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You are your child’s most important advocate. To best support your child, you may need information about your child’s specific diagnosis, early intervention services (for a baby or toddler), special education services (for a preschool or school-age child), social security benefits, and much more. Here are some resources to help you be their best advocate and support your child’s growth, development, and well-being.

These resources can help you learn about the laws that ensure your child has access to the supports and services they need to thrive as well as programs and services that help children with disabilities.

Understand the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

This resource provides an overview of IDEA, a law that makes sure that all eligible children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.

This resource provides information on the different aspects of IDEA and helps you learn about resources that may be available to you and your child.

Learn about Services Available to Help

This resource helps you learn about developmental screening services and what to do if you have a concern about your child’s development.

Learn about early intervention services required by IDEA, Part C. These services help eligible infants and toddlers (younger than age 3 years) with developmental delays and disabilities and their families to support children's development. Early intervention focuses on helping infants and toddlers learn the skills that children typically develop during the first 3 years of life. See the Center for Parent Information and Resources’ "Overview of Early Intervention" to learn more about eligibility and available services.

IDEA defines special education as “specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.”1  To be eligible for special education services, a student (between the ages of 3 and 21 years) must have an identified special need that impacts their ability to learn and requires that they receive services so that they may participate in school. The Center for Parent Information and Resources’ “10 Basic Steps in Special Education” provides an overview of the special education process.

Learn About Financial Supports for Children with Disabilities

Learn about how SSI provides financial assistance to help meet the basic needs of children who have a physical or mental disability or who are blind. If you care for a child or teenager with a disability and have limited income and savings or other resources, your child may be eligible for SSI.

Read the "SSI for Children Infographic" to learn who is eligible and how to apply.

Visit the “Financial Assistance for Families” page to learn more about other financial assistance options.

If you have a child with a disability, explore services and financial help available to cover the extra costs of necessary services and care for your child.

Find Parent Education and Support

Parent education and support services are available to help you care and advocate for your child with disabilities.Child using walker holding adult's hand.

  • Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers: There are nearly 100 Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) across the states and territories. These centers work with families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities (from birth to 26 years of age) and help them participate effectively in their children’s education and development. Visit the "Center for Parent Information and Resources" to see contact information for PTIs and CPRCs in your state.
  • Additional Parent Support Services: To find additional parent support services available in your area, select your state or territory on the “See Your State’s Resources” page and click on the “Child Development and Early Learning” tab.

Find Services in Your State or Territory

ChildCare.gov provides you with direct links to services that support children with disabilities and their families available where you live.

  • To find developmental screening services, select your state or territory and review the “Child Development and Early Learning Resources” page. 
  • To learn about special education and early intervention services that are available to you and your child with disabilities, select your state or territory and review the “Health and Social Services” page.

Find Support for Military Families of Children with Disabilities

If you are a military family, there are specific resources available to help you support your child with a disability.

Military OneSource The Department of Defense (DOD) funds Military OneSource, a 24/7 gateway to trusted information, resources, and confidential help.

  • Military OneSource provides resources to help you navigate special education, child care, and much more. Visit Military OneSource for information about benefits, resources, and support, or speak directly to a special needs consultant.
  • Military OneSource also offers many resources to help military families understand the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), which is a mandatory DOD program that helps military dependents with disabilities. The EFMP & Me Tool helps military families navigate through the DOD’s network of services and support for families with children with disabilities.

Note: To access these services, you must be an eligible DOD service member, an immediate family member of an eligible DOD service member, a Gold Star family, or a military academy cadet. To find out if you are eligible, see “Military OneSource Confidential Help Eligibility.”

The Branch Military Parent Technical Assistance Center also provides additional resources for military families with children with disabilities.


1 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1401 (2004).