Find help
People who can help
You don't have to do this alone. These organizations can explain your options and help you prepare. Most are not law firms.
We say an organization is free only when its own website says so. Otherwise we tell you the cost is not stated, so you can ask when you contact them.
Virginia
disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)
Protection and advocacy agencyVirginia's designated Protection and Advocacy organization. Its website says it provides legal services and direct representation as resources allow, so not everyone who contacts it will receive representation; people can request services through its website. Whether services are free was not stated on the page read.
May provide legal help in some cases. Phone: 1-800-552-3962. Details checked 2026-10-28.
Cost not stated on its website
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Parent training and information centerVirginia's Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), as described by VDOE. PEATC describes itself as a nonprofit offering free and confidential help to families of children with disabilities, with information, trainings and workshops, special education dispute resolution toolkits and communication templates, and help in many languages. Its pages read did not say it provides legal representation.
Not a law firm. Phone: 703-923-0010. Details checked 2026-10-28.
Free, according to its website
Virginia Department of Education, Office of Dispute Resolution
State education agencyVDOE office that administers state complaints, due process complaints and mediation for special education. VDOE's page lists email ODRAS@doe.virginia.gov; no phone number was shown on that page. It is a state agency office, not legal counsel for families.
Not a law firm. Details not yet verified.
Cost not stated on its website
VDOE says its Ombudsman for Special Education acts as a source of information and referral and helps answer questions and resolve concerns. VDOE also encourages parents to resolve concerns at the local school division level first. Not a legal representative. Contact email shown on the VDOE page: SpecialEducationOmbudsman@doe.virginia.gov.
Not a law firm. Phone: (800) 422-2083. Details checked 2026-10-28.
Cost not stated on its website
A VDOE service that VDOE says serves as a resource to parents in non-legal special education matters, and as a source of information and referral. It is not legal counsel and does not decide disputes. Email: SpecialEducationOmbudsman@doe.virginia.gov.
Not a law firm. Phone: 800-422-2083. Details checked 2026-10-31.
Cost not stated on its website
National
National center offering information and resources to the Parent Center network (Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers); its site says it was produced under a U.S. Department of Education OSEP award (No. H328R230009) and lists its contact as c/o Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN). Families can use its Find Your Parent Center locator page to find their state's parent center. Not a legal service.
Not a law firm. Phone: (973) 642-8100. Details checked 2026-10-28.
Cost not stated on its website
Federal office that enforces Section 504 and Title II of the ADA in education programs. Families can file a discrimination complaint; OCR says a complaint must ordinarily be filed within 180 days of the last act of discrimination, with a waiver process. OCR investigates complaints; its page did not say it represents families. No phone number was shown on the pages read.
Not a law firm. Details not yet verified.
Cost not stated on its website