Support

Learn more about the Special Education Legal Fund and how you can help financially disadvantaged families find guidance in navigating the special ed system.
About Us
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Grants

Learn about our grant guidelines and application requirements and explore whether you qualify for S.E.L.F. funding to help ensure your child receives an appropriate education.
FAQs
Together we can help families help their kids

Access a free and appropriate public education

S.E.L.F. Pop Quiz

How many Connecticut special ed students are outplaced in specialized schools?

6,000

About 6,000 Connecticut special ed students are outplaced in specialized schools,

How much can a special education "due process" hearing cost a family?

$50,000

A special education “due process” hearing can cost a family $50,000 in legal fees.

How many students in Connecticut are considered "special ed"?

75,000

About 75,000 children in Connecticut are considered “special ed”

S.E.L.F.’s mission is to level the special education playing field for all families.

The Need for S.E.L.F.

Although a free and appropriate public education is a right guaranteed to all students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the realities of special education in the US can be quite different. Parents and educators may disagree on the appropriate education of a student with specific needs: its goals, scope, and execution.

In Connecticut, the legal cost to bring a special education case to a due process hearing can be in excess of $50,000. These financial realities make protecting a child’s rights in special education inaccessible to all but the very affluent.

Learn more about S.E.L.F.
12.3 million or 1 in 6 children aged 3 thru 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities.

What S.E.L.F. Does

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Targets

S.E.L.F. provides grants for legal assistance to economically disadvantaged families with children in the special education process.
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Supports

S.E.L.F. gives families a voice in their children’s future by funding necessary legal support so families have guidance in navigating the public schools system.
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Provides

S.E.L.F. provides qualifying families in need with the means to secure an appropriate education for their children, which is critical to their future success.

Meet the S.E.L.F. Team

Christine W. Lai (Executive Director/Co-Founder) is a longtime advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities and currently is a director of NEXT for Autism.

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Christine Lai

Ulrika Drinkall (Board Chair/Co-Founder) has been advocating for children with special needs, including her 9-year old son, for over 6 years. 

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Ulrika Drinkall

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