Nevada PEP Parent Training and Disability Advocacy Resources

Nevada Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) is the state's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, offering free workshops, individual consultations, and resource referrals to families of children with disabilities from birth through age 26. If you're navigating the transition to adult services and don't know where to start, PEP is usually the first call.

What Nevada PEP Offers

PEP provides:

• IEP and transition workshops — training on your rights under IDEA, how to prepare for IEP meetings, and understanding transition planning requirements under Nevada's NAC 388.284
• Individual consultation — one-on-one guidance with a parent consultant who can help you understand evaluations, draft IEP goal suggestions, and prepare for meetings
• Transition-specific support — help understanding the transfer of rights at age 18, Supported Decision-Making agreements, and the application processes for adult services (SSI, Medicaid, ADSD regional centers)
• Spanish-language services — bilingual staff serving the large Spanish-speaking population in Clark County
• Community connections — referrals to local agencies, support groups, and other organizations

PEP operates offices in Las Vegas and Reno. All services are free, funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

When PEP Helps Most

PEP is strongest as an educational resource. If you need to understand what your rights are, what questions to ask at an IEP meeting, or how the SSI application process works, PEP's workshops and consultations fill that gap effectively.

PEP staff attend IEP meetings with families, review documents, and coach parents through the process. They're knowledgeable about Nevada's specific regulations and can point out when a school district is not following NAC requirements.

When You Might Need More

PEP cannot represent you legally. If your child's school district is denying services, refusing to evaluate, or you need to file a due process complaint, PEP can explain the process and help you prepare — but they cannot serve as your legal representative at a hearing.

For disability-rights advocacy, information, or referrals, the Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center (NDALC) is the state's federally funded Protection and Advocacy organization. NDALC provides:

• Disability-rights advocacy and information — services for qualifying, disability-related matters within NDALC's program priorities
• SSI appeal resources — NDALC's current intake guidance lists Social Security applications and appeals among requests it does not handle; contact it to confirm current availability or request a referral
• Guardianship and alternatives information — contact NDALC to ask whether its current programs cover a disability-rights question; its intake guidance generally excludes assistance becoming a guardian
• Systemic advocacy — NDALC works on policy issues affecting all Nevadans with disabilities

Contact NDALC at (702) 257-8150 (Las Vegas) or (775) 333-7878 (Reno).

Advocate vs. Attorney

The question families ask most is whether they need a special education advocate or an attorney. Here's the practical distinction:

An advocate (like PEP's parent consultants or independent educational advocates) attends meetings with you, helps organize documentation, and coaches you on strategy. They cannot file legal complaints or represent you in formal proceedings.

An attorney can file due process complaints, represent you at hearings, negotiate legally binding settlements, and take enforcement action. Special education attorneys in Nevada typically charge $200–$400 per hour, though NDALC services depend on eligibility, program priorities, and available resources.

For the transition to adult benefits specifically — coordinating SSI, Medicaid, ADSD, and BVR — you typically don't need legal representation unless an application is denied and you're filing an appeal. The coordination challenge is organizational, not legal: tracking multiple agencies' deadlines, gathering evidence for each application, and making sure no coverage gaps develop.

The Nevada SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide is designed to fill exactly that organizational gap — structured checklists, application tracking worksheets, and timeline coordination that turn the multi-agency process into a step-by-step plan you can follow without hiring anyone.

See more Nevada guides →