Family Support & Dispute Resolution Branch

The Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch (FSDR) fosters family engagement and positive family/system partnerships through the provision of technical assistance and support to a statewide network of family support specialists serving families of children with disabilities. The Branch facilitates informal dispute resolution by responding to parent inquiries, assisting parents with navigating Maryland’s early intervention and special education systems, and connecting parents with community resources and local personnel who can assist with concerns. Additionally, the Branch ensures the dispute resolution processes under the IDEA are available and conducted in accordance with all requirements. DEI/SES staff investigate and resolve formal complaints that allege violations of State and federal IDEA requirements regarding the special education of students with disabilities and maintain data and reports on the dispute resolution processes, including complaint investigations, mediations, and due process hearings.

Family Support Services Birth-21

Dispute Resolution Resources

Amharic | Arabic |  Chinese |  French |  Haitian |  Korean | Polish |
Portuguese |  Russian | Spanish |  Tagalog |  Urdu |  Vietnamese

Amharic | ArabicChineseFrenchHaitianKorean |
PolishPortugueseRussianSpanishTagalogUrduVietnamese

Amharic | Arabic ChineseFrenchHaitianKorean |
Polish |  PortugueseRussian SpanishTagalogUrdu Vietnamese

Amharic | ArabicChineseFrenchHaitianKorean |
PolishPortugueseRussianSpanishTagalogUrduVietnamese

Amharic | ArabicChineseFrenchHaitian |  Korean |

Reports

State Complaint Letters of Finding


Contact:

Alison Barmat
Chief, Family Support & Dispute Resolution Branch

alison.barmat@maryland.gov

Vacant
Section Chief, Complaint Investigation Section

Kenneth Hudock
Section Chief, Family Support Services Section

Maryland State Department of Education 
Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services 
200 West Baltimore Street 
Baltimore, MD 21201 
Phone: (410) 767-7770 
Fax: (410) 333-066