Your special education advocate in Illinois
Every student with a disability has the right to a free appropriate education. Our Special Education Rights Clinic is here to help you learn your rights, answer your questions, and get your child the support they need.
Advocating for equality in education
Equip for Equality is the federally mandated, governor-appointed Protection & Advocacy System for people with disabilities in Illinois, including students with disabilities. We fight to help students get the education they are entitled to by:
- Train parents about the rights of their students
- Train professionals about students’ legal rights
- Talk with parents on our helpline about their student’s problems
- Offer customized advice and guidance
- In limited cases, we represent students in IEP meetings, mediations, expulsion hearings, and even in court.
Preparing for an IEP meeting IEP meetings are your chance to tell the school what is working and
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
If your child is having trouble with school work, has a hard time making friends, struggles to follow
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
An IEP is the plan that you and the school come up with to help your child do
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
A 504 plan provides accommodations for students with disabilities. Find out if this could help your child succeed
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Early Intervention is a program that gives therapy to children who are younger than three years old and
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Deadlines are very important in special education. If you miss a deadline or if the school misses one,
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
If your child is having trouble with school work, has a hard time making friends, struggles to follow
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Parents and guardians of students with disabilities who have IEPs or 504 Plans have a legal right to
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
As a student in special education, you child can get special services and therapies to help him succeed
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Transitions plans help get your child ready for life after high school.
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Many students in special education can get free transportation to and from school, even if that means a
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Students with special health or medical needs may qualify for an IEP or 504 Plan. Both plans give
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Unlike summer school, extended school year is for students who would be set back too much if they
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Federal law says your child should be in classes with typically developing classmates as much as possible. This
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Assistive Technology Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, or software that helps children with disabilities
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
If you think your child’s special education rights were denied, there are a few ways you can file
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
When you and the school disagree about how to educate your child, you can ask for mediation.
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
If your child's behavior problems are caused by her disability, the school must find ways to help your
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
If your child is being made fun of for his disability to the point that he is not
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
When you have a big disagreement with the school that you can't fix on your own, a due
- School & Education Rights, Special Education & Accommodations
Your Rights Matter
Have more questions? Call our Special Education Rights Parent Helpline.
1-866-KIDS-046 (1-866-543-7046)