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Date: 09/13/2025

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School & Education

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Students with disabilities

Resources to help you if you are a parent of a student with a disability A substantial impairment that functionally limits a person in carrying out major life activities, such as walking, lifting, seeing, or learning. .

Understanding the special education process
Learn about the overall process for children to get special education services, including testing, creating an IEP, and what to do when you disagree with the school.
Guide
Understanding discipline of special education students
A student with a disability can be suspended for the same reasons as a student without a disability. But there is a limit to how many days a student with a disability may be suspended in the same school year.
Guide
Resolving special education conflicts
Explains how to resolve conflicts in special education.
Guide
Requesting a special education evaluation
Learn how to ask the school to evaluate your child for special education and related services.
Text article
504 plans
Learn about when a student may be eligible for a 504 plan, how 504 plans are different than IEPs, and what to do if you disagree with the school about a 504 plan.
Text article
Filing a complaint with the board of education
Describes the process of reporting to the ISBE that your child's school is not following special education laws.
Text article
What is a manifestation determination review or MDR?
Describes the process of deciding whether a child's behavior was a result of their disability.
Text article
Housing programs for minors and people with disabilities
Information for minors and persons with disabilities about federal housing programs for independent living.
Text article
Special education evaluations and eligibility
Learn how the testing process for special education works and the eligibility criteria for children to qualify for help.
Text article
Going to a due process hearing for special education
Step-by-step guide on how to request a due process hearing for a special education issue, and how the hearing works.
How-To
Special education due process hearings
Explains due process hearings for special education.
Text article
Expelling a student with a disability
Describes the process of expelling a student with disabilities.
Text article
Setting up an individualized education program or IEP
Describes the Individualized Education Program for students with special educational needs.
Text article
Mediation for Special Education
Describes how mediation may be useful when resolving conflicts about Special Education.
Text article
Handling a school suspension for a child with a disability
Steps to handle your child's suspension from appealing the suspension to looking into a behavioral intervention plan.
How-To
Asking the school for behavioral help for my child with a disability
Describes how parents can ask the school for help if they are concerned that their child with a disability needs behavioral support. Explains how the school can complete a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and then create a behavioral intervention plan (BIP).
Text article
Early intervention services for children with disabilities
Explains Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) for children with disabilities up to 3 years old.
Link
Special education due-process litigation
Attorney resource that explains the special education process, dispute resolution procedures, remedies, and practice tips.
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© 2025 Illinois Legal Aid Online. 
All rights reserved.
 
ILAO is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ILAO's tax identification number is 20-2917133.