Autism Services, the Law, and You…
Navigating the system often presents multiple challenges for families impacted by autism. Whether it’s working with the school system, obtaining appropriate services, or dealing with insurance providers, the tasks can be daunting as parents strive to ensure the best possible future for their children on the spectrum.
One of the most important areas that families and caregivers need to research and comprehend involves education, services, and the law. Understanding your child’s educational rights and familiarizing yourself with the services to which he or she is entitled is critical in making sure that everything available to your family is fully utilized.
Resources to assist autism families in obtaining services are out there, but often parents and caregivers are unaware of the options that exist at both the state and federal levels. To assist our readers in accessing information on what their ASD children have available to them, the Autism File has collected relevant websites at both the national and state levels. Eligibility criteria and specific services available to autism families vary from state to state so it’s especially important for parents to access and understand their own state guidelines and provisions.
The list below is designed to get families started in the search for assistance for their loved ones with autism, and will be expanding in the weeks to come. Please let us know about additional resources that have been beneficial to you or to those you know who have or care for someone with autism. Our goal is to present our readers with the most comprehensive list of autism services and programs available. To contribute resources that will benefit others affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders, click here.
National Resources
U.S Department of Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) http://idea.ed.gov/ The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.
Office of Special Education Programs – Contacts, Resources, News, Etc.
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html?src=mr
Maine Department of Education – Special Education Directors Contact List (PDF)
www.maine.gov/education/speced/documents/2011-2012Speddir12202011.pdf
Maine Autism Society
www.asmonline.org/resources
Maine Department of Education – Child Development Services
http://www.maine.gov/education/speced/cds/index.html
New Hampshire Special Education Contacts Information (PDF)
http://www.education.nh.gov/instruction/special_ed/documents/sped_contact_directors.pdf
New Hampshire Department of Education – Special Education Resource Page
www.education.nh.gov/instruction/special_ed/index.htm
Next Steps: A guide for families with autism spectrum disorder
http://ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-publications/publications-autism/publications-autism-documents/next-steps-autism
Vermont Department of Education: Special Education General Resources
http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_sped/resources.html
Massachusetts Advocates for Children – Special Needs Programs
www.massadvocates.org
Massachusetts Department of Education – Special Education
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/parents.html
Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
http://www.ride.ri.gov/OSCAS/Programs_Services/Autism_Spectrum_Disorders.aspx
Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Connecticut
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Special/Parents_Guide_SE.pdf
Resources for Children with Special Needs in Greater Danbury – Public School Listings (PDF)
www.danburychildrenfirst.org/PDF/SNResource.pdf
Resources for Children with Special Needs (New York City)
http://www.resourcesnyc.org/
New York State Commission on Quality of Care Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
http://cqc.ny.gov/advocacy/protection-advocacy-programs
New York State Office of Special Education
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/
District of Columbia Public Schools Autism Program and Resources
http://dc.gov/DCPS/In+the+Classroom/Special+Education/Autism+Program+and+Resources
Directory of New Jersey Serving Children with Autism (Back to Top of Page)
www.autismnj.org/doc/schoollist.pdf
Pennsylvania Department of Education – Resource For Help/Info
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/special_education/7465/special_education_in_pa_-_consultline/508844
Pennsylvania Rights for Parents (PDF)
http://pattan.net-website.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2020/09/28/Parents_Rights0311.pdf
Exceptional Children Group
www.doe.k12.de.us/EducationalDirectory/pages/DDOE/Workgroupstaff.aspx?page=workgroup&wgid=522&BID=4
Local Public School System Waiver Support
http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/articles/view/autism-waiver-contacts-local-school-systems
State of Virginia Public School Directory For Special Education (PDF)
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/directories/local_directors.pdf
Alexandria City Public Schools – Autism Support Page
www.acps.k12.va.us/curriculum/special-education/autism/
Cincinnati Public Schools
www.cps-k12.org/
Achievement Centers for Children
www.achievementcenters.org
West Virginia Department of Education – “Parents 21” Special Needs Resource
http://wvde.state.wv.us/parents21/specneeds.html
Family Support Network of North Carolina
www.fsnnc.org
University of North Carolina School of Social Work Family Support Program
http://fsp.unc.edu/family-support-resources
South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
http://ddsn.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs
www.frcdsn.org/resources.html
Parent Resources on Special Education (Back to Top of Page)
http://ed.sc.gov/agency/programs-services/173/ParentResourcesonSpecialEducation.cfm
Georgia Department of Education: Special Education and Supports for Autism
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Pages/Autism.aspx
Exceptional Education and Student Services
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/
Alabama Department of Education
http://public.alsde.edu/apps/search/results.aspx?k=autism
Tennessee Department of Education – Division of Special Education
www.state.tn.us/education/speced/
Tennessee Department of Education – Disability Information & Referral
http://state.tn.us/mental/DIandR/Autism_resources.html
Kentucky Department of Education – Special Education Services Resource
http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Instructional+Resources/Exceptional+Children/
Kentucky Department of Education – Programs and Services Resource/Directory
http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/HomePageRepository/Footer/Programs+and+Services+Directory.htm
Indiana Resource Network
http://doe.in.gov/achievement/individualized-learning/Indiana-resource-network
Special Education Director and Local Administrator Contact List
http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/individualized-learning/july-2012-local-admin-contacts.xls
Mississippi Department of Education – Office of Special Ed Resources
http://register.mde.k12.ms.us/special_education/just_for_parents.html
Michigan Special Education Directory (PDF)
www.osterdale.com/deafuture/resources/directory.pdf
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction - Special Education Team Staff Listing
www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/hmstaff.html
Services for Children with Autism
http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/autism.html
Wisconsin Autism Society – Directory of Resources (Back to Top of Page)
http://www.asw4autism.org/resource_directory.html
Illinois State Board of Education – Special Education Services Resource Page
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/spec-ed/
Minnesota Department of Education- Autism Spectrum Disorders Resources
http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/SpecEdClass/DisabCateg/AutSpecDis/
Minnesota Department of Education – Special Education in the Classroom (Resources/Info)
http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/SpecEdClass/index.html
Iowa Department of Education - Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
http://www.educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1616:autism-and-autism-spectrum-disorders-asd&catid=811:iep
Iowa Department of Education - Iowa Autism Council – Member Information
http://www.educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1642:iowa-autism-council&catid=552:state-requirements-and-reports&Itemid=4884
The University of Iowa - Regional Autism Services Program
www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/autismservices/
Iowa Department of Education - Information for Families with Children Birth to Five Years Old
http://www.educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1935:information-for-families-with-children-birth-to-five&catid=798:early-childhood&Itemid=4839
Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education- Public School Directory (PDF)
Missouri Public School District Contact PDF
Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Office of Special Education Home Page
http://dese.mo.gov/se/
Arkansas Department of Education
http://www.arkansased.org/divisions/learning-services/special-education
Louisiana Department of Education – Students with Exceptional Needs Resource
http://www.louisianaschools.net/divisions/specialp/autism.html
Louisiana Department of Education – Students with Exceptional Needs & Services for Special Needs Children (Back to Top of Page)
www.louisianaschools.net/divisions/specialp/special_programs_services.html
Special Education Process Step-by-Step
http://www.texasprojectfirst.org/SEProcessStep.html
Oklahoma State Department of Education – Special Education Services Directory
http://www.ok.gov/sde/staff-directory#SpecEd
Oklahoma City Public Schools – Special Services Resource/Directory
Oklahoma City Public School Directory
Kansas State Department of Education – Special Education Services Resource & Directory
http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=101
Kansas State Department of Education – Special Services Popular Links/Team Staff Directory
http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3199
Nebraska Department of Education – Special Education Directory by Region
www.education.ne.gov/sped/contact.html
Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network
http://www.unl.edu/asdnetwork/
Nebraska State Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder (PDF)
http://www.education.ne.gov/sped/technicalassist/autismstateplan.pdf
South Dakota Educational Resource Directory
http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/programs/EROD/org_list_by_territory.cfm?territory_cd=sd#SSE
North Dakota Department of Education - Special Education Directory (PDF)
www.dpi.state.nd.us/speced/general/directory.pdf
North Dakota Department of Education - Special Education Department/Resources
http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/speced/
North Dakota Department of Human Services – Early Childhood Guide/Resources
http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/speced/early/guide.pdf
Montana Office of Public Instruction – Special Education School Programs Resource
http://opi.mt.gov/Programs/SpecialEd/
Montana Office of Public Instruction – Autism Education Project (Back to Top of Page)
http://opi.mt.gov/users/dougdoty/
Wyoming Public School Directory – PDF File
http://www.edu.wyoming.gov/sf-docs/publications/2010-11WDEDirectory_F
Wyoming Department of Education - Special Ed Resource
http://www.edu.wyoming.gov/programs/special_education.aspx
The Colorado Department of Education- Autism Information/Resources
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/SD-Autism.asp
New Mexico Public Education Department – Special Education Information/Resource
http://www.ped.state.nm.us/SEB/index.html
New Mexico State Parent & Child Right to Special Education Information (PDF)
http://www.ped.state.nm.us/seb/forms/ParentRightsFinalMay2012.pdf
Arizona Department of Education Parent Information Network
www.azed.gov/special-education/deputy-associate-superintendent/parent-information-network/
Utah State Office of Education – Autism Resource/Contact Info
http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/Disability-Information/Disability-Categories/Autism.aspx
Utah State Office of Education – State Disability Information
http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/DOCS/disability/autism/autism_madhistory.aspx
Idaho K-12 School Listing Directory
www.idaho.gov/education/k12.html
Idaho Special Education Schools Statewide
www.publicschoolreview.com/state_special_education_schools/stateid/ID
Nevada Department of Education – Special Education Directory
http://nde.doe.nv.gov/QRY_IRE_SE_SE.asp
Washington State Special Education and Institutional Education Directory (PDF)
www.k12.wa.us/SpecialED/pubdocs/SpecialEdDirectory.pdf
State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction – Special Ed Resources
www.k12.wa.us/specialed/publications.aspx
State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction – Autism Outreach Project
http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/stateneeds/autism.aspx
Oregon Department of Education - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Education Services
http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=184
California Department of Education – Services & Resources
http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/sr/
California School Directory – Search Tool (District, Department, Etc.)
www.cde.ca.gov/re/sd/
Alaska Division of Public Health – Autism Resources Homepage
http://www.hss.state.ak.us/autism/
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development – Alaska Public Schools Database (Search Tool)
www.eed.state.ak.us/DOE_Rolodex/SchoolCalendar
Hawaii State Department of Education – Special Education Resource Homepage (Back to Top of Page)
http://doe.k12.hi.us/specialeducation/index.htm