Parent Resources
National Hubs & Inclusion Resource Guides
General Guidance: Link to Understood.org, an excellent, user-friendly hub for families navigating learning and thinking differences.
National Hubs: Embed the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), which links families to local Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs).
Inclusion Resources: Provide tools from the Inclusive Schools Network to help parents understand the benefits of inclusive classrooms.
Local Agencies
CSIU Partnership: Link to the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU 16)
Columbia, Montour, Snyder, and Union Counties, CMSU. It is a local government-operated, non-profit "joinder" agency in Pennsylvania that provides community mental health, intellectual disability, and drug and alcohol services to residents across those four countiesCMSU
Pathways to Success: From Early Intervention to Adult Transition
A comprehensive master list of disability and special education acronyms to help parents, educators, and administrators navigate the field's dense "alphabet soup." Finding your way through a child's educational roadmap often means encountering an overwhelming wave of abbreviations during meetings, evaluations, and paperwork. This official CPIR Acronym Resource serves as an essential reference tool, decoding critical terms from medical diagnoses to legal mandates
Early intervention services offer specialized support and therapies for infants and toddlers under age three who are experiencing developmental delays or disabilities. These family-centered services are provided in natural environments, like your home or childcare center, to help your child build foundational skills and thrive during their most critical years of growth
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/early-learning-child-care/early-intervention-service
Learning Disabilities & ADHD: Include LD Online for articles and advice on learning disabilities, alongside the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA).
Transition services are a coordinated team effort built into your child's IEP by age 14 or 16 to help them smoothly move from school to adult life. This planning focuses on your child's unique strengths and interests to set them up for success in higher education, future employment, and independent living.
https://www.pasecondarytransition.com/
School-based speech-language services support students who face challenges with communication, articulation, fluency, or processing language. Our certified therapists work directly with students to build the vital communication skills they need for academic success, social confidence, and classroom participation.
Official Pennsylvania IEP Guidelines, Safeguards, & Services
PA Procedural Safeguards Notice: Embed the mandatory state-issued legal rights guide that parents must receive during the evaluation process. Procedural Safeguards
Annotated IEP & Evaluation Forms: Link directly to PaTTAN Special Education Forms, allowing parents to view step-by-step annotated guides of Pennsylvania IEP and Evaluation Reports.
Official PA Parent Guide: Feature the PA Parent Guide to Special Education for School-Age Children from PaTTAN, which maps out state-specific timelines and requirements.
School-based speech-language services support students who face challenges with communication, articulation, fluency, or processing language. Our certified therapists work directly with students to build the vital communication skills they need for academic success, social confidence, and classroom participation.
Statewide Advocacy & Support Hubs
The PEAL Center: Highlight the PEAL Center Home or their PEAL Center Parents Section, which serves as Pennsylvania’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center.
PDE Family Resources: Provide a link to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Family Engagement Program for wider student and community initiatives.
CHIP Pennsylvania: Link to the state's Children's Health Insurance Program to help families check eligibility for free or low-cost comprehensive healthcare
Connect with Pennsylvania Special Education Support Networks
Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania connects families of children and adults with special needs to experienced volunteer peer mentors for free, confidential support. Through this network, regional coordinators match you with a support parent from a database of over 1,200 volunteers who share similar experiences navigating physical, developmental, or educational challenges.
https://www.pattan.net/Collaborative-Partnerships/Parent-to-Parent-of-Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) offers a comprehensive directory of trusted organizations, toolkits, and support networks specifically for special education families. Curated by Family Support Specialists, these materials are designed to empower parents, promote high expectations, and help you confidently navigate the special education system.
https://www.pattan.net/Collaborative-Partnerships/Engaging-with-Families/Resources-for-Families
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education provides quality educational supports across the Commonwealth. They partner with educators, schools, and families statewide. This page connects you to essential programming