This is an independent guide, not a government office. We are not Orange County Government, the Orange County Department of Mental Health, or NYS OPWDD, and we cannot determine eligibility or enrol anyone in a program. For official help call the county Developmental Disabilities Services Division on 845‑291‑2600 or see orangecountyny.gov.

Orange County NY
DD Connection
An independent guide for families

Special education law

Wrightslaw and special education advocacy in Orange County

This page has been here, under this name, since the county division ran training with Wrightslaw for local families.

What Wrightslaw is

Wrightslaw is an independent United States resource on special education law, advocacy and IEP practice, run by Pete and Pam Wright. It publishes case law, articles and training material, and it is one of the few places parents can read the actual legal framework rather than a district's summary of it.

Years ago the Orange County Department of Mental Health's Developmental Disabilities Division brought Wrightslaw training to local families, which is why this page exists at this address and why wrightslaw.com still links here.

Where that training went

The county division no longer runs that programme from this website, and the archived agendas and handouts that used to sit on this page were tied to events that have long passed. Rather than republish dated material, this page points to the current sources.

Using it for a New York case

Wrightslaw is national, so it covers the federal framework under IDEA. New York layers its own education law and regulation on top, and your appeal route runs through New York's process: mediation, an impartial hearing, then appeal. Read Wrightslaw for the principles and your district's procedural safeguards notice for the mechanics.

Where to go next

Advocacy and school

Which system handles which dispute, and how to put a request on the record.

wrightslaw.com

The source itself: law, articles and advocacy training.

County DD Services

Advocacy and mediation through the Orange County division.

Verified 2026-08-31.