Learn
Clear, sourced guides to the systems that shape your life. Pick an area to see its topics, then open AskALLE to read the full guide or ask Alle a follow-up question.
Words Worth Knowing
Explore the terms and acronyms you’ll encounter along the way: more than 240 of them, from IEP and MET to ALTCS and AAC, each explained in plain English and Spanish.
Explore by Area
Conditions & Differences
What each diagnosis means, in plain words
See 9 topics
- Neurodivergent
- Autism
- Autism levels and Asperger’s
- How diagnoses are grouped (DSM-5-TR)
- ADHD
- Intellectual disability
- Down syndrome
- Learning disabilities
- Girls and women
Getting Evaluated
Finding, paying for and understanding an evaluation
See 8 topics
- Choosing an evaluator
- Paying for an evaluation
- Helping an adult child get evaluated
- Adult diagnosis: is it worth it?
- After a late diagnosis
- When conditions overlap
- Will my child outgrow this?
- Fine at home, struggling at school
Education
Rights, IEPs, 504 plans and working with the school
See 11 topics
- IEP or 504 plan: what’s the difference?
- School evaluations: what to expect
- IEP goals and tracking progress
- Who’s at an IEP meeting, and who can I bring?
- When you disagree with the school
- Behavior plans (FBA and BIP)
- Suspension, discipline and early pick-ups
- Restraint and seclusion
- Charter, private and home schools
- Finding an advocate
- Diploma or staying in school until 22
Healthcare
Therapies, mental health and insurance
See 6 topics
- Therapies and options
- Complementary & alternative medicine
- Mental health and getting help
- After a mental health hospitalization
- When private insurance denies therapy
- Books that helped
Support & Services
DDD, paid caregiving, planning for adulthood and housing
See 8 topics
- DDD and ALTCS
- Getting paid to care for your child (PPCG)
- Getting paid to care for a family member
- Turning 18: guardianship and other options
- Special needs trusts and ABLE accounts
- Finding a home
- Facing eviction or losing benefits
- Disability laws: IDEA, 504 and ADA
Family, Rights & Safety
Talking about a diagnosis, fair treatment and staying safe
See 6 topics
- Talking with your child about their diagnosis
- Explaining a diagnosis to family and others
- If you’re treated unfairly because of a disability
- Police and safety: preparing for an encounter
- Worried about abuse or neglect
- If your child wanders or runs off
Where our information comes from
We use the most current information we can find from official and credentialed sources: federal and state agencies (like the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education, AHCCCS and Arizona DES), laws and regulations, published research, and respected professional and nonprofit organizations. We also share lessons from families’ lived experience, and we say when we do.
- Official: government agencies, laws and regulations.
- Research and professional: peer-reviewed studies, universities, and professional groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Trusted nonprofits: parent centers, disability rights and advocacy organizations.
- Businesses and blogs: used for ideas only, never as the only source.
Each topic shows when it was last checked.
Can’t find your question? Ask Alle.
Alle is AskALLE’s AI guide. Ask in your own words, in English or Spanish, and get plain answers with next steps and trusted sources.
Need Immediate Support?
Help is available when you need it.
- Emergency or immediate danger: Call 911.
- Mental health crisis: Call or text 988.
- Arizona Statewide Crisis Line: Call 1-844-534-4673.
AskALLE™ gives general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. For decisions about your situation, talk with a qualified professional.
