Parental Advocacy

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"Advocacy, in basic terms, means making sure that our children get what they need. This can apply to education, medical care, and everyday experiences. I learned to speak up for my child when she was two days old, and I have been advocating for her needs ever since. Although there are many ways to advocate for our children, the most important thing that parents can do is to gain some knowledge of special education law. Knowing the basic rights and protections the law affords our children ensures that parents are informed and contributing members of IEP (or IFSP) teams. In other words, we who know our children best can make educational planning decisions with the other members of the team, instead of being spectators to the process. We want to establish partnerships with our children's teachers and school administrators, and learning about the special education process is a wonderful first step towards this goal." - Julia Bowman

Special Education Law

Note: all the links below open in a new window.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) is the federal law which legislates the rights of children with disabilities.

• Wrightslaw
• Special Education Law Blog
• Assistive Technology Laws
• Special Education and the Law

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process

The IEP is a written education plan for an individual developed by a team of educators and professionals in cooperation with the parents or legal guardians of the child. It is required for all children with disabilities under federal law with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It must be reviewed and renewed yearly according to the child's changing needs.

• Special Education in Plain Language - The IEP Process
• A Guide to the Individualized Education Program - From the US Dept. of Education
• LD Online - IEP: The Process
• IEP Resource Center

State Resources

• Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
• Maine Parent Federation
• The Rhode Island Parent Information Network
• Vermont Parent Information Center
• Parent to Parent of Vermont
• Parent to Parent of New Hampshire
• Massachusetts Department of Education - Special Education
• Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change
• Massachusetts Association of Special Education Parent Advisory Councils
• Special Needs Advocacy Network (SPAN)

Other Resources

• Family Voices
• Federation for Children with Special Needs
• New England Center Deafblind Project
• Island Parents Educational Support & Training Center (IPEST)
• The Core Curriculum for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
• Council for Exceptional Children

© 2005 The ADVISOR Project
Page Updated: September 14, 2006