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My IEP Toolkit from organized4kids.com will help you organize and understand the piles of paper related to your child's IEP. A portion of the proceeds from each Toolkit sold by Federation referral helps support our work!

The Federation receives a percentage of all purchases made through this link. Learn more about the Federation's association with Amazon!

The Federation is a center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families. We can help! Organized in 1975 as a coalition of parent groups representing children with a variety of disabilities, the Federation operates a Parent Center in Massachusetts which offers a variety of services to parents, parent groups, and others who are concerned with children with special needs.

What's New
- FCSN Executive Director Rich Robison discusses Advocacy in Part 4 of the 10-part WGBH special report Educating Everyone: The Struggles and Costs of Special Education in Massachusetts.

- The APPLE Project is Recruiting for the Parent Leadership Development Institute Spring 2010 Session

- Legislation has been introduced in both the US House and Senate to restrict the use of restraint and seclusion in schools.

- MassPAC Leadership Institutes and Webinars will be held in January, February and March. Visit the MassPAC trainings page for more details and specific dates.

- Boston College and Northeastern University Researchers Seeking 10–11 Year Olds Needing to Develop Proficiency in Social Pragmatic Language Skills (PDF Brochure)

- If you missed the October 20, 2009, Topical Conference Call about the MRC Home Modification Loan Program, hosted by the MA Family-to-Family Health Information Center, you can download the handouts and listen to the playback.

Paying Tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

- Transition Experience Survey - The Federation for Children with Special Needs is gathering data about students in Massachusetts who were between 14-22 years of age during the 2008-2009 school year. If you are the parent of, advocate for, or are a student of Transition age please take a moment to participate in our survey.

- APPLE Project Brief. (PDF) This report discusses the experiences of Massachusetts’ school districts that participated in the Advancing Parent/Professional Leadership in Education (APPLE) Institutes over the past four years. Research surveys and interviews with parents of children with IEP’s were used to develop a list of strategies for creating and running successful parent advisory committees for special education programs.

- Technical Assistance Advisory (SPED 2009-2) from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding the Observation of Education Programs by Parents and Their Designees for Evaluation Purposes.

- The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued a new Special Education advisory concerning Services for Young Children with Disabilities, Ages Five and Six, in Preschool Program.

- Accessible Textbooks: A Guide for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities...

- Legal Planning for Special Needs In Massachusetts: A Family Guide to SSI, Guardianship, and Estate Planning...

- Parent Consultant Trainings- Become an advocate. Read more about the course schedule and application process.

- IDEA resource materials from NICHCY...

- IDEA website from the US Department of Education. Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004...