COPAA – Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

COPAA’s mission is to protect and enforce the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families. Our primary goal is to secure high quality educational services and to promote excellence in advocacy.

Adams ESQ: Representing children with Special Needs

For over a decade, ADAMS ESQ has represented students from the ages of 3 through 22 who qualify or should qualify for special education and related services provided by their local school districts. Working as a team with parents and caregivers, we obtain school and medical records, prepare and file due process hearing requests, provide representation at early resolution sessions, mediations, and administrative hearings, and provide representation on Federal Court appeals. As a service to our special needs community, we also organize and participate in workshops and seminars at no charge to parent and student oriented groups. ADAMS ESQ has published numerous articles in local periodicals to further educate the special needs community regarding their rights and responsibilities.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us.

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities.

DRLC – Disability Rights Legal Center

Founded in 1975, Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC) is a 501C-3 non-profit, public interest advocacy organization that champions the civil rights of people with disabilities as well as those affected by cancer and other serious illnesses. DRLC is a leader in bringing cutting-edge cases to court and in winning victories to protect and to expand the rights of people to help eliminate discrimination and other legal barriers.

Autism and Insurance Coverage | State Laws

Some states require insurers to provide coverage for the treatment of autism. However, opponents to this approach argue that care for individuals with autism is the responsibility of parents and the school systems. Others have raised concerns that mandating coverage for autism will significantly increase insurance premiums. . .

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

We provide and maintain up-to-date information and resources to assist families so they can make informed choices for their children, and to educate professionals and the community-at-large in order to promote inclusion and understanding.

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

CASE advocacy staff, thoroughly trained in special education law, helps families and school districts work together when designing appropriate special education programs for students with disabilities, who are at risk for school failure, so they can succeed in school, get a job and become productive members of their community. CASE provides these basic services:

• Free technical assistance consultations to families and professionals on special education rights, responsibilities and services regarding specific special education students or issues;
• Direct representation by attorney and non-attorney advocates at Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings, due process mediations, and administrative hearings if necessary on behalf of students with disabilities and their parents; and,
• Training on special education rights and services to parents so they to can better advocate for appropriate special education programs and services on behalf of children with disabilities.