For parents and caregivers
You are a member of the team, not a visitor
Special education has its own vocabulary and its own rhythm. Once you can see the shape of the process, the meetings get a lot less overwhelming.
Getting evaluated
Understanding the document
When you disagree
Four habits that help more than anything else
- Put requests in writing and keep dated copies. Email counts.
- Ask for draft documents and reports before the meeting, not at it.
- Bring evidence from home: work samples, a short log, one sentence about what mornings look like.
- Ask for agreements to be written into the document. If it is not written down, it is hard to hold.
Checking a timeline
We do not publish day counts, because they vary and have exceptions. Ask your district for the applicable timeline in writing, then verify it against the IDEA regulations and, in Texas, Texas Education Agency guidance.
15 trusted special education resources for parents
Last verified: Oct 2026
- Center for Parent Information and Resources
Finds your state's federally funded parent center.
Helps: Parents and caregivers. Cost: Free.
- IDEA website (U.S. Department of Education)
The law, regulations and federal guidance.
Helps: Parents who want the source text. Cost: Free.
- PACER Center
National parent center with guides on IEPs, bullying and transition.
Helps: Parents of children with disabilities. Cost: Free.
- Understood
Plain-language articles on learning and thinking differences.
Helps: Parents of kids who learn differently. Cost: Free.
- Wrightslaw
Special education law articles and case summaries.
Helps: Parents preparing for meetings or disputes. Cost: Free site, paid books.
- National Center for Learning Disabilities
Research and parent resources on learning disabilities.
Helps: Parents of kids with learning disabilities. Cost: Free.
- Family Voices
Family-led support for children with special health care needs.
Helps: Families of children with health care needs. Cost: Free.
- Parent to Parent USA
Matches parents with a trained parent who has been there.
Helps: Parents who want someone to talk to. Cost: Free.
- Child Mind Institute
Clear guides on learning, behavior and mental health.
Helps: Parents and caregivers. Cost: Free.
- CHADD
ADHD information and local chapters.
Helps: Families affected by ADHD. Cost: Free, with paid membership.
- Autism Society of America
Autism information and local affiliates.
Helps: Autistic people and their families. Cost: Free.
- International Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia fact sheets and branch directory.
Helps: Families affected by dyslexia. Cost: Free.
- Learning Disabilities Association of America
State affiliates and parent resources.
Helps: Families affected by learning disabilities. Cost: Free.
- Decoding Dyslexia
Parent-led groups pushing for dyslexia awareness in each state.
Helps: Parents of children with dyslexia. Cost: Free.
- SPEDTex (Texas)
Texas special education information center.
Helps: Texas families. Cost: Free.
Books parents often start with
- From Emotions to Advocacy (Wrightslaw)
A guide to planning and advocating for your child.
Helps: Parents new to the process. Cost: Paid book.
- Wrightslaw books and law references
Books and law references from Wrightslaw.
Helps: Parents who want deeper reading. Cost: Paid books.
We do not earn money from these links.
More resource lists
From our network, paid service
Walk In Ready and manifestation determination support
Some meetings are too big to walk into cold. The IEP Coach is our sister project and offers paid one to one coaching to help you prepare: getting your documents in order, deciding what to ask for, and practicing how to say it. That includes manifestation determination review meetings, the meeting a school holds to decide whether a student's behavior was related to their disability before certain disciplinary removals.
This is a paid coaching service from our network. It is not legal advice and it is not medical advice. You do not need it to use anything on this site.
See The IEP CoachNot sure where to begin? Use Start here.