Based on the civil rights principle of equal educational opportunity, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures an appropriate education for all students with disabilities. The 1997 IDEA amendments mandate that parents of children with disabilities have the right to be involved with the school district in decision-making about their children's education, meetings and records. However, some parents of children in special education believe that schools do not welcome their participation. Parents of children with autism constitute a group of parents who continually struggle with concerns about the poor quality of education their children receive. Their perseverance in obtaining not even an ideal, but an "appropriate" education for their children requires the continuous involvement of parents. These parents often report feeling that the educational system views them as demanding, hostile, and intrusive adversaries (Hart, 1993; Jordan & Powell, 1995; Muskat & Redefer, 1994). To improve parent/school relationships, fulfill educational rights and improve services for children with autism in schools, it is important to learn more about the lives of these students and their families. The aim of this study was to explore the life issues (both domestic and educational) of a group of parents of children with autism. The information collected on these topics forms the basis of concrete guidelines suggested to teachers and administrators to follow to improve school/parent relationships and services for this population. A broader utility of this study is to inform educators and policy makers about the experiences of these parents to foster a better understanding of the perspectives of parents of students in special education. Building… half of the document… represents an important first step in improving the implementation of policies and services for this unique and growing population. References Autism Society of America (1999). Homepage of the Autism Society of America. [Online]. Available at www.autism-society.org.Bebko, J.M., Konstantareas, M.M., & Springer, (1987). Parental and professional ratings of family stress associated with autism features. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17(4), pp. 565-577.Hart, C. A. (1993). A parents' guide to autism. New York: Pocket Books.Jordan, R. & Powell, S. (1995). Understanding and teaching children with autism. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Muskat, L. R. & Redefer, L. A. (1994). Pitfalls in educational programming for autistic children in the United States of America. US Department of Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 406 794.