General Information
- Information for Families
Find information and support regarding early intervention services.
Getting Help
- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Get a free consultation for your child. - Parent Support
Find community resources, including a toll-free support line. - Family Involvement
Learn how to stay involved in your child’s care through early intervention. - Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Development
Learn how to create a plan for your child’s care. - Specialty Services
Learn about the services available to children with autism, complex medical needs, vision loss, hearing loss, and other conditions. - Transportation Assistance
Learn how to get transportation for a child involved in early intervention.
- A Parent’s Guide to Special Education
Learn the ins and outs of special education with a guide developed by the Federation for Children with Special Needs and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE). - The Special Education Process
Find out the steps parents and teachers must take to determine if a student is eligible for special education services. - Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Find information and forms for IEPs — programs developed to make sure children with special needs receive specialized instruction and services — including an IEP process guide. - Special Education in Institutional Settings
Find out about special education programs other agencies offer in institutional settings, including public health hospitals, county houses of correction, programs for adjudicated youth, and psychiatric hospital settings.
Transitioning
- Transitioning from Early Intervention to Special Education
Learn more about transitioning from early intervention to special education services at age three. - Secondary Transition
Find resources on transitioning from secondary education to adult life. Students on IEPs receive transition services from their public school districts from age 14 until graduation or age 22.
- Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA)
Find out about hearings, mediation, advisory meetings, and other options to resolve disputes between families, schools, state agencies, and other parties involved in special education. - Share Your Concerns
Need to report an issue at a school? Submit a Problem Resolution System Intake Form by mail, fax, or email to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Program Quality Assurance services. - Disability-Specific Resources and Agencies
Find special education information related to specific disabilities and related state agencies. - Federal Laws to Protect People with Disabilities
Become familiar with the specific federal laws protecting people with disabilities. - Guidelines for Parent Advisory Councils (PACS)
Join a special education PAC to stay informed about and get involved in special education programs at your local school. - MassPAC
Access information, training, and networking opportunities with PACs across the state.