SEPTA - resources

Westport
	Westport Board of Education, Special Education All about Westport services, resources for Parents
Local support groups
	Special Education Network of New Canaan, Ltd. (SPEDNET) A network of parents interested in special education issues. SPEDNET has seminars during the school year, maintains a listserv, has a variety of books and videos to lend to members, provides handouts and information, and publishes a newspaper. See their excellent links page for web resources categorized by disability, state and local agencies and support groups, and more. See also: Upcoming Events.
	Fairfield SEPTA A group of parents striving to improve the education and social interactions and recreational opportunities of their children with special needs. Serves all families of children with IEPs in the Fairfield Public Schools.
Connecticut, State
	Connecticut State Department of Education
	Special Education Resources
	Resource Directory of Educational Programs and Practices (a large pdf file)
	District profiles
	No Child Left Behind: School District Reports
	SERC: Special Education Resource Center (Middletown) This is the essential first place for a parent of a child in special education to become an informed advocate. The center is run by the Connecticut Department of Education. Parents should call and request the free Resource Package for Parents of Children with Special Needs, which includes the CT special education statutes with commentary. SERC membership (free) includes a subscription to the newsletter which announces new materials acquired by their library and upcoming workshops. SERC maintains an extensive library of books and materials relating to special education and specific disabilities.
	Department of Public Safety - 9-1-1 Special Needs Form If you want the 9-1-1 operator and emergency response staff, (the police department, fire department, or emergency medical staff) to know that you, or someone living in your household, has a medical condition or disability, complete and mail the attached form. The mailing address is on the form.
Legal issues
	Wrightslaw This comprehensive website is devoted to helping parents obtain the services their children are entitled to. They publish a free email newsletter, The Special Ed Advocate, which you can subscribe to on the site. They also have many articles archived on the site giving specific advice on how to deal with school systems and what your child's rights are under the law.
	Edlaw Edlaw maintains a website with an electronic library with texts of statutes, a list of attorneys specializing in children with disabilities, and publishes a monthly digest of developments in special ed law available by paid subscription.
	Reed Martin Esq. Special Education Informational Resource for Parents, Advocates, Attorneys and School Personnel Advocating for Children with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Behavior/Emotional Disorder, and More.... Free Email Newsletter, Free Advocacy Tip of the Week, Special Education Articles, Questions and Answers, and more.
General Special Education and Advocacy
	CACLD: Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities (Norwalk) A non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with LD and ADD. They provide advocacy, information and referral, have a bookstore, research library, and bibliographies. They run workshops, seminars and conferences and provide individual consultations.
	CPAC: Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (Niantic) Organization which informs parents about their children's rights under the special education laws in Connecticut. Parent assisters answer questions and provide assistance and information by phone for free.
More links
	The Sibling Support Project The Sibling Support Project of the Arc of the US includes SibNet and SibKids, the Internet's only listservs for and about brothers and sisters of people with special health, developmental, and emotional needs. Both SibKids (for younger siblings) and SibNet (for older siblings) allow brothers and sisters an opportunity to connect with their peers from around the world. They are warm, thoughtful, and informative communities where young and adult brothers and sisters share information and discuss issues of common interest. Anyone who has email can subscribe.