How
Can
I Find an Advocate? Attorney?
Educational
Consultant?
One
of the most frequently-asked-questions is "How can I find an
advocate / attorney / consultant?" Here are some suggestions
about how to find a consultant, advocate or attorney who represents
children with disabilities.
1.
Visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities
We built Yellow Pages
for Kids for each state so people can get reliable information
and help.
The Yellow
Pages for your state has hundreds of resources - parent support
and study groups, evaluators, educational consultants, psychologists,
tutors, advocates, attorneys, and others who provide services to
parents and children. You will also find listings for government
programs and grassroots organizations in your state.
2. Ask other parents
Ask other parents for their recommendations - they are often your
best source of good advice.
3.
Contact your state Parent Training Information Center
To learn about special education training for parents, contact your
Parent
Training Information (PTI) Center. The Directory
of Parent Training Information Centers has contact information
for every state. You may want to attend a Wrightslaw
legal advocacy training program.
4.
Contact a disabilities group or organization that represents you
child's interests
You will find a comprehensive directory
of disabilities organizations, clearinghouses and information groups
on the Yellow Pages
for Kids site.
5. Legal and Advocacy Resources
If you have a dispute with the school about your child's special
education program, you may decide to consult with an attorney or
an advocate who is familiar with special education law.
Contact the Protection & Advocacy
organization for your state - they are legal disability rights
agencies.
To find an attorney or advocate, check the Directory
of Legal and Advocacy Resources, in addition to the attorneys
and advocates listed on the Yellow
Pages for your state.
You may also contact the Council
of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) for a referral.
Finding
Other Helpers
How Can I Find an Evaluator? Tutor?
If you are looking for an evaluator or academic tutor who is trained
in research-based reading programs, read Research-Based
Reading Instruction for strategies to find an appropriate person
to work with your child.
