Resources

OSPI

Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) offers a wealth of information and data regarding special education, school discipline, harassment, intimidation, and bullying, dispute resolution and community complaints. OSPI also maintains a list of Nonpublic Agencies (NPA) which are private schools and institutions that can contract with public schools to provide a free appropriate public education to special education students whose needs cannot be met in the school district. Searchable data available on OSPI’s site includes: restraint and isolation data, school district performance, the Washington State Report Card, and disciplinary incidents of students with IEPs. OSPI also publishes community complaint decisions and due process decisions. Information about how to file a special education due process complaint is also available.

Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR)

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will hear complaints of discrimination on the basis of disability, sex, race, color, national origin, English proficiency, and age against education agencies who receive federal funding. Instructions on filing a complaint and sample forms are available on OCR’s website.

Washington PAVE

Washington PAVE is an extensive education and disability advocacy resource for parents and families of children and youth. PAVE offers free online training in special education, early learning, mental and behavioral health support, and transition planning for young adults with disabilities. PAVE also offers training and resources for military families. Students and young adults with disabilities aged 13-26 can also find self-advocacy resources. PAVE also offers support and resources for families in obtaining disability services.

Northwest Justice Project Special Education Law Clinic

Northwest Justice Project offers a free special education law clinic offering IEP and 504 plan review, and discussion of special education services, discipline and discrimination issues.

Special Education and Disability Advocacy Resources

Special education law in Washington video presented by Northwest Justice Project, Disability Rights Washington, and TeamChild.

The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) offers memberships, training, and online resources for students and parents.

Roots of Inclusion is a Washington nonprofit advocacy organization working to promote inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in school and community systems, and offers training and educational resources about inclusion.

ACLU Washington offers multiple Know Your Rights guides for students and public education in both English and Spanish.

Washington Autism Alliance offers parent support education navigators for students with autism and other neurological disabilities, special education training, and a resource library.

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) is a program through the University of Washington expanding access to science and technology opportunities for students with special needs/young adults with disabilities.

International Dyslexia Association offers the IDA Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) offers resources for advocating for students with ADHD. Search for your local chapter for parent support groups and speaker series.

Wrightslaw offers training, books, and articles regarding special education topics and how to become a more effective parent or guardian advocate.

Navigating an Individualized Education Program (IEP) guide from Investing in Student Potential.

Understood.org is a nonprofit offering a wide variety of information for students with disabilities and an overview of IEP topics.

WABIDA is the Washington state branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

Washington state dyslexia guidance, workgroup and resources.

On Special Education from Ed Week covers news updates regarding all things special education.

Office of the Education Ombuds

The Washington State Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds assists families concerns about K-12 public schools with informal conflict resolution, training and support. Their legislative mission is to reduce opportunity gaps in education. Their focus is on K-12 students who are out of school, including students with disabilities receiving partial school days, people of color, Black and Indigenous students, students experiencing homelessness, students in kinship or foster care, students involved with the juvenile justice or rehabilitation systems, immigrant, refugee, asylee, or migrant, or students or families whose primary language is not English, or receiving Wraparound With Intensive Services (WISe) or Childrens Long Term Inpatient Program (CLIP) supports. They maintain a multilingual resource page about public education and interpretation support in Washington with publications in Spanish, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

TeamChild

TeamChild provides free legal representation for youth experiencing issues with education, discipline, incarceration or criminal justice involvement, and homelessness or the child welfare system.

The Arc

The Arc of King County offers resources and conducts frequent training for understanding the IEP process and preparing for school meetings. They also offer a parent support network and extensive information and training about obtaining disability resources, therapies, benefits and housing. The Arc of Washington State is the parent organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; connect with the Arc to find the organization serving your county.