It's a good idea to learn as much as you can about special education.  You can learn more by:

• Reading
• Going to trainings
• Talking to professionals

Reading

• Special Education Rights and Responsibilities
  • You can get this book online
  • http://www.pai-ca.org/PUBS/504001SpecEdIndex.htm
• Special EDge Newsletter
  • California Department of Education
  • http://www.calstat.org/specialEdge.html
• Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004
  • The Department of Education
  • http://idea.ed.gov/

Attending Trainings/Talking to Professionals

Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs)

• Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) – Serving Southern California
  • 714-533-8275
  • E-mail: taskca@yahoo.com
  • Website: http://www.taskca.org/
• For other locations
  • Website: http://www.taalliance.org/centers/region6.htm

Community Parent Resource Centers

• Chinese Parents Association for the Disabled
  • 626-307-3837
  • E-mail: cpad@jackstorm.net
  • Website: http://www.cpad.org
• Fiesta Educativa
  • 323-221-6696
  • E-mail: info@fiestaeducativa.org
  • Website: http://www.fiestaeducativa.org
• Loving Your Disabled Child
  • 323-373-0323
  • E-mail: cooper4327@sbcglobal.net
  • Website: http://www.lydc.org
• Parents of Watts
  • 323-566-7556
  • E-mail: pow90059@yahoo.com
  • With Loving Your Disabled Child
• Vietnamese Parents With Disabled Children Association (VPDCA)
  • 714-527-9216
  • E-mail: hgnguyen@vpdca.org
  • With Loving Your Disabled Child
• For other locations
  • Website: http://www.taalliance.org/centers/region6.htm

Family Empowerment Centers

• Westside Family Resource Centers
  • 310-258-4063
  • E-mail: family@westsiderc.org
    
• Family Focus Empowerment Center
  • 818-677-5575
  • E-mail: family.empower@csun.edu
  • Website: http://www.csunfamilyfocus.com
    
• San Gabriel/Pomona Parent's Place FRC
  • 626-919-1091
  • E-mail: empower@parentsplacefrc.com
    or warmline@parentsplacefrc.com
  • Website: http://www.parentsplacefrc.com
    
• For other locations
  • Website: http://www.cafec.org

Area Board X

• 818-543-4631
• E-mail: ab10@scdd.ca.gov
• Website: http://www.areaboard10.org

Protection and Advocacy

• 1-800-390-7032
• E-mail: infor@pai-ca.org
• Website: http://www.pai-ca.org
  
• Protection and Advocacy Office of Client's Rights Advocacy (Los Angeles)
• 213-427-8761 or 1-866-833-6712
• Website: http://www.pai-ca.org/OCRA/index.htm