The Pennsylvania Bar Association and 25 county bar associations are launching a statewide informational campaign, "Have a Voice in Your Exceptional Child's Education," which provides parents and guardians an overview of the special education rights of students with disabilities and mentally gifted students.

"A parent or guardian who knows or believes a child has problems learning or is mentally gifted often has many questions about the steps that must be taken to ensure that evaluations are properly completed and, when needed, educational programs and services are put into place to best support that child," said Francis X. O'Connor, PBA president, during a news conference at the state Capitol rotunda.As part of the informational campaign, O'Connor said the state bar and participating county bar associations are distributing brochures titled "Education Rights for Students with Disabilities" and "Education Rights for Mentally Gifted Students." To receive a free copy of the brochures by mail, contact the PBA toll-free at 888-799-4557. The brochures also are available on the association's website at

www.pabar.org.