Family & Community Special Communities
Special Education

Advocacy/Disabilities Rights

Massachusetts Links/Resources | National Links/Resources | Special Education Appeals

Massachusetts Links/Resources

Arc Massachusetts
The Mission of The Arc of Massachusetts is to enhance the lives of individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities and their families. We accomplish this through advocacy of supports and services based in the community.

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts
The Children's Law Center Of Massachusetts is a private, non-profit, legal advocacy and resource center providing direct representation to low income children in Eastern Massachusetts, and technical assistance and training to lay and professional communities throughout New England on issues affecting children's education, civil rights, custody, health and welfare.

Disability Law Center, Inc.
Disability Law Center is a private, non-profit public interest law firm providing free legal assistance and information to people with disabilities throughout Massachusetts.

Federation for Children with Specials Needs
The Federation is a center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families.

Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center - Harvard Law School
The Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center is a general practice law office. The Center is a laboratory for innovative approaches to the delivery of high quality, civil legal assistance, and has an active caseload. The Center does direct student representation around special education issues and around student discipline. Intake for these services is done through Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC).

Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC)
Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC), formerly Massachusetts Advocacy Center, is a private non-profit organization dedicated to being an independent and effective voice for children who face significant barriers to equal educational and life opportunities.

South Middlesex Legal Services, Inc.
Provides free legal services in special education matters in towns in Central Massachusetts. The mission of South Middlesex Legal Services is to provide legal advocacy to protect and advance the rights of the poor, elderly, disabled and other disenfranchised people in our service area (listed below) in obtaining legal, social and economic justice.

Special Needs Advocacy Network (SPAN)
SPAN is an association of advocates and others concerned about the special needs of children and young adults with disabilities. The mission and purpose of SPAN is to develop and promote a functioning and supportive network of child advocates.

National Links/Resources

Americans with Disabilities Act Document Center
This website contains copies of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), ADA regulations, and technical assistance.

Center on Human Policy - Syracuse University
The Center on Human Policy (CHP) is a Syracuse University based policy, research, and advocacy organization involved in the national movement to insure the rights of people with disabilities. Since its founding, the Center has been involved in the study and promotion of open settings (inclusive community opportunities) for people with disabilities.

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (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.

The EDLAW Center, Inc.
The EDLAW Center was established to provide assistance on a systemic level to attorneys who represent parents of children with disabilities. The Center works with parents, schools and attorneys representing both sides to identify problem areas and develop possible solutions at the systemic level.

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.

TASH
TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm.

U.S. Department of Justice - American with Disabilities Act
This website provides information, technical assistance and resources about the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).