Massachusetts Organizations

Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN)
Is a wonderful resource. They offer both educational workshops and information.
Have questions about your child's IEP?  Need an Information specialist?
They offer free educational courses to parents and hold a yearly conference.

Federation's Boston Office

NEW ADDRESS
Federation for Children With Special Needs
The Schrafft Center
529 Main Street, Suite 1102
Boston, MA 02129
617-236-7210
FAX: 617-241-0330
(Old address: 1135 Tremont Street, Suite 420, Boston, MA 02120)

The Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE )
Has many helpful publications regarding special education (i.e. SPED regulations , 'Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS ', Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks , 'A Parent's Guide to Special Education Manual, and IEP Process Guides ).   They are also responible for Problem Resolution of IEP or lack of following the law/regs.

350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
781-338-3000
www.doe.mass.edu
 

Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools ( MAAPS )
17 Lakeside Office Park
Wakefeild, MA  01880
781-245-1220
 www.spedschools.com/sped.html

(also see our 'Schools' web page)

Massachusetts  School Psychologists Association (MSPA)
167 Milk Street, Suite 478
Boston, MA 02109-4315
781-273-9400
email: MSPA1@aol.com

Need legal advice?

Disabilities Law Center (DLC)
Provides legal services to eligible people and groups whose cases meet the following DLC priorities:
1) Representation of children who are out of school
2) Representation of children to obtain maximum inclusion opportunities
3) Representation of children whose current placement exposes them to a significant risk of harm.

11 Beacon Street - Suite 925
Boston, MA  02108
617-723-8455
www.dlc-ma.org

Massachusetts Advocacy for Children (MAC)

1. Boston School Reform
2. Inclusion/Special Education, which includes the Somerville and Autism projects
3. Children's Law Support Project, focusing on the priority populations of children affected by domestic violence, homeless children, children expelled or suspended from school and children with disabilities.  The CLSP supports the Education Law Task Force.

Center for Law & Education (CLE)
Provide help, as availability permits, on a fee-for-service basis. This includes, for example, other legal assistance generally in an 'of counsel' capacity to attorneys representing students in matters pertaining to obtaining quality education and improved educational outcomes. Assistance may also be provided in cases raising significant legal issues affecting the civil rights of students from low-income families. In addition, CLE attorneys are available to provide training to attorneys, parents and/or educators about the right of all students to participate in all programs and to attain high standards.

Monroe C. Gutman Library
Collection's primary focuses are educational administration and policy,  elementary and secondary education, teachers and teaching, educational innovations, educational  psychology, human development, language acquisition, and the history of education.  HGSE Alumni use the library at no charge, others can visit and pay a fee for access.

Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE)
6 Appian Way
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-3423 Circulation Desk

United States Military Support Organizations  
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory U.S. Department of Defense enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical, and personnel services worldwide to U.S. military families with special needs.

Service members on active duty enroll in the program when they have a family member with a physical, developmental, or emotional or mental disorder requiring specialized services so their needs can be considered in the military personnel assignment process.

Family members must be screened and enrolled, if eligible, when the service member is on assignment instructions to an OCONUS (outside the continental United States) area for which command sponsorship/family member travel is authorized, and the service member elects to serve the accompanied tour. This screening consists of medical records review for all family members, and developmental screening for all children 72 months (6 years) of age and younger.

Service members are responsible for keeping their EFMP enrollment current as exceptional family member conditions change, or at least every three years, whichever comes first.

The U.S. Coast Guard does not participate in the EFMP program since it is not a Department of Defense branch. Instead, USCG members are required to register in the Coast Guard Special Needs Program by contacting work-life staff at the nearest Integrated Support Command.

Each service has its own specific program governed by the following references:

• Army - Regulation 608-75
• Navy - OPNAVINST 1754.2
• Marine Corps - MCO P1754.4A
• Air Force - AFI 40-701 Medical Support to Family Member Relocation and Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
• Coast Guard - COMDTINST 1754.7A
  

Local support organizatons:

Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line

Parent Advisory Council/Committee (PAC), are required by state law. Each school district is required to create a district wide SPED PAC. Many of our state's PAC how have website, please review our list.

Minute Man Arc for Human Services (MMAHS)
Minute Man Arc serves infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays and individuals of all ages with specific developmental disabilities and their families. The Agency serves the nine-town catchment area of Concord, Carlisle, Lincoln, Bedford, Acton, Boxborough, Maynard, Stow and Littleton. In addition, numerous families from many surrounding towns, including Sudbury, Wayland, Arlington, Lexington and Burlington, also access the agency's services. They offer a variety of community-based services including:

· Early intervention services for children from birth to 3, who have or are at risk for developmental delays due to biological, medical or environmental factors;
· A range of family support services to respond to the changing needs of families, such as the after-school program;
· Recreational opportunities including Special Olympics and respite services for both children and adults with disabilities;
· Vocational day services to help individuals acquire the vocational, social and personal skills necessary to find gainful employment options in the local economy 
· Transportation to and from job sites and people's homes for work and recreation; 
· Residential services in a variety of settings from small apartments for one or two to homes for up to eight adults; 
· Information, training and referral services to families, staff, professionals and community members.


Minute Man Arc for Human Services, Inc. 
1269 Main Street
Concord, MA 01742
978-371-1543
www.minutemanarc.org

 

	One of our orginal webpages, created September 10, 2002, by Melody Orfei Webpage last modified on March 28, 2019 - V14, by Melody Orfei
mel3sons@gmail.com