Special Education

Families & Guardians

The Parent Hub in the Special Education section of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website is a place for families of students with disabilities. It offers easy-to-understand information like the Parent's Guide to Special Education, the Notice of Procedural Safeguards, and tips for choosing a special education advocate. These tools can help parents learn about their rights and how to work with schools to support their child. Families can also find information about assistive technology, learning materials, and how to help children move smoothly from early childhood programs to school. By sharing these resources, DESE helps families stay informed and involved, which is an important part of making sure all students with disabilities get the support they need to succeed.

National Organizations/Resources

  • New England INDEX
    New England INDEX, a project of the UMass Medical School located at the Shriver Center, provides information about programs and agencies, physicians, dentists, and consultants that serve people with disabilities. INDEX also coordinates the Mass Network of Information Providers (MNIP), a multi-agency collaboration that provides telephone information and referral at over 50 sites across the state (800-642-0249).

  • ECTA Center: For Families
    ECTA Center: For Families: provides resources to help you help your child develop and learn, explains how early childhood supports and services can help your child, and gives you ways to share your family's experiences to benefit others.

  • IDEA Resource Center
    IDEA Resource Centers: provides information and technical assistance to families of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.

Last Updated: June 3, 2025

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