Parent Resources: An Internet Pathfinder

SPECIAL NEEDS

The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre
http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/
     Based at the University of Toronto, the Centre works with children and adults with disabilities, their families, teachers, counselors, and employers by conducting research and identifying and evaluating technologies that assist those with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region
http://www.adainfo.org/
     This site provides information on technical assistance, training, resources, and referrals on the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The ARC of the United States Home Page
http://TheArc.org
     A national organization on mental retardation, the Arc's Web site includes research information, a publications catalog, and government reports.

The Beach Center on Disability
http://www.beachcenter.org
     Affiliated with the Special Education Department of the University of Kansas, this site contains research briefs, disability and families studies, information on support organizations and links to other relevant sites.

Center for Applied Special Technology
http://www.cast.org/
     CAST is an educational, not-for-profit organization that uses technology to expand opportunities for all people, including those with disabilities. Site includes publications, on-line resources, and teaching tools and strategies.

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
http://www.chadd.org/
     Focusing on Attention Deficit Disorders, this site offers information on parenting children with ADD, list of books on ADD, and fact sheets.

DO-IT Program at the University of Washington (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology)
http://www.washington.edu/doit/
     Site includes information on programs that promote technology maximize independence and productivity of persons with disabilities.

Dreamms for Kids, Inc.: Assistive Technology Solutions
http://www.dreamms.org/
     Developmental Research for the Effective Advancement of Memory and Motor Skills (DREAMMS) site specializes in assistive technology research, development and information, including awareness support, monthly newsletter and training seminars.

The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education
http://www.ericec.org
     Site contains comprehensive research and other information, such as digests, fact sheets, listservs, and links to other information sources on disabilities and gifted education.

Family Village--A Global Community of Disability-Related Resources
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/kennedy/index.htmlx
     Site includes informational resources on specific diagnoses, communication connections, adaptive products and technology, adaptive recreational activities, education, and disability-related media and literature.

Federal Interagency Coordinating Council
http://www.fed-icc.org/
     The Federal Interagency Coordinating Council assures that all children ages zero to eight with or at risk for developing disabilities and their families benefit from an integrated, seamless system of services and supports that is family centered, community based, and culturally competent. Head Start is a member of the FICC.

The Federal Resource Center for Special Education
http://www.dssc.org/frc/
     The FRC supports a nationwide special education technical assistance network (funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services). Site contains information on national meetings of education professionals, identifies emerging issues and trends in special education, and links to Regional Resource Centers.

Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation
http://www.hellofriend.org/
     The site focuses on information pertaining to persons with learning differences.

LD On-line: The Interactive Guide to Learning Disabilities for Parents, Teachers, and Children
http://www.ldonline.org/
     A service of the Learning Project of WETA, Washington, DC, this site features current updates on Learning Disabilities, where to find help, conference calendar, and KidZone, containing artwork and stories by children with learning disabilities.

MedWeb at Emory University Health Sciences Center Library: Disabilities
http://www.medweb.emory.edu/MedWeb/default.htm
     Site covers comprehensive issues on disabilities, including individual disabilities such as ADD and Blindness, plus resources such as electronic documents, grants and funding, and other related topics.

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
http://www.netnet.net/mums/
     A networking site for parents or caregivers of a child with any disability, disorder, abnormality, or health condition.

National Fathers Network: Support for Fathers and Families of Children with Special Needs
http://www.fathersnetwork.org/554.html?
     A non-profit, Maternal and Child Health Bureau funded organization devoted to supporting and offering resources for fathers of children with special needs, their families, and their service providers. Their site archives a newsletter for fathers, contains articles by dads, and lists additional resources. Materials are available in Spanish.

The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
http://nichcy.org/
     Comprehensive Web site, NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22). Site includes publications in Spanish and English.

New York Institute for Special Education: Educator's Bookmarks
http://www.nyise.org/start.htm
     While this site is focused on special education, it also has some very good general information on the Internet including safety issues, plug-ins and downloads, audio/multimedia features, and a page devoted to search engines.

SmarterKids – Special Needs
http://www.smarterkids.com/spec_centers/sn_08.asp
     The Special Needs Center provides an abundance of information, resources, and assistance to families with disabled children. Fact sheets cover ADHD, autism, visual and auditory impairments, child evaluations, and dealing with family stress factors. Frequently asked questions regarding special education services are answered.

Through the Looking Glass
http://www.lookingglass.org/
     Through the Looking Glass is a community non-profit organization focused on clinical and supportive services, training and research serving families in which either parent or child has a disability. Provides resources and information on supportive services.