Friends can be the best co-conspirators in charting the unknown. -Judith Orloff
Advocacy Resources
All about IEPs
Articles
Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), Nemours KidsHealth
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Developing Your Child's IEP, Parent Center Hub
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Playing a Role in the IEP Process, Understood.com
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A Guide to the Individualized Education Plan , PACER Center
Websites
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IDEA - US Department of Education
This government website brings together IDEA information and resources from the Department and our grantees. It includes updates and links to PA state contacts (https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/monitor/state-contact-list.html#pa)
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SpecialEducationGuide.com is the go-to online resource for parents and educators who want to master the terminology, procedures and best practices in special education. Our expert writers cover everything from early intervention to ISFPs; IEPs and RTI, inclusion, classroom and behavior management; disability profiles for each category under IDEA and a Special Education Dictionary to master “SPED” jargon.
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Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for reliable information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.
- Developing an IEP? Use the IEP Pop-Up Tool!
- IEP topics - IEP FAQ's, Articles, Tactics and Strategies, Law & Caselaw, Books
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Books
The Art of Adovcacy: A Parent's Guide to the IEP Process, Charmaine L Thaner
The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child, Lawrence M. Siegel
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From Emotions to Advocacy, Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright
A Guide to Collaboration for IEP Teams, Nicholas Martin
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Negotiating the Special Education Maze, Winifred Anderson, Stephen Chitwood , Deidre Hayden , Cherie Takemoto
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Parents Have the Power To Make Special Education Work: An Insider Guide, Judith Canty Graves and Carson Graves
A Parent's Guide to Special Education, Linda Wilmshurse, Alan Brue
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Parents and Professionals Partnering for Children with Disabilities, Janice M. Fialka, Arlene K. Feldman, and Karen C. Mikus
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Special Education Law, Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright
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Secrets of a Special Education Advocate: Supercharge your Child's Special Ed IEP So Your Child Can Excel, Yael Cohen M.A.
Your Special Education Rights: What Your School District Isn't Telling You, Jennifer Laviano and Julie Swanson
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Wrightslaw: All About IEPs, Peter W. D. Wright, Pamela Darr Wright, and Sandra Webb O’Connor
Special Education Laws
Americans with Disabilities Act
ada.gov
Reliable information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.
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Every Student Succeeds Act
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US Department of Education Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
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Center for Parent Information and Resources ESSA/Every Student Succeeds Act
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IDEA
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statuteregulations/
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The White House, December 3, 2021. Statement and Releases
Fact Sheet: Advancing Disability Inclusive Democracy in the United States and Globally
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Advocacy Organizations
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The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
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The Arc of Pennsylvania promotes the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
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The Arc Alliance is an affiliate of The Arc, with nearly 700 state and local chapters nationwide, is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Based in Eagleville, serving us regionally.
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The ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to support the mission of the ADA to “assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.”
Bucks County Right to Education Task Force
Provides a public forum that promotes collaboration among parents, educators, community agency professionals to address issues affecting all students receiving Special Education services in order to strengthen and improve programs and supports in Bucks County
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The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education
CADRE - Supporting the prevention and resolution of disputes through partnership and collaboration. CADRE's major emphasis is on encouraging the use of mediation, facilitation, and other collaborative processes as strategies for resolving disagreements between parents and schools about children's educational programs and support services. CADRE supports parents, educators, administrators, attorneys and advocates to benefit from the full continuum of dispute resolution options that can prevent and resolve conflict and ultimately lead to informed partnerships that focus on results for children and youth. The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education provides IDEA Dispute Resolution Parent Guides available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Hmong, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Burmese, Portuguese, Japanese, and Somali.
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Children First (formerly PCCY)​
Children First PA works to improve the lives of our region’s children by developing initiatives and advocating for quality health care, child care, public education and family stability.
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Council for Exceptional Children
The national organization for special education advocacy.
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Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc
COPAA’s mission is to protect and enforce the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families. Our primary goal is to secure high quality educational services and to promote excellence in advocacy.
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DRP provides help to Pennsylvanians with disabilities who are experiencing problems or who have questions related to their disability. DRP helps people with disabilities in many areas such as abuse and neglect, access to community services, discrimination, ADA compliance issues, education, assistive technology, voting access, and access to Medical Assistance services. We help people with developmental disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, brain injury, and people in mental health recovery. The help can include information, referral to other organizations, advocacy and legal action. DRP also provides assistance on legal issues to attorneys and others and provides education and training on a variety of issues to consumers, families, advocates, and professionals. This site is accessible in multiple languages.
A non-profit legal advocacy and educational organization dedicated to ensuring that all of Pennsylvania's children have access to a quality public education.
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Hispanos Unidos Para Ninos Excepcionales (HUNE)
HUNE is a not for profit organization that provides free bilingual English and Spanish training, technical assistance and individual assistance to families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and to professionals who work with children.
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The mission of the Include Me Program is to provide on-site, intensive training and technical assistance to school districts, teachers, and families to increase their capacity to educate students with significant disabilities in general education classes and typical preschool settings.
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Liberty Resources, Inc. is the Center for Independent Living for the Philadelphia area, which advocates for and works with Persons with Disabilities to ensure their civil rights and equal access to all aspects of life in our community.
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Lives in the Balance
Lives in the Balance advocates for our most vulnerable kids and helps caregivers see them through more accurate, productive lenses and intervene in evidence-based ways that are collaborative, proactive, non-punitive, non-adversarial, non-exclusionary, relationship-building, and communication-enhancing.
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NSEAI- National Special Education Advocacy Institute
National group based in Newtown Square, PA offering education advocacy training to professional and parents. NSEAI’s educational mission is to improve the quality and professionalism in the field of education advocacy, by encouraging the development of highly educated and knowledgeable advocates, that improve the educational and functional outcomes of children with disabilities, through the NSEAI Board Certified Education Advocate™ program.
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Providing Resources for parents and educators. The Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) provides the resources for families and educational agencies to resolve educational disputes for children served by the early intervention system, students who are gifted (or thought to be gifted), and students with disabilities (or thought to have disabilities).
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PA Consult-Line 1-800-879-2301
The Office for Dispute Resolution, PA - A direct line to a special education specialist who will: Explain federal and state laws relating to special education, describe the options that are available to parents, inform parents of procedural safeguards, identify other agencies and support services, and describe available remedies and how parents can proceed.
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The PA Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), in collaboration with the Bureau of Special Education, has created a website of resources for families and general educators supporting complex learners. The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network is to support the efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of Special Education, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services.
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Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership Center (PEAL)
The PEAL Center helps families and individuals with disabilities and special health care needs using a variety of strategies across PEAL Projects. PEAL offers services in six key areas: Outreach, Individual Assistance, Resources, Trainings (Youth and Families), Leadership Development (Youth and Families), Partnerships.
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Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
The mission of the department is to academically prepare children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. The department seeks to ensure that the technical support, resources and opportunities are in place for all students, whether children or adults, to receive a high quality education.
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Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education
The Bureau of Special Education works collaboratively with educators, schools, agencies, and other stakeholders across Pennsylvania to ensure students have access to quality and meaningful education supports, services, and opportunities.
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Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council
The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council is a group of people with disabilities, family members, advocates, and state department representatives who work to create favorable conditions for people with developmental disabilities and their families in the Commonwealth. Created under a federal act and Governor’s Executive Order, the Council is both a planning group and a funding body.
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Pennsylvania Education for All Coalition (PEAC)
Advocacy group that believes children of all backgrounds and abilities should be successfully educated together in their neighborhood schools within the general education curriculum.
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Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Organization whose mission is to help Pennsylvanians understand and navigate the healthcare system.
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Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs has a website "myodp" dedicated to providing resources
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Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
The Public Interest Law Center uses high-impact legal strategies to advance the civil, social, and economic rights of communities in the Philadelphia region facing discrimination, inequality, and poverty. We use litigation, community education, advocacy, and organizing to secure access to fundamental resources and services.
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Self Advocates United as 1 is a group of people who envision a world where people with developmental disabilities and their families are united to share knowledge, empower others, and use their voices to transform their communities and people’s lives.
TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect and institutionalization. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families and self-advocates.
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Our teams offer people the opportunity to be more informed about available services, connect to appropriate resources, and Voice their experiences and recommendations to improve services. Our Support Services offer people an opportunity to connect to a peer or a volunteer who supports the person
The Yellow Pages for Kids
The Yellow Pages for Kids will teach you how to be a more effective advocate. Learn how to build your team, get educated about your child's disability, find special education advocacy training, locate a parent group, and get legal and advocacy help.
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