Resources

Law:

• Parents Guide: This online resource is based on A Parent’s Guide to Special Education, a joint publication of the Federation for Children with Special Needs and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. You will find links through this online resource to the full document. https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/videos/parents-guide/index.html#/
• Laws and Regulations: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/laws.html
• IDEA https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
• Wrightslaw: Wrightslaw provides up-to-date information bout special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities. https://www.wrightslaw.com

MA Organizations:

• Family Ties: Family Ties is a Federation for Children with Special Needs project funded by the Part C Early Intervention Program that is a primary source for information about Early Intervention that maintains a complete list of Early Intervention Programs in MA. https://www.massfamilyties.org
• Federation for Children With Special Needs: The Federation for Children with Special Needs was officially formed in 1975 as a statewide parent coalition whose intent was to create equal educational opportunities for children with disabilities. The Federation provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities. https://fcsn.org
• MA Department of Developmental Services (DDS): https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-developmental-services
• MA Secondary Transition: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/secondary-transition/
• Family Empowerment: Family Empowerment is a Pathlight 501(c)3 non-profit Massachusetts corporation with offices in Pittsfield, Springfield, Greenfield, Easthampton, and Hadley. It was founded in 1952 by five mothers of children with developmental disabilities. Family Empowerment’s mission is to help connect families with local resources to meet their disability-related needs. https://family-empowerment.org
• Autism Connections: Autism Connections was founded in 1989 by parents of children with autism. Autism Connections provides support, information, and practical help for children and adults with autism (and their families) living in western Massachusetts. https://autismconnectionsma.org/en
• The Arc of Massachusetts: The mission of The Arc of Massachusetts is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families. They fulfill this through advocacy for community supports and services that foster social inclusion, self-determination, and equity across all aspects of society. https://thearcofmass.org

Disability:

• Asperger/Autism Network: https://www.aane.org
• Learning Disabilities Association of America: https://ldaamerica.org
• International Dyslexia Association: https://ma.dyslexiaida.org
• Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: https://chadd.org
• Understood: https://www.understood.org