Need information about special education rights so you can advocate for your child? This is the right place. I’ve compiled here a state-by-state list of resources to help you learn about the world of special education, from IEPs to 504s and more.
About these resources:
Every state has two types of federally-mandated non-profit organizations that can be a wealth of knowledge about special education and disability rights. To gather these resources on special education, I visited the website for each state’s legal disability rights non-profit (“P&A”). When a state’s P&A didn’t have any readily available resources, I found that almost all of their Parent Training and Information Centers (“PTI”) had lots of valuable information. For a couple of states, the PTI directs visitors to the State Department of Education’s resources, so those are included here where applicable.
I tracked down and compiled at least one resource link for each state. My goal was to find the most comprehensive single resource available. Where one comprehensive, or at least somewhat thorough, resource was available, the link goes directly to a pdf document. Others link to a list of resources on the organization’s website. A few link to shorter PDFs where that’s the best I could find from that state’s P&A/PTI.
These links should be a kickstart to any parent seeking to learn about the IEP process in their state. To find more information, you can find your state’s P&A organization’s website here, and your state’s PTI organization here. Between these two organizations, parents in every state can access at least some information and resources to learn about special education and disability rights. With this information, parents can better advocate for their children.
While a lot of disability rights law is federal law and applies across the board, some issues vary by state. If you’re going to review information from other states, do your homework (aka hire a lawyer from your state) before relying on that information. Reminder: I practice law only in Alabama.
Note that I am providing this information, but I didn’t write it. Nothing here is legal advice.
When you’re at the IEP table and you feel lost, remember that the child’s teachers and admin probably didn’t go to law school either. They are educators. You are a parent. Everyone has their role. Familiarize yourself with your rights as a parent and with the special education process. Hire an attorney licensed in your state when you have questions. To advocate well for your child, you need to be well informed. These resources contain tons of information to get started. So, dig in!
State Resources List
- Alabama: Special Education: A Right, Not A Favor
- Alaska: Special Education and the Law
- Arizona: List of education rights resources with links
- Arkansas: A Parent’s Guide: Civil Rights/Education; Guía para los Padres: Derechos Civiles/Educación
- California: List of education rights resources with links
- Colorado: Basics of Special Education Law
- Connecticut: A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Connecticut
- Delaware: Parent Information Center List of Resources
- D.C.: The Special Education Process; AJE Special Education Thursdays Recorded Trainings List with links
- Florida: List of education rights resources, with links
- Georgia: PTI Education Fact Sheets list
- Hawaii: A Parent’s Guide to Partnership in Special Education (from HI State Advisory Panel on Special Education)
- Idaho: ID DOE Special Education Manual
- Illinois: List of education rights resources, with links
- Indiana: PTI Parent Handbook: A Guide to Special Education Rights and Responsibilities in Indiana
- Iowa: PTI resources list
- Kansas: Know Your Special Education Rights: A Guide for Kansas Parents
- Kentucky: SPIN resources list
- Louisiana: Rights of Students with Disabilities
- Maine: List of education rights resources, with links
- Maryland: List of education rights resources, with links
- Massachusetts: The Basics of Special Education Law
- Michigan: Students with Disabilities: An Advocate’s Guide
- Minnesota: PTI Guide to the IEP for Minnesota Parents
- Mississippi: PTI on-demand webinars; MS DOE IEP Guidance
- Missouri: The Parents’ Guide to Special Education
- Montana: Student Rights: A handbook to the Educational Rights of Students with Disabilities in Montana
- Native American Disability Rights Center: Know Your Rights Guide
- Nebraska: Along the Way: A Guide for Parents of Infants, Toddlers, and Children with Disabilities
- Nevada: List of education rights resources, with links
- New Hampshire: List of education rights resources, with links
- New Jersey: New Jersey Special Education Advocacy Guide; Guía de Avocacía para la Educación Especial en New Jersey
- New Mexico: List of education rights resources, with links
- New York: Special Education in Plain Language; Educación Especial en Lenguaje Sencillo
- North Carolina: Special Education Tips for Parents
- North Dakota: Educational Supports: 504 & Special Education
- Ohio: List of education rights resources, with links
- Oklahoma: PTI IEP Basics; PTI list of resources
- Oregon: Special Education: A Guide for Parents and Advocates
- Pennsylvania: The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates
- Rhode Island: PTI list of resources
- South Carolina: List of education rights resources, with links
- South Dakota: What Parents Should Know About Special Education in South Dakota
- Tennessee: PTI STEP Training Manual for Parents
- Texas: IDEA Manual: A Guide for Texas Parents and Students on Special Education Rights
- Utah: Parents as Partners in the IEP Process; Padres como Parte en el Proceso del IEP
- Vermont: PTI list of resources
- Virginia: List of resources
- Washington: List of resources
- West Virginia: A Parent’s Advocacy Guide to Special Education; Guía de Padres Para Interceder Por La Educacion Especial
- Wisconsin: PTI list of resources
- Wyoming: PTI Keys to Confident and Effective Participation in the IEP Process
- NICHCY Developing Your Child’s IEP
- Center for Parent Information and Resources “The Short and Sweet of IEPs”