Connecticut’s State Department of Education (SDE) Call Center: 860-713-6966, Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
SDE’s Call Center staff provide callers with information and resources related to special education laws and the rights and protections of students receiving special education services. See https://portal.ct.gov/sde/press-room/press-releases/2023/pr-102-bse-call-center
Connecticut’s State Department of Education (SDE) maintains a list of special education resources for CT families here: https://portal.ct.gov/sde/services/special-education/resources-for-families
SDE’s Parents’ Guide to Special Education in CT is available here: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Special/Parents_Guide_SE.pdf
State Department of Education Special Education Bureau: (860) 713- 6910 or https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Special-Education/Bureau-of-Special-Education
Staff members at this division of CSDE address complaints and concerns from families of students receiving special education services in CT.
Disability Rights Connecticut, Inc. (DRCT): 800-842-7303, or 860-509-4992 (videophone).
Email ed.clinic@disrightsct.org or see https://www.disrightsct.org/
Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) is an independent, statewide, non-profit that protects and advances the legal rights of people with disabilities. DRCT’s Education Rights Clinic is open to students and families of students with disabilities, including students with special education needs or students who have or may need 504 plans. Clinic appointments will provide an opportunity for callers to talk with advocates, law students, and attorneys.
CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC): (860) 739-3089 or https://www.cpacinc.org/default.aspx
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Inc. (CPAC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that offers information and support to families of children with any disability or chronic illness, age birth through 26. The Center is committed to the idea that parents can be the most effective advocates for their children, given the confidence that knowledge and understanding of special education law and its procedures can bring. CPAC is staffed by parents of children with disabilities who have training in, and personal experience with, the law and disability issues.
State Education Resource Center (SERC): (860) 632-1485 or https://ctserc.org/
SERC provides resources, professional development, and a centralized library to educators, families, and community members in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Education and other partners.
African-Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities (AFCAMP): (860) 548-9959 or http://www.afcamp.org
AFCAMP educates, empowers, and engages parents and the community to improve the quality of life for children with special needs and others at risk of education inequity or system involvement.
FAVOR, Inc.: 860-563-3232 or http://www.favor-ct.org/
FAVOR, Inc. is a statewide family-led, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that partners with families to advocate for improvements in educational and health outcomes for children who have medical, mental, emotional, and behavioral health challenges.
SpEdConnecticut:
SpEdConnecticut, Inc., known as the Learning Disabilities Association of Connecticut for many years, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the educational experience of children with disabilities. They provide information, training, and advocacy support to families as they seek appropriate educational services for their children with special education needs.
Center for Children’s Advocacy: (860) 570-5327 or https://cca-ct.org/
The Center for Children’s Advocacy is a nonprofit law firm which fights for the legal rights of Connecticut’s most vulnerable children, including those who have disabilities, are homeless, are committed to the Department of Children and Families, or are confined due to justice system involvement. CCA’s educational attorneys advocate to ensure that all of Connecticut’s most vulnerable children receive equal access to an education and appropriate supports and programming.
If you wish to consult with a private attorney, or a non-attorney educational advocate who specializes in educational advocacy, the following is a good starting point for your search: http://connect.copaa.org/network/find-a-professional
The Special Education Legal Fund (S.E.L.F.) can help to provide financial assistance to families who are seeking legal representation for special education matters: www.spedlegalfund.org