Lexington families navigating special education services have a new directory of local, regional and statewide organizations to call.
LexSEPTA, the Lexington Special Education Parent Teacher Association, published a four-page Community Resource Guide listing disability and special education resources for families in the Lexington area. The guide, reviewed Sept. 29, combines and updates two earlier September 2026 drafts.
The guide covers four areas: state agencies, community and family connections, schools and advocacy, and specialist resources for hearing and vision.
Where to start
The guide opens with a note for families: "Start with the organization that fits your question; location alone does not determine service eligibility."
For families new to the system, the first section points to the DDS Central Middlesex Area Office in Acton (978-206-2050), which handles eligibility and service coordination for Lexington residents. The Riverside Family Support Center in Burlington (978-655-3801) offers family navigation, workshops and transition support, though its flexible funding requires Department of Developmental Services eligibility and prior approval.
The Federation for Children with Special Needs, a statewide organization reachable at 617-236-7210, provides parent information, special education workshops and transition resources. Family TIES of Massachusetts, a program within the federation, helps families navigate early intervention services.
Local and regional connections
Closer to home, the guide lists Cotting School in Lexington, a special education school founded in 1893 that serves roughly 120 students ages 3 through 22. Cotting is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, according to the school's website.
The LABBB Educational Collaborative, which counts Lexington among its six member districts alongside Arlington, Burlington, Bedford, Belmont and Watertown, provides special education programming for over 300 students. Families interested in LABBB are directed to contact their school team about the referral process, according to the collaborative's website.
Minute Man Arc in the Concord area offers services for children and adults with disabilities, including therapeutic services, employment support, recreation and housing. The Association for Autism and Neurodiversity, based in Watertown, and the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress round out the community connections section.
What families should know
The guide is free to download.
It closes with advice: before contacting any program, ask about eligibility, referrals, costs, waitlists, language access and accommodations.
The Lexington Public Schools Special Education Department, led by Executive Director of Student Services Laura Spear and Director of Special Education Sara Fenzel, is based at 173 Bedford St. and can be reached at 781-861-2580, according to the district's website. The department serves students with disabilities ages 3 through 22.
LexSEPTA operates two arms: LexSEPAC, the Special Education Parent Advisory Council that meets regularly with Lexington Public Schools administration, and LexSEPTA, the parent teacher association that hosts speakers, workshops and family meetups. The group's next community event is the 2026 Battlegreen Run, a 1.2-, 3- and 5-mile walk and run on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Lexington High School.
