Special Education Resources

• Massachusetts Resources
• National Resources
• School Resources

Special Education Resources —Massachusetts

SPED Parent Basic Toolkit

www.concordspedpac.org/toolkit.htm

Created by the Concord Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (Concord SPED PAC),MCPAP describes this resource as “a comprehensive parent toolkit that would be very helpful to parents of patients with behavioral health and other diagnoses.... from all over the state of Massachusetts.”

Early Intervention Parent Leadership Project

413-586-7525
www.eiplp.org

The Parent Leadership Project was originated by parents and is staffed by parents whose children have received Early Intervention Services. Created through the generous support of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the lead agency for the statewide Early Intervention system, the Project works in collaboration with Early Intervention Programs, the Massachusetts Interagency Coordinating Council, and families who receive Early Intervention services for three main purposes:

• To develop an informed parent constituency;
• To promote leadership and lifelong advocacy skills for parents and family members; and, 
• To facilitate family participation to ensure that Early Intervention Services are family-centered.

Family Ties of Massachusetts

781-774-6736
massfamilyties.org

“A statewide information and parent-to-parent support project for families of children with special needs and chronic illness.” Family Ties also maintains a acentral directory for Early Intervention services in Massachusetts.

Federation for Children with Special Needs

617-236-7210
www.fcsn.org

“A center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families.” Publisher ofA Parent’s Guide to Special Education in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Education.

Massachusetts Association of Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (MASSPAC)

781-784-8316
www.masspac.org

MassPAC at the Federation for Children with Special Needs is the statewide organization providing information, training, and networking opportunities to Massachusetts special education parent advisory councils (PACs) and the professionals who collaborate with them. After almost eleven years as a private non-profit, MassPAC became part of the Federation in July 2009.

Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA)

www.doe.mass.edu/bsea/
781-338-6400

BSEA has prepared the two guides for laypersons.A Resource for Parents and School Representatives Who Appear Before the BSEA (pdf) and a reference manual,“So you will be going to a Special Education Hearing without a lawyer...” that helps laypersons understand and access the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) dispute resolution processes. The Manual may also be useful for advocates and attorneys who have not practiced before the BSEA.

Special Needs Advocacy Network

508-655-7999
www.SPANMASS.org

SPaN works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members and to act as a primary resource for advocates.

Special Education Resources —National

Planning for College (for teens with a disability)

www.going-to-college.org/planning/index.html

Overwhelmed No More

A free newsletter published by special needs parent coach Joan Celebi that offers tips, info, ideas, and resources to help you successfully navigate life as a parent of a child with special needs. Sign up at www.specialneedsparentcoach.com for the free guide “The Ten Essentials of Balanced Living for Parents of Children with Special Needs” and a monthly newsletter with tips and ideas.

Independent Educational Consultants Association

703-591-4850
www.iecaonline.com

For more than 30 years IECA has helped its members to effectively serve families in placements that include colleges, local day and boarding schools, schools or programs for students with learning or behavioral needs, international placements, summer opportunities, and graduate and professional schools.

Kids Together, Inc.

www.kidstogether.org

The Goals of Kids Together, Inc. include a desire to remove barriers that exclude people with disabilities. We support the belief that children with disabilities, like all children, have the need to be welcomed, cherished and embraced in our communities.

Learning Disabilities Worldwide

781-890-5399
www.ldam.org

LDW® is dedicated to identifying causes and promoting prevention of learning disabilities, and to enhancing the quality of life of individuals with LD and their families by encouraging effective identification and intervention, protecting their rights under the law, and fostering research. LDW® seeks to accomplish this through awareness, advocacy, empowerment, education, service and collaborative efforts.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)

800-695-0285
www.nichcy.org

NICHCY provides information on:

• disabilities in children and youth;
• programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities;
• IDEA, the nation's special education law;
• No Child Left Behind, the nation's general education law; and
• Research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities.

Wrightslaw

www.wrightslaw.com

Information on special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.