California families searching for California special education resources — or for a special education advocate in Los Angeles or an IEP advocate in Beverly Hills — are in the right place. This page gathers the references families across greater Los Angeles use most, from the California Department of Education (CDE) and its Special Education Division to the California Education Code and the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), where California due process hearings and mediations take place.

California’s special education rules differ from other states in important ways: assessments are governed by strict timelines under the Education Code, every district belongs to a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), and parents have specific procedural safeguards and dispute-resolution options, including mediation, due process complaints, and compliance complaints filed with CDE. The Parent Rights & Procedural Safeguards document, published by California SELPAs, is the official starting point for understanding those rights.

Families of children with developmental disabilities in California may also be eligible for services through the regional center system, created by the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act — separate from, but often complementary to, what the school district provides. We help families coordinate both systems.

And when you are ready for help applying these resources, we serve families across greater Los Angeles — from Beverly Hills and Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach and San Marino. Explore our advocacy services or reach out for a free consultation.

Browse California Resources by Topic

Use the categories below to find California legal references, parent organizations, and support groups.

California’s system can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate it alone. We attend IEP and 504 meetings across LAUSD, BHUSD, SMMUSD, and the other districts we serve, and we are glad to help you use the resources above to get your child the support they deserve.