Special Education & Advocacy
The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE)
CADRE, the National Center on Dispute Resolution, supports State Education Agencies (SEAs), Lead Agencies (LAs), and federally funded Parent Centers in 1) building local level capacity to prevent and resolve disputes, and 2) developing more effective and dispute resolution (DR) systems.
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
COPAA’s mission is to protect and enforce the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families.
Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC)
MAC’s mission is to remove barriers to educational and life opportunities for children and youth.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
DESE is the state agency which is responsible for the quality and the equity of public education for grades K-12.
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
NCLD works to improve the lives of people and young adults nationwide with learning disabilities — by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools, and advocating for equal rights and opportunities. NCLD to create a society where everyone possesses the academic, social, and emotional skills needed to succeed in school, work, and life
PACER Center improves educational opportunities and enhances the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families.
Special Needs Advocacy Network, Inc.
The Special Needs Advocacy Network, Inc. aims to provide advocacy, education, and other actions that empower all families, professionals including advocates, and others with an interest, to enable students with disabilities to reach their full potential.
SpedEx Consultation is a dispute resolution option available in certain cases after an IEP has been rejected, or if a mediation or hearing request has been filed. We help families and schools resolve disputes concerning free and appropriate public education (FAPE) or the least restrictive environment (LRE).
SpedEx Consultation is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). However, SpedEx operates independent of the DESE.
Think College provides resources, technical assistance, and training related to college options for students with intellectual disability, and manages the only national listing of college programs for students with intellectual disability in the US.
Top College Consultants helps students – especially those with learning differences such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia – navigate college and graduate school admissions.
Understood is a leading nonprofit that empowers the US’s 70 million people with learning and thinking differences through free, expert-vetted resources so that they can thrive in school, at work, and throughout life.
Wrightslaw is a resource used widely by parents, advocates, teachers, and attorneys for reliable, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.
Please note that the Andover SEPAC cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information presented on any third-party website listed on this site, nor do we endorse any informational content appearing on third-party websites of any of the providers listed. We endeavor only to provide a listing of potentially helpful organizations available. It is up to you, as a consumer, to do your own diligence and research.