Family Resource Center on Disabilities

The Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD), formerly the Coordinating Council for Handicapped Children, is a non-profit advocacy organization. Established in 1969, the center is dedicated to improving services for all children with disabilities by providing support and services to affected families, informing parents of their rights under the law, and helping parents become advocates for their children. The center also seeks to educate and train healthcare professionals and volunteers. In 1976, the Family Resource Center on Disabilities was one of five pilot programs to operate a parent center funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. There are now over 100 federally funded parent centers in the United States. The center offers family support services, information and referral services, and transition services that prepare disabled high school students for adulthood. Special education rights training and the Parent-to-Parent Training Project help parents become effective advocates in their communities. The center also offers a variety of educational and support materials. These include a monthly newsletter, a pamphlet series, and manuals concerning the basics of organizing parent advocacy groups. Other publications distributed by the center include the provisions of the Federal Rehabilitation Act and its amendments and current federal and state special education rules.