General Disability Resources
ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION WEBSITE RESOURCES
About.com Parenting Special Needs Children
Alphabet Soup: Disability-Related Acronyms (Confused by the alphabet soup of disability-related documents and reports? Here's a quick guide to some of the more common acronyms in disability education, law, medicine and rehabilitation. Medical and psychological tests and medications are not covered. Links are to related pages in The DRM WebWatcher. This page is "under construction.")
American Hyperlexia Association (The American Hyperlexia Association is a non-profit organization comprised of parents and relatives of children with hyperlexia, speech and language professionals, education professionals, and other concerned individuals with the common goal of identifying hyperlexia, promoting and facilitating effective teaching techniques both at home and at school, and educating the general public as to the existence of the syndrome called hyperlexia)
Apraxia Kids (Apraxia -Kids SM Internet Resources - your online source for reliable and comprehensive information about Childhood Apraxia of Speech* for families, professionals and all those who care about a child with apraxia. )
Apple Education Disability Resources (Apple is deeply committed to helping persons with special needs attain an unparalleled level of independence through a personal computer. Every Macintosh ships with rich, built-in features that support a positive user experience for persons with disabilities. Welcome to our Disability Resources web site—we care! )
The Arc Home Page (The Arc of the United States works through education, research and advocacy to improve the quality of life for children and adults with mental retardation and their families and works to prevent both the causes and the effects of mental retardation.)
Ashley's Mom (In keeping with the spirit of the "mother of invention," Ashley's Mom, Inc. was "born" out of necessity for finding creative ways to provide meaningful education for children with multiple disabilities.) (Great stuff check her out!)
Arnold-Chiari malformation( Chiari malformation (also called Arnold-Chiari malformation) is a rare congenital anomaly in which two parts of the brain, the brainstem and the cerebellum, are longer than normal and protrude down into the spinal canal. Many links!)
The BrainWaves Center (Learn About Your 6 Intelligence Zones (Very Interesting site, lots of neat stuff. Six zones are memory & focus, emotional response, visualization, planning ahead, language & math, and social interaction)
CanDo.com (CanDo.com is a centralized online resource and Web destination dedicated to delivering hard-to-find and relevant information that inspires greater independence and better daily living for people with disabilities and their support circles. Based on research into the lives, interests, and concerns of people with disabilities, CanDo.com gets to the heart of what is needed most - shared experience and community, a comprehensive range of products, assistive tools, meaningful reporting, personalized services, and practical solutions to everyday needs. The CanDo.com team includes top disability, healthcare, lifestyle, and e-commerce experts who are committed to providing a world-class online experience. CanDo.com is a privately held company funded by premier venture firms who share our passion and vision in creating a rich and meaningful user experience online.)
Can We Talk? (Developmental Apraxia of Speech and Related Issues)
Children Now (Children Now is a nonpartisan, independent voice for children, working to translate the nation's commitment to children and families into action.Recognized nationally for its policy expertise and up-to-date information on the status of children, Children Now uses communications strategies to reach parents, lawmakers, citizens, business, media and community leaders, creating attention and generating positive change on behalf of children)
Childswork Childsplay (Addressing The Social and Emotional Needs of Children and Adolescents)
Cornucopia of Disability Information (CODI) (CODI serves as a community resource for consumers and professionals by providing disability information in a wide variety of areas. The information addresses university (UB), local (Buffalo & WNY), state, national and international audiences. Submissions are welcome from these communities. Areas include education, statistics, government documents, computer access, legal, publications, bibliographic references, aging, assistive technology, universal design and announcements.)
Dear Parents, Sound Advice on Learning and Technology (You are your child's first teacher and an important influence throughout his or her school years. As a parent, you want to help your child succeed and you may have questions about how you can most effectively do that. We have learned a great deal about how children learn--and how to help them--over the past 27 years. The Dear Parents site is an opportunity for us to share what we've learned with a community of caring parents.)
Do To Learn (A web site for those with special learning needs. Why? Life can be challenging, especially for those who see the world in a different way. This site provides information and special learning tools for anyone having difficulty understanding, ordering and functioning in our world. We have planned our activities to help children and adults with diagnosed disorders such as autism, LD or ADD. These activities may also benefit anyone learning basic language and daily living skills, including young children. Our site is designed to allow those with special needs to Do activities in a safe, planned way and To Learn at their own pace) (You are going to LOVE THIS SITE!)
Disabled Sports USA (A national nonprofit, 501(c)(3), organization established in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans to serve the war injured. DS/USA now offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent physical disability. Activities include winter skiing, water sports, summer and winter competitions, fitness and special sports events. Participants include those with visual impairments, amputations, spinal cord injury, dwarfism, multiple sclerosis, head injury, cerebral palsy, and other neuromuscular and orthopedic conditions.)
Disability Related Sites on the WWW (links of all kinds!)
disABILITY Information and Resources (These pages were created and are maintained solely by Jim Lubin, who is a C2 quadriplegic, completely paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator to breathe. I use an keyboard/mouse emulator with a sip and puff switch to type morse codes. Information will be updated when I have time.)
The Disability Resources Monthly (DRM) Guide to Disability Resources on the Internet (We monitor hundreds of publications, audiovisual materials, on line services, and other information resources every month. We review and report on worthwhile materials in our newsletter, Disability Resources Monthly (DRM), and other publications. We also maintain an extensive database of disability-related resources in order to perform customized searches, and an on-line guide to disability resources on the World Wide Web. We are proud of the many awards and positive reviews we have received for this work. Disability Resources, inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to promote and improve awareness, availability and accessibility of information that can help people with disabilities live, learn, love, work and play independently. )
Developmental Delay Resources (DDR) (A nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of those working with children who have developmental delays in sensory motor, language, social, and emotional areas. DDR publicizes research into determining identifiable factors that would put a child at risk and maintains a registry, tracking possible trends. DDR also provides a network for parents and professionals and current information after the diagnosis to support children with special needs.)
DND Press (tons of disability links!)
DRM WebWatcher Disability Resource Directory (State Index (Hyperlinks to all states disability resources that this site is aware of)
DRM WebWatcher: Movement Disorders (People living with neurologic movement disorders have difficulty controlling voluntary movement. They may have disordered or excessive movement (e.g., a tremor or a tic), slowness, or a lack of movement (e.g., Parkinson's disease). Movement disorders include ataxia, dystonia, essential tremor, Huntington's disease, Shy-Drager syndrome, myoclonus, Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, restless legs syndrome, Rett syndrome, spasticity, tardive dyskinesia/dystonia, tics/Tourette's syndrome, and Wilson's disease.)
Ed's Oasis (A Treasure trove of teacher resources, classroom use resources, preparation resources, lesson plans.)
Family Village (Welcome to the Family Village! We are a global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with mental retardation and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support. Our community includes informational resources on specific diagnoses, communication connections, adaptive products and technology,adaptive recreational activities, education, worship, health issues, disability-related media and literature, and much, much more!) (Family Village is really a great resource for all kinds of stuff!!)
From The Ramparts (FROM THE RAMPARTS is ( or will become ) a COMPLETE resource guide for informational resources regarding almost ANY developmental, neuro-biological or behavioral disorder / disability. No "censorship bias" pro or con toward any one particular remediation or course of action is either implied or espoused. This site is intended to serve as a dependable gateway to reliable information regarding educational, health, social and vocational issues for those who are interested in taking a proactive role in their own or their loved one's life decisions.)
Giant Disability Resource Page (Independence, Inc. (Lawrence Independent Living Resource Center) in collaboration with the Northeast (Kansas) Assistive Technology Site (NEAT) has created a resource page of links to Disability Related and Assistive Technology Sites on the World Wide Web.) (It is absolutly HUGE! HUGE! HUGE!)
Hallex (The Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law Manual, from the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) of the Social Security Administration, conveys guiding principles, procedural guidance and information to OHA staff. Hallex includes policy statements resulting from an Appeals Council en banc meeting under the authority of the Appeals Council Chair. Hallex also defines procedures for carrying out policy and provides guidance for processing and adjudicating claims at the Hearing, Appeals Council and Civil Action levels.)
Handitel Disability Database (No advertising, no images, no sounds....but 100% pure information on Disability)
Internet Resources for Special Children (IRSC) (Welcome to the Internet Resources for Special Children (IRSC) web site. The IRSC web site is dedicated to communicating information relating to the needs of children with disABILITIES on a global basis in order to: Provide valuable information for parents, family members, caregivers, friends, educators, and medical professionals who interact with children who have disABILITIES. Improve the environment for children with disABILITIES. Create positive changes and enhance public awareness and knowledge of children with disABILITIES. Act as a central starting point for information and resources.)
International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet (The Center's mission is to collect and present as many disability-related Internet resources as there are available, including resources directly related to disabilities and other resources that may be helpful to the disability community. These resources will be presented in a manner that is accessible to a wide and varied audience. The Center will develop and make available to users the techniques used to make these presentations and will assist those who wish to use our methods. The Center's scope is international.)
Jilline's Disabilities Resource Page (Hello, My name is Jillene Haas and I teach Cognitively Disabled Children in Wisconsin. My program includes students with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Severe Cognitive Disabilities and others. I have spent many hours researching the Internet for information that would help me as a professional, and the parents of my students. I put together this site with my favorite and most useful links to help other teachers and parents find information easier on the Internet.)
Kids Camps (Kids' Camps, the Internet's most comprehensive directory of camps, summer experiences and camp jobs, has over 12,000 programs listed in its searchable database. From day camps to resort camps, special needs camps to teen tours, camp suppliers to camp jobs, the Kids' Camps directory has proven to be a a valuable free resource for families. A comprehensive searchable-by-region website of camps for kids, families, and special needs children. Includes photos, descriptions and contact information. This site provides a valuable (and free) service for parents!)
Kids Fonts! (We are a new site dedicated to bringing do-it-yourself supplies to teachers of toddler-Kindergarten age children. Whether you're homeschooling, or are just tired of the prepackaged worksheets available to early-childhood educators, Kids Fonts is here to help! Scroll down to see what we currently have available, and to tell us what you'd like to see in the future.All fonts are TrueType, Mac & Windows versions available.) (I think this a GREAT free resource to download a "tracing" dot to dot type of print font for kids of all abilities to practice writing letters!)
Kids Together inc. (Mission Statement "To promote inclusive communities where all people belong" This site is designed to provide helpful information and resources to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities, and communities as a whole.)
Ladders.org (Informing the public about the neurological disorders of autism. Within this site, you will find informationabout current research, clinical work, new methods of treatment, fundraising and up coming conferences concerning autism today)
LD Online (The interactive guide to learning disorders for parents, teachers and children) (MUST SEE!!)
Learning Disabilities Association of America (The Learning Disabilities Association of America is a national, non-profit organization. Our purpose is to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults of normal or potentially normal intelligence who manifest disabilities of a perceptual, conceptual, or coordinative nature.) (they have some very good information here!)
List of Disabling Impairments (Listings of impairments which are considered to be disabling. To the left you will find the headings for the Adult Listings. Child Listings are to the right.) (Check this out!!)
Music Therapy For Yound Children With Special Needs (Obviously, you are interested in learning more about music therapy and young children. The purpose of this site is to provide information about music therapy to parents of special needs children. What is music therapy? How can I use music in the home? My intent is to provide you with answers to these questions.)
National Center for Learning Disabilities NCLD (The National Center for Learning Disabilities is one of the foremost national not-for-profit organizations committed to improving the lives of those affected by learning disabilities.)
National Special Needs Network (A Creative and Viable Alternative to Uncertainty A full range of services for the individual with special needs and professionals serving the special needs community Individuals with developmental or acquired disabilities, mental illnesses, and chronic medical conditions.) (Includes a description of what a "Special Needs Trust" is, lots of financial and planning information)
National Organization on Disability (NOD) (The National Organization on Disability promotes full and equal participation of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.)
The National Academy for Child Development (The National Academy for Child Development, is an international organization of parents and professionals dedicated to helping children and adults reach their full potential. Founded in 1979 by internationally recognized educator and lecturer Robert J. Doman, Jr., NACD designs very specific home Neurodevelopmental programs for infants, children and adults. The over 15,000 clients served by NACD have come to us with labels including; Learning Disabled, Dyslexic, Distractible, ADD, ADHD, Hyperactive, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Tourettes Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Fragile X, Developmentally Delayed, PDD, Autistic, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injured, Comatose, Retarded, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Normal, Accelerated, and Gifted. The families served by NACD have traveled to our centers from all 50 states, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and Canada.)
Neurosmith (Neurosmith is dedicated to combining cutting edge cognitive research with state-of-the-art technology to create inspiring and interactive learning tools for children's developing minds. (They have some good information here but you have to hunt around for it)
NICHCY The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Our special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22).)
NLD Online (Nonverbal Learning Disorders.) (national and international NLD database in order to network parents, NLD adults and professionals. Educating the caregivers and associates of individuals with NLD is the prime goal of this website; next is the desire to network those interested in NLD. With these goals comes the desire to gain recognition, understanding and accommodations for this often misunderstood learning disability.)
Our Kids (Devoted to raising special kids with special needs)
Pediatric Development and Behavior Homepage (The Pediatric Development and Behavior Homepage is an independent web site created to promote better care and outcomes for children and families affected by developmental, learning, and behavioral problems by providing access to clinically relevant information and educational material for physicians, fellows, resident physicians, and students. The site may also be of interest to psychologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, therapists, educators, and parents.) (Be sure to check out "highlights" for lots of autism related information!)
Personal Dragons (A MUST READ for all parents and professionals working with a child with a disability!!)
The Resource Room (What's wrong with my child?"That's a question that many parents ask. When parents see a child struggling to learn, to behave as other children do, to socialize, they naturally want to know if their child has a disability. Too often, it's not easy to come up with an answer. But, there are answers. A parent just needs to know where to find them.)
The Riggs Institute (Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking (based on work of Orton/Spalding/Riggs/McCulloch)Has some other good information here also.)
Saddle Up! (Saddle Up! is a therapeutic horseback riding program designed for physically and mentally challenged children. It is operated by trained and dedicated volunteer instructors, medical professionals and lay people. We strive to improve a child’s self-confidence, muscle relaxation, strength and flexibility, and enhance balance and coordination. We also hope to bring joy to our children and parents through various activities. The program's home is in Leipers Fork (Williamson County). We serve a broad range of children living throughout the middle Tennessee area.)
Schwab Foundation For Learning (Schwab Foundation for Learning is a non-profit operating foundation, founded by discount brokerage pioneer Charles R. Schwab and his wife, Helen O'Neill Schwab. In 1989, the Schwabs established a resource center as a community service to give families information and support on learning differences. The Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about learning differences and providing parents and teachers with the information, resources and support they need to improve the lives of kids with learning differences. Schwab Foundation for Learning offers a wide range of services for parents and educators to provide information, support and resources to improve the lives of students with learning differences.)
SEVERE Social Security Disability Benefits Law Information and Resources (SEVERE is maintained by David A. Bryant & Associates , attorneys concentrating in Social Security Disability Benefits Law.) (This is a VERY GOOD site with tons of information and assistance. Make sure to go to the Hallex and Listings hyperlinks at the top of the page header!!)
SmarterKids.com Special Needs (Nurture your child’s growing abilities by addressing your child’s special needs.Simply choose the area in which your child is challenged to find great toys, games, books, and software. Each recommended product comes with special learning ideas to suit your child’s special needs. *Be sure to select the grade at which your child is currently performing.)
Special Child Magazine (For Parents and Care-givers of Children with Special Needs)
Special Families Guide: Robert Naseef, Ph.D. (Children with special needs can be endearing, lovable, and extremely challenging. On this site, psychologist, author, and parent Robert Naseef, Ph.D., shares his insights and experiences on family life for parents, siblings, and children with special needs. Autism, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, learning disorders, special healthcare needs, and many other conditions are discussed--with a focus on the special needs of families and emphasizing the role of fathers.)
Teacher /Pathfinder - An Educational Internet Village
Therapy/Respite Camps for Kids Home Page! (This page evolves as people tell me about new camps, so if you know of camps that are not listed here, PLEASE email me so I can get the information posted here. If you direct a camp that would like a simple WWW page that describes your camp, I'll be pleased to put one up-- just email a description of the camp to me. Also, please let me know about any other WWW resources to which I should have a link. Thanks! )
Tinsnips (special education resource. It contains tools for teachers of individuals with autistic spectrum disorders, related developmental disabilities, and children with special needs. Quite a few of the activities are also appropriate for Pre-K and Kindergarten) (Great site check it out!)
The Unicorn Children's Foundation (Addressing the epidemic of children identified with communication and learning disorders.)
World Association of Persons With Disabilities (WAPD advances the interests of persons with disAbilities at national, state, local and home levels. We believe that all are entitled to high quality of life. Over ten years of "grassroots" planning and growth have catapulted the association to a world leadership position, advancing the soundness and empowerment of the so called "disAbled" everywhere.) (Have a good resources page)
Yahoo! special report on Disabilities and the Disabled
Yale Child Study Center Developmental Disabilities Clinic & Research Home Page (The Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluations for children and adults with social disabilities, usually focussing on the issues of diagnosis and intervention. The clinic is headed by Fred Volkmar, M.D., and Ami Klin, Ph.D., two of the most respected experts in the field of autism, Asperger's Syndrome (AS), and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD's).)