or even state board of education
  • A local parent group, such as the PTA
  • A local disability nonprofit or support group
  • Your child’s physician or counselor
  • Other parents of children who have special needs who have been through the IEP/special education process
  • A professional advocate group, such as the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, which has a searchable online directory.

Once you have found a potential special education advocate for your child, then it’s important to know what questions to ask them. Treat this as if you were hiring any other professional to help you and your family — the interview process is important!

5 Questions To Get You Started:
  1. What is their experience with special education, especially the district, county or state you live in?
  2. Do they have any special education training? How well versed are they in special education laws?
  3. What is their experience with your child’s particular special needs?
  4. Do they have an understanding of what your special education issues are, and how do they plan to solve them?
  5. What types of support will they offer the family (such as attending IEP meetings) and how much time will they be able to devote to you?

For more questions to ask and things to look for in a special education advocate, use COPAA’s Voluntary Code of Ethics for special education advocates for more ideas, and here are some other ideas from the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

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