You got a denial.
Here's what to do next.
A denial letter is designed to sound final — it isn't. These guides walk you through exactly what to do in the days and weeks after a denial, step by step, so you're not figuring it out alone.
IEP Denial Guide
Covers the timelines you're working with, your rights under IDEA, and what "prior written notice" actually means when a school district uses it. Walks you through how to request an IEP meeting and what to say once you're in it. By the end, you'll know exactly when it's time to file a state complaint or request due process.
Medicaid and Insurance Appeal Guide
Covers how to read an EOB without a translator, what your appeal window actually is, and how insurers define "medical necessity" — plus how to argue against it. Shows you when and how to request an external review once internal appeals are exhausted. You'll finish knowing which arguments carry weight and which are a waste of your time.
Housing and Placement Denial Guide
Covers how the waiver process works, how to formally appeal a placement denial, and how to request ADA accommodations tied to housing. Details exactly which documentation strengthens your case and which paperwork gaps get denials upheld. You'll leave knowing what to submit and when.
ADA Accommodation Request Guide
Covers what legally qualifies as a reasonable accommodation and how to put a request in writing so it can't be waved off. Walks through what to do the moment a request is denied, including which complaint bodies have jurisdiction. You'll know how to make your next request harder to ignore.
General Escalation Framework
Covers when a situation has crossed the line from "wait and see" to "escalate now," and who to escalate to at each stage. Lays out the order of escalation steps so you're not skipping levels or burning options too early. Includes how to document everything along the way, because that record is what makes escalation work.
How to use these guides
Start with the guide that matches the denial in front of you — most families know within a sentence which one that is. If you're not sure, start with the General Escalation Framework; it'll orient you and point you toward the right specific guide. These are educational resources built to get you moving with confidence, not legal advice, so treat them as your starting point, not your only one.
Sometimes a guide isn't enough.
When a situation is complex, contested, or high-stakes, a guide gets you oriented — but an attorney gets you results. If you're at that point, the next step is finding the right one.
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