Special Education

I. Special Education Resources II. the Laws III. Special Ed in NYC

What is Special Education? According to state law, special education is "especially designed instruction… provided at no cost to the parent, to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities." (8 N.Y.C.R.R. 200.1(kk))

AFC provides an overview of Special Education Services in New York in our Frequently Asked Questions regarding Special Education Services.

Special Education Resources on the Internet is a very extensive source for information on all aspects of Special Education.

Wrightslaw: The Special Ed Advocate is a fabulous resource for advocating for children with disabilities, as is the Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. website, which provides extensive information for parents and advocates in New York City.

There is a new and improved New York State Special Education website from the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID). This site features policy information, publications, and help for parents.

The Family Information Network About Disabilities from the NYSED contains helpful documents for parents, as does the Family and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE). The Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support website has a number of valuable documents, including sample IEPS.

For specific disability information, the NICHCY Disability Fact Sheets has a page for each individual disability, with information and helpful facts.

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