New tool from the Council of Autism Service Providers equips parents with expert guidance on accessing special education in the public school system
LEXINGTON, S.C., Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP), a national nonprofit organization representing hundreds of autism service providers, today released a new support and advocacy tool for parents, "Public Special Education for Children with Autism: Five Things Parents Should Know," on TheSpectrum.org.
"The start of a new school year can look and feel very different for the families of children with autism or a suspected developmental delay," said Lorri Unumb, chief executive officer of CASP. "Resources like this can help those parents effectively advocate for their children's educational needs and legal rights within the public school system."
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), every child is guaranteed a free and appropriate public education designed to meet their individual needs at no cost to families. This handout will help families with:
- Early Intervention and Preschool Support Services: Learn how to secure state-administered Early Intervention (EI) programs for eligible toddlers under age three and when to transition to local public school districts.
- School Evaluations: Understand special education evaluations and other early intervention resources, including how to also access therapies outside of school, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA), to close developmental gaps.
- Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): Learn what is an IEP, what it should map for a child's learning experience in school, who is involved in creating it, and how it should track progress.
Sara Weinkauf, PhD, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®), LBA, serves as vice president of education and resources for CASP and is part of the "Ask a BCBA" community support team available at TheSpectrum.org. On accessing special education programs, Dr. Weinkauf notes that for parents at this time of year, it can feel complicated and hard to initiate.
"As families navigate the resources available to them, the search itself can feel overwhelming, especially during back-to-school as a transitional season or following a new diagnosis," said Dr. Weinkauf. "This new resource will help inform families of their rights, clarify school procedures to access special services, and help foster strong partnerships between parents and educators so every student gets the support they need to thrive."
Dr. Weinkauf explained that a child does not need a formal medical diagnosis of autism or other disability to be evaluated for special education services through the public school system, and that they can receive support services even if enrolled in another school or before kindergarten if deemed eligible.
To download the new parent guide, submit general special education questions to Dr. Weinkauf and the "Ask a BCBA" community support team, or explore additional educational video content, visit http://TheSpectrum.org.
About TheSpectrum.org
TheSpectrum.org is an online resource developed by the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP). It serves as an educational hub that provides a library of videos and resources on applied behavior analysis (ABA) as an autism intervention. The goal is to empower parents of children with autism by offering objective information and fostering community conversations to help them make informed decisions about their child's care. Learn more at TheSpectrum.org.
About CASP
Founded in 2016, the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) is a non-profit trade association of more than 485 autism service provider organizations from all 50 states and multiple countries. It supports members by cultivating, sharing, and advocating for best practices in autism services. From developing clinical practice guidelines for ABA to educating legislators about good policy, CASP works every day to ensure autistic people receive quality care. Learn more at CASProviders.org.
Media Contact
Kathy Berardi, TheSpectrum.org, Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP), 1 6786444122, [email protected], https://thespectrum.org/
SOURCE TheSpectrum.org, Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP)
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