School Advocacy Resources for Caregivers
This page contains a list of resources for parents, guardians, and loved ones who are seeking guidance on their child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP) as part of a 504 Plan (visit "Your Child's Rights in the School Setting" to learn more about what these are).
- Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPPA): Their mission is to protect and enforce the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families. Their primary goal is to secure high quality educational services and to promote excellence in advocacy. COPPA's online community is also noteworthy, allowing you to search for professionals by name, city, state, and/or zip code. This is valuable for caregivers looking for legal experts to help them advocate for their child’s rights in school.
- Center for Parent Information and Resources: This organization has several tools for families with children with disabilities. This includes webinars, and a list of each state’s Parent Training & Information Center and/or Community Parent Resource Center, which provide information about disabilities, educational rights, and effective strategies to advocate for your child.
- The National Disability Rights Network: NDRN is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally-mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP). Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally-based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.There is a P&A/CAP agency in every state and U.S. territory as well as one serving the Native American population in the four corners region.
- School Avoidance Alliance: The School Avoidance Alliance is dedicated to sharing best practice interventions, school avoidance facts, and resources for helping kids with school avoidance get back to learning/school.
- Parent Alliance For Students With Exceptional Needs hosts the IEP/504 Support & Assistance. This is a national group that provides advocacy, education, resources, and advice to caregivers lost and/or struggling with the special education system/process (including IEPs and 504s). Their goal is to help caregivers educate themselves so they can be the best advocates for their children.
- Special Ed Mom Survival Guide: IEP, 504 and Parenting Support Group: This group is a place to talk about how to help your child be successful in life and in school. This group is managed by a special education advocate who is also a mom and has found ways to get her children the right support. Questions about IEPs, 504s, schools refusing services are par for the course in this group. Members do not offer legal advice, but can point you in the right direction to get support.
- Parent to Parent USA: This resource offers parent to parent support as a core resource for families with children who have a special health care need, disability, or mental health concern. Through a one-to-one “match,” experienced support caregivers provide emotional support to families and assist them in finding information and resources.
- Fulfill the Promise Coalition: The Fulfill the Promise coalition was formed to take action on remedies for the issues in special education instruction and services across schools, including addressing historical underfunding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- Easterseals Black Child Fund: The Black Child Fund was established to help end racial disparities in healthcare, childcare, and education faced by Black children early and throughout life.
- Hopeful Futures Campaign: Access the first-ever national report card that scores every state on policies that support school mental health, with recommendations for how to improve. Take action via their action center to learn more and drive change in your community.
To learn more about school advocacy for your child, please click here.
If you would like to be posted as resource, or have any questions, please e-mail info@iocdf.org, or give us a call at (617) 973-5801.
