Advocacy and Law

Americans with Disabilities Act Document Center
A large collection of links to ADA regulations, technical assistance manuals and other assistance documents. The page is maintained by attorney Duncan C. Kinder, who has also collected an impressive set of links to other disability and law sites on the Web.

CADRE
The National Center on Dispute Resolution encourages the use of mediation and other collaborative strategies to resolve disagreements about early intervention and special education programs.

California Official Legislative Information (website to look up California laws)

The California Senate Home Page
If you want to track a bill, click on "legislation" and then you can search for a bill by keyword. You will see the content, analysis and status of the bill, and then you can subscribe to the bill, to receive an email alert any time there is a change. This site tracks California Assembly and Senate legislation.

Center for Law and Education: CAPS
CAPS (Community Action for Public Schools) is a membership based initiative comprised of parents, students, community members, educators and advocates all working to make high quality public education a reality for ALL students.

Connect for Kids provides information and resources to get the tools needed to make communities work for kids, to get connected to groups that equip adults to act together for kids, to learn how well children are doing in their community, state, or nation, and to become a better citizen by representing children who can't vote.

Compliance Complaints and Due Process Complaints
There are two types of complaints that you can file if you are in disagreement with either schools/districts or regional centers. Matrix encourages resolution of disputes at the lowest possible level through open communication and Alternative Dispute Resolution options. If these fail, you may file a compliance complaint if you believe that either the school or the regional center has violated the law or the rights of the student or client. If you disagree with services or a determination about your child provided by either the school or the regional center, you can file a due process complaint (special education) or a fair hearing request (regional center).

Council for Disability Rights

COPAA Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

Disability Benefits 101 is a website that is useful to families and adults with disabilities -- the site indicates that it is for working with a disability in CA but it does apply to families if you look through the various categories of Medi-Cal, CalWORKS, etc.

Disability Rights Advocates

Disability Rights California works in partnership with people with disabilities - to protect, advocate for and advance their human, legal and service rights.

DREDF Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. (DREDF) is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.

Future of Children promote effective policies and programs for children by providing policymakers, service providers, and the media with timely, objective information based on the best available research.

Office of Civil Rights: Protecting Students with Disabilities -- "Frequently Asked Questions about Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities."

PACER Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights
The PACER Center is a funded parent center providing support and advocacy for children with disabilities and their families.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. -- see Disability Rights California.

Support for Families Legislative Web Page

U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

Wrightslaw The Special Ed Advocate. Up-to-date information.

Please note: Matrix does not endorse or recommend any provider, treatment, or philosophy that families may encounter from the resources, events, or websites listed. Matrix encourages you to obtain more information about any resource prior to selecting a provider.