PACER Center is the parent advocacy resource that most autism families never hear about and that every family with a child in special education should know cold. Founded in Minnesota in 1977, PACER has expanded into a national reach with online courses, free publications in 22 languages, and one of the most usable IEP-and-special-education libraries available anywhere. It is parent-built, parent-led, and almost entirely free.

What PACER actually does

PACER operates as a national parent center, providing direct technical assistance to families navigating special education, transitions to adulthood, bullying response, and youth mental health. Their workshops cover everything from IEP basics to advanced due-process strategy. Their publications library is over 100 free guides written for parents in plain language, including translations into Spanish, Hmong, Somali, and many more.

Programs worth knowing

  • National Bullying Prevention Center — PACER founded this in 2006 and runs the largest national resource hub on disability bullying.
  • Youth + Family Mental Health programs — for families navigating mental health systems alongside special ed.
  • National Family Advocacy Support & Training (FAST) — for families of kids with emotional and behavioral support needs.
  • Transition resources — for the 14-22 age range when special ed exits and adult services begin.
  • Free publication library — practical guides on IEP, evaluations, behavior plans, advocacy strategy.

When to point families at PACER

If a parent has just received the first IEP and does not know how to read it, PACER's IEP guide is the cleanest starting point. If a family is facing bullying that the school is not addressing, the Bullying Prevention Center has the templates and strategy. If parents need workshops they can attend remotely from anywhere, PACER's calendar is one of the strongest in the country.

How PACER differs from your state PTI

Every state has a federally-funded Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). Yours is the first stop for state-specific advocacy. PACER is the national-level resource for content depth — they publish the materials many state PTIs use. Use both. They complement each other.

Find them: pacer.org. Sign up for their newsletter. Browse the publications library before you need them.

Source briefs (internal): webearish-audit-2026-05.md

Disclaimer: educational content from autistic adults and the autism family community. Not medical or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for medical and legal decisions specific to your situation.