Educational Advocacy

The UNM Women's Resource Center collaborates with academic units and provides a range of learning opportunities through the programs and services offered. These services are accessible to all genders and parents in the community, whether UNM students, faculty and staff or Albuquerque community members. The program's available services include a library containing educational information regarding social issues impacting women, free in-person and remote mental health care for students, staff, and faculty, a family-friendly computer lab with printing access, a scholarship opportunity for single parents attending UNM, a Gendered Violence Prevention Program, and chest or breastfeeding support programs which include lactation stations and resources. The UNM WRC also provides resources for various topics such as feminism, activism, violence, women's health, parenting, sexual orientation, LGBTQIA+, and personal finance. These resources are available through counseling, group meetings, access to clinics or healthcare, campaigns, and the library.

The Special Education Division will work with districts, parents, and SWDs to ensure that kids protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act get a free and adequate public education (IDEA). We'll use data to make judgments on how to help SWDs fulfill college and job readiness criteria by providing equal access to demanding courses and high-quality training. Their website includes more information and resources on Data reports for transparency within the agency, Autism Spectrum Disorder, PreK, and much more.(*Note: Please click on "Special Education Division Staff," to specifically get in contact with someone within the agency for more information).

The New Mexico Public Education Department collaborates with educators, communities, and families to ensure that ALL children are healthy, confident in their identities, and well-prepared for college, profession, and life; and believe that New Mexico students are part of a culturally and linguistically sensitive educational system that caters to all students' social, emotional, and academic needs. PED provides a wide range of services and supports regarding education in the state of NM such as: College and Career Readiness, Early Education, Licensure, Special Education, Policy and Legislative Affairs, and much more (please see their website and click on "About Us: Departments/Bureaus" for more information.

The IEP Specialist Liaison is responsible for directing programs that give educational help to students with mental, psychological, learning, behavioral, or physical challenges as part of a school's instructional leadership team.

Navajo Family Voices is the Family Voices Affiliate Organization (FVAO) and Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2FHIC) on the Navajo Nation. They are families of children and youth with extra health needs, providing help and support to other families on the Navajo Nation. They find resources & build partnerships among Diné families, health providers, schools, non-profits, and extended families. They also provide direct services in connecting families with resources and have an attorney on staff who can help with legal information.

Assists state programs funded under Part C and Part B-Section 619 of the IDEA, providing early intervention/early childhood special education information.

Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education

The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) is an independent, nonprofit, §501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates, parents and related professionals. COPAA focuses on the rights of children who receive special education services and supports, and who are eligible to be served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other statutes. This includes working to ensure that children with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). COPAA endeavors to improve the quality and quantity of legal assistance for parents of children with disabilities. COPAA does not represent individual parents but provides a network to assist, train, and inform advocates, attorneys, parents, and related professionals.

Member Search: Parents who are looking to find a special education attorney, a special education advocate, or a related professional may look up referrals in the COPAA Member Directory. This directory is to serve as a resource for members and the public to find attorneys, advocates and other professional who belong to COPAA and advocate on behalf of children with disabilities.

Department of Education is committed to:

• Developing policies for federal educational financial aid, as well as disbursing and monitoring such monies.
• Data about America's schools is being collected, and research is being disseminated.
• Bringing critical educational concerns to the attention of the entire country.
• Discrimination is prohibited, and all students have equal access to education.
• Provides information and information for those wanting more information Student Loans, Grants, Laws & Guidance, and Data.

*Note, contact info page lists multiple contact emails for different inquiries, please read thoroughly.

Provides an informational website that is ran by the US Department of Education and discusses more in-depth about IDEA, which is a law that ensures all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.