Comprehensive directory of special needs resources and support services in Georgia. Find government services, educational programs, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
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Georgia parents have comprehensive rights under federal IDEA and state regulations. You are a required member of your child's IEP team, and your input should carry real weight in decisions about your child's education. Before the school district can conduct an initial evaluation or provide special education services for the first time, they must obtain your informed written consent. If you refuse consent for services after your child has been found eligible, the district cannot use mediation or due process to override your refusal—your decision stands.
You have the right to examine all education records related to your child, and the school must respond to your request without unnecessary delay and before any IEP meeting or hearing. Georgia requires schools to provide you with prior written notice a reasonable time before they propose or refuse to initiate or change your child's identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of FAPE. This notice must be in language understandable to the general public and in your native language or other mode of communication, unless it's clearly not feasible to do so.
If you disagree with an evaluation the school has conducted, you have the right to an independent educational evaluation at public expense. The school can either grant your request or file for a due process hearing to show that their evaluation was appropriate. Georgia offers several dispute resolution options: mediation (voluntary and free), state complaints (filed with the Georgia Department of Education), and due process hearings (more formal with binding decisions). The Parent to Parent of Georgia organization provides peer support and can connect you with other families who've navigated similar situations.
Georgia schools provide a range of services depending on individual student needs. These include specially designed instruction, speech-language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, psychological services, counseling, and assistive technology. The IEP team decides which services your child needs based on their evaluation and goals.
Services can be delivered in different settings. Georgia uses a continuum from least to most restrictive: general education with consultation, general education with co-teaching, resource room for part of the day, separate special education classes, separate schools, and homebound or hospital services. The team starts with the least restrictive option that can meet your child's needs.
Georgia requires schools to provide supplementary aids and services to help students succeed in general education. This might include modified assignments, preferential seating, extra time, or a paraprofessional. The idea is removing barriers so your child can learn in the regular classroom with supports rather than automatically pulling them out.
For students with significant support needs, Georgia offers specialized programs for students with autism, deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and orthopedic impairments. These programs provide intensive, specialized instruction from teachers with specific training.
Georgia's special education process starts when a child is referred for evaluation, either by parents or school personnel. Once you provide written consent, the school system has 60 calendar days to complete the evaluation. Note that this is 60 calendar days, not school days, which means evaluations continue through summer and school breaks. The evaluation must be comprehensive and look at all areas of suspected disability, not just the most obvious ones.
If your child is found eligible for special education, an IEP team meeting must be held to develop the individualized education program. Georgia requires this IEP to include measurable annual goals designed to meet your child's needs that result from their disability and enable them to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum. The IEP must also include a statement of the special education and related services, supplementary aids and services, and program modifications that will be provided. For students age 16 and older (or younger if appropriate), the IEP must include transition services.
Georgia has been working to improve outcomes for students with disabilities through initiatives like Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), which provides a framework for supporting all students, including those with disabilities. The state also emphasizes inclusive practices and least restrictive environment requirements. Georgia's Parent Mentor Partnership program connects parents of children with disabilities to trained parent mentors who can provide support and information. If you're struggling to get services or have concerns about implementation, don't hesitate to reach out—there are people and organizations ready to help.
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State special education regulations, resources, and parent guides
www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-Education-ServicesState services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities
dbhdd.georgia.gov/division-developmental-disabilities1 resource
Assistive technology resources and device lending library
www.gatfl.gatech.edu1 resource
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Parent Training and Information Center offering free support and advocacy
www.p2pga.orgAdvocacy and resources for Georgians with developmental disabilities
gcdd.org1 resource
While we strive to keep all resource information current and accurate, services and contact details may change. We recommend verifying information directly with each organization before making important decisions. This directory is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute professional advice.
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