The System
Support Systems
for ‘ohana and keiki.
Hawaiʻi Families As Allies (HFAA) helps families of children with disabilities, behavioral health needs, and other challenges.
They provide peer support, training, information, and connections to community resources. HFAA’s team includes parents and caregivers with lived experience who understand the challenges families may face and can help them navigate education, healthcare, and support systems.
For families looking for guidance, support, and opportunities to strengthen their advocacy skills, HFAA can be a valuable resource.
State of Hawaii, Department of Health Children with Special Health Needs Branch (CSHNB) helps families connect children with disabilities and special health care needs to services and supports.
They can assist with developmental screenings, care coordination, specialty services, transition planning, and other resources that support a child’s health and development. In some situations, CSHNB staff or providers may participate in school meetings to help explain how a child’s medical or developmental needs affect their education.
For families navigating health, disability, and school-related challenges, CSHNB can help connect supports across home, healthcare, and education.
Parent Advocacy Support
Special Parent Information Network (SPIN) helps parents find information, resources, and support for raising a child with a disability.
They can answer questions, connect families with services and programs, provide referrals, and share information about special education and community resources. SPIN also offers guides, newsletters, trainings, and events to help parents better understand the systems that support their child.
For families looking for information, connections, or a place to start, SPIN can help point them in the right direction.
Leadership in Disabilities & Achievement of Hawai’i (LDAH) helps parents learn how to advocate for their child at school.
They provide free information, training, workshops, and one-on-one support to help families understand special education, IEPs, Section 504 plans, and disability rights. LDAH can help parents prepare for meetings, understand school documents, and learn how to participate as informed members of their child’s educational team.
LDAH’s goal is to help families feel more confident navigating the special education process and speaking up for their child’s needs.
HCAN Speaks! Hawaii Childrens Action Network helps parents and community members learn about laws and policies that affect Hawaiʻi’s children and families.
They provide information, advocacy opportunities, and ways for families to get involved in public policy and community issues. HCAN Speaks! helps people understand how decisions made by lawmakers can impact education, health, and services for keiki.
For families who want to speak up, get involved, and help create change, HCAN Speaks! offers tools and opportunities to participate.
Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is a group that helps advise the Hawaiʻi Department of Education on issues affecting students with disabilities.
The council includes parents, individuals with disabilities, educators, and community members who share concerns and recommendations about special education services across the state. SEAC does not handle individual complaints or disputes, but it can raise awareness of problems families are experiencing and help shape policies that affect students with disabilities in Hawaiʻi.
For parents interested in improving the special education system or sharing concerns that affect many families, SEAC provides an opportunity for public input and community involvement.
Legal and Advocates
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) is a national organization that helps parents learn about their child’s rights in school.
They provide information, training, and resources about special education, Section 504, and disability rights. COPAA also helps connect families with advocates, attorneys, and other parents who have experience navigating school systems.
For parents who want to better understand the law, prepare for meetings, or strengthen their advocacy skills, COPAA offers tools and support to help.
Advocacy Project by Legal Action helps families when they are having problems getting the special education services and supports their child needs at school.
They can help parents understand IEPs, review school documents, answer questions about special education rights, and provide legal representation in more complex disputes. Their work focuses on helping students with disabilities receive the services and protections they are entitled to under the law.
For families facing challenges with an IEP, evaluations, services, or school decisions, HawaiiSPED may be a resource for advocacy and legal support.
Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center (HDRC) helps protect the rights of people with disabilities.
They can help families understand disability rights, investigate concerns, and provide advocacy when a person with a disability may be facing discrimination or barriers to services. HDRC may assist with issues involving special education, Section 504 plans, disability accommodations, access to services, or concerns about abuse and neglect.
In some cases, HDRC may provide legal assistance or representation, depending on the situation and their eligibility guidelines.
Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi provides free legal help to people who cannot afford an attorney.
They can help with problems involving housing, public benefits, family issues, consumer problems, and other civil legal matters. They also offer information, workshops, and self-help resources for people who need to understand their rights or handle legal issues on their own.
For families facing legal challenges, Legal Aid may be able to provide advice, representation, or guidance depending on the situation and eligibility requirements.
