Resources

Fact Sheet: Referral for Evaluation

Fact Sheet: IEP Meeting

Information

• A Parent's Guide to Special Education

  • Written by the Federation for Children with Special Needs in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Education, this guide contains the most current and accurate information available regarding the special education system in Massachusetts. 

• IEP Process Guide

  • A guide for parents and educators from the Massachusetts Department of Education outlining eligibility determination, IEP development, and placement.

• Presentation: Basic Rights in Special Education

  • This presentation from the Federation for Children with Special Needs helps parents learn about special education law and how it plays out in their school, and to understand their rights so they can effectively collaborate with their professional partners. The Federation presents this workshop at various locations throughout the year, which you can find listed on their website.

• DOE Disability Definitions

  • The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DOE) defines educational disabilities.

• DOE Eligibility Guide

  • A document from DOE with guidelines to assist practitioners and parents in identifying students with disabilities.

• Article: "Does Your Child Need a Special Education Evaluation?"

  • This article aims to clarify information about the referral process and the steps that take place in a public school evaluation.

Websites

• • Federation for Children with Special Needs

  • The Federation for Children with Special Needs provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities. A great place to start.

• Wrightslaw

  • This site provides accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.

• SPED Child and Teen

  • A great general site listing special needs workshops, programs, and resources in Greater Massachusetts.

• Exceptional Lives

  • This nonprofit provides a series of online, interactive guides on topics such as early intervention, special education services, and transition planning.

• Disability Scoop

  • A news site devoted to covering developmental disabilities, with daily coverage of autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and more.

• Family Resource Centers (FRSs)

  • A statewide network of community-based providers offering multi-cultural parenting programs, support groups, early childhood services, information and referral resources and education for families whose children range in age from birth to 18 years of age.

• Friendship Circle Special Needs Resources

  • A site with many articles, ideas, and resources fro special needs parents.

  • Concord-Carlisle SEPAC

  • This site has links to a huge amount of resources and information.

• Autism Housing Pathways

  • Autism Housing Pathways provides the most comprehensive online content as well as web events and training on housing for individuals with IDD and their families who should be making housing decisions during transition

Presentations