Are you the parent of a child with autism that has been trying to advocate, for a specific educational service for your child? Are you the parent of a child with learning disabilities, who feels that they need an Orton-Gillingham based reading program, but have no been able to convince special education services? Prior Written Notice (PWN) may help you in your fight. This article will discuss what the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires as far as PWN, so that you can use it to advocate for needed educational services, for your child. Prior written notice must be given according to IDEA, "whenever the local educational agency (your local school district) a. they propose to initiate a change or b. refuses to initiate or change, the identification, evaluation or educational placement of the child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education to the child." PWN must contain: a. Description of the action proposed or refused by the agency;