Trusted parent guides, legal references, and state-by-state resource collections for IEP and 504 advocacy.
Whether you are new to the special education process or deep into an IEP dispute, the right resources make a real difference. Ballou Education has gathered the most useful parent guides, legal references, and support organizations for families of children with disabilities, learning differences, and twice-exceptional (2e) profiles — organized by state so you can quickly find what applies to your child in Arizona or California.
Every family should start with the federal framework: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal law that guarantees eligible children a free appropriate public education; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which protects students with disabilities from discrimination; and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). From there, the resources that matter most depend on the state your child attends school in.
Our Arizona resource collection includes the Arizona Department of Education’s Exceptional Student Services division, Arizona’s Parent Rights Handbook, Arizona statutes and administrative rules, and organizations serving Arizona families. Our California resource collection covers the California Department of Education, SELPA resources, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) for due process and mediation, and the regional centers that serve families under California’s Lanterman Act.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — the federal special education law, regulations, and guidance.
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) — federal resources for parents of children with disabilities.
Arizona Department of Education — Exceptional Student Services — Arizona’s special education agency.
California Department of Education — Special Education Division — California’s special education agency.
Understood.org — practical guides for learning and thinking differences.
Choose the state where your child attends school. Each page is curated for that state’s laws, agencies, and parent organizations.
Schedule a free consultation to talk through your child’s IEP or 504 plan and find out how we can help.
