ASK Resource Center

What ASK Resource Center does

ASK Resource Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, designated as the state's sole Parent Training and Information (PTI) center under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B. Founded in 1991 by two parents of children with special needs and operating statewide since 1997, the organization serves Iowa families of children with disabilities through parent training, individualized information and referral, advocacy support, and peer mentoring via the ASK Each Other Mentor Program, coordinated across all nine Area Education Agency (AEA) regions of the state.

The organization's service portfolio comprises direct family support (workshops, one-on-one consultations, IEP and special-education advocacy), professional development delivered at low or no cost to educators and providers, and a structured peer-mentor matching program that pairs experienced parents with newly referred families. There is no proprietary technology platform underlying service delivery; all interaction is human-mediated across in-person, phone, and workshop channels, with a staff of approximately 16 to 18 employees.

The business model is grant-funded and non-transactional. Services are provided free of charge to Iowa families and at low or no cost to professionals, with revenue derived primarily from a single Iowa Department of Education contract valued at $1,044,680.51 covering March 2024 through February 2025, supplemented by federal discretionary grants and limited private donations typical of PTI-designated centers. The PTI designation itself functions as the organization's competitive moat: federal IDEA funding flows to one PTI per state, and ASK Resource Center holds Iowa's slot.

Name

ASK Resource Center

Legal name

ASK Resource Center, Inc.

Website

https://askresource.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASK Resource Center is Iowa's sole Parent Training and Information (PTI) center, providing free training, advocacy, and peer mentoring to families of children with disabilities statewide since 1991.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Parent & Caregiver Training for IEP Navigation (EDAKACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Parent training information
• Special education support
• IEP meeting assistance
• Disability resource center

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ASK Resource Center's primary revenue comes from government funding. The organization received $1,044,680.51 in first-year funding through a performance-based contract with the Iowa Department of Education (IDEA, part B funding for special education services ages 3-21), with potential for up to five one-year extensions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ASK Resource Center is a nonprofit that provides parent training, information, and advocacy to families of children with disabilities in Iowa. Services include one-on-one assistance from Family Support Specialists, the ASK Each Other Mentor Program, individualized training and professional presentations, a curated Resource Library, support groups, and events/webinars. The organization operates as Iowa's only Parent Training and Information (PTI) center, with staff regionally distributed across all nine Iowa AEA regions.

Product overview

ASK Resource Center is a non-profit parent training, information, and advocacy center offering a suite of support services for families of children with special needs across Iowa. The organization operates as a single integrated service portfolio rather than a technology platform, providing Family Support Services (one-on-one assistance from trained specialists), the ASK Each Other Mentor Program (peer support from trained volunteers with lived experience), Training and Presentations for professionals and organizations, a Resource Library with educational materials, and Events and Webinars including virtual and in-person support groups. All services for families are free; professional services are low to no cost.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASK Each Other Mentor Program: A support group program where parent mentors share lived experiences about disability with others, providing stories, answers to questions, unbiased information, community connections, and emotional support.

Products and services

• Family Support Services One-on-one assistance provided by Family Support Specialists to families of children with disabilities across Iowa; covers navigating disability law, IEP preparation and meeting attendance, rights under IDEA/Section 504/Chapter 19, and connection to community resources.
• ASK Each Other Mentor Program Peer mentoring program connecting parents who have experience navigating disability systems with other parents of children with disabilities to share knowledge and support.
• Training and Presentations Customized training sessions and presentations on disability law, IEP processes, and best practices for families and for professionals serving people with disabilities.
• Resource Library Curated collection of informational materials and resources for families of children with disabilities and the professionals who serve them.
• Events and Webinars Webinars, conferences, and other events hosted to educate families and professionals on disability topics.
• Support Groups Statewide support groups facilitated by ASK that offer parents of children with disabilities a community for shared experience, advocacy skills, and ongoing peer connection.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 70,000 Iowa students receive special education services, all of whom can benefit from ASK's advocacy support

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Iowa Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2024The Iowa Department of Education announced a partnership with ASK Resource Center to provide advocacy support services for families of children with disabilities across Iowa. Through this partnership, ASK provides family support specialists and professionals who help families understand their rights in accessing services for their children in and outside the classroom. ASK is staffed in each of Iowa's nine superintendent and AEA regions with approximately 18 full-time positions. The initial contract period runs from March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025, with possibility of up to five one-year extensions. First-year funding is $1,044,680.51 through IDEA part B federal allocations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Federation for Children with Special Needs: Massachusetts-based PTI providing parent training, information, and advocacy for families of children with disabilities. Closely mirrors ASK's service portfolio including 1:1 family support, IEP navigation, and parent leadership training.
• Family Voices: National family-led nonprofit focused on family engagement for children with disabilities, including the Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F HIC) network. Direct comparison as a family-driven organization serving similar populations with similar advocacy/training functions.
• Matrix Parent Network & Resource Center: California-based PTI providing 1:1 family support, IEP/IFSP guidance, and parent-to-parent mentoring. Highly comparable service portfolio in a different geography.
• PEAK Parent Center: Colorado-based PTI delivering parent training, IEP advocacy, and information services. Direct peer in both federal designation and service mix — relevant comparison for ASK's operational model.
• PACER Center: Minnesota-based Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) and Children's Mental Health project. Directly comparable to ASK as a fellow federally-funded PTI serving families of children with disabilities in a single Midwestern state.

Others

• National Disability Rights Network: Federally-funded protection and advocacy (P&A) system for people with disabilities. Adjacent to ASK in mission but operates a legally-focused advocacy model rather than parent training and information.

Emerging players

• Wrightslaw: Special education law and advocacy training publisher (online courses, books, Yellow Pages for Kids). Represents the digital/online peer segment that competes with parts of ASK's IEP and IDEA training content at much lower price points.
• Understood.org: Digital-first resource hub for parents of children with learning and attention issues, including IEP guidance. Not a direct service peer but a fast-growing indirect competitor that commoditizes portions of ASK's information-and-guidance portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit network delivering disability services including early intervention, therapy, and family support. Comparable in mission but significantly larger and broader in service mix than ASK's advocacy-focused portfolio.
• The Arc: National 501(c)(3) network providing advocacy and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Overlaps with ASK in disability family advocacy but operates at national scale across multiple disability populations and service lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ASKResource
• Facebookfacebook.com/AskResourceCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ask-resource-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/ask_resource_center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASK Resource Center