Resources for Parents

Below is a list of web sites that may be beneficial to parents/students with special needs.
General information

• Model Wellness Policy
• Addiction Center – Addiction Treatment Resources
• Education Rights and Responsibilities – Understanding Special Education in Illinois
• Easter Seals : Organization offering services and support or those living with disabilities.
• Family Resource Center on Disabilities
• Family Support Network of Illinois
• Illinois Life Span : Statewide information and referral resource for advocacy and service systems for individuals with disabilities
• Illinois State Board of Education
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities : Information on disabilities, IDEA, No Child Left Behind and information on effective educational practices
• National Mental Health Association : non-profit organization addressing all aspects of mental health
• Pacer Center : non-profit organization servicing children/youth with disabilities
• Parent Pals : a website where professionals and parents share information, articles and links on a wide range of disabilities
• The Alliance for Technology Access : a national network of assistive technology resource centers, individual and organizational associates and technology venders/developers.
• The Arc of Illinois : Website dedicated to assisting residents of Illinois with developmental disabilities
• The Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living
• The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
• Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids : A web site that can help locate government programs, parent support groups, educational specialists, tutors, therapists etc. in your state
• Saint Joseph’s University : The Digital Healthcare Environment
• Microsoft TechNet : Digital Healthcare Information
• Title IX Information

Developmental Disabilities

• The Autism Program : A network of resources for Autism Spectrum Disorders in the state of Illinois
• Spectrum Training Systems, Inc : Information on conferences and workshops
• The Family Resiliency Center : The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Human and Community Development
• The Illinois Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse : provides information resources related to early childhood intervention for the state of Illinois
• Autism Society of America
• Autism Society of Illinois : Resources and information about Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autism Speaks : Information on research into the causes and treatments of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• ZAC Browser : a FREE web browser designed specifically for autistic children to help them navigate the internet more effectively
• The Asperger’s Disorder Home Page
• The U.S. Autism and Asperger Association : non profit organization providing information and advice
• The International Rett’s Syndrome Foundation
• Rett’s Syndrome Research Foundation
• Rett’s Syndrome Association of Illinois

Emotional/Behavioral Disorder

• SAMSHA’s National Mental Health Information Center
• Pacer Centers Kids Against Bullying : a simple, game-based web site for young children
• Pendulum : a non-profit source providing information and support for those with Bi-Polar Disorder
• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• The American Psychological Association

Hearing Impaired

• The National Association of the Deaf
• The Hearing Loss Association of America
• The American Society for Deaf Children
• Born 2 Sign : a free web site with short signing video clips
• Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission
• Illinois Families for Hands and Voices

Intellectual Disability

• The American Association on Intellectual Disabilities
• The National Down Syndrome Society

Learning Disabilities

• The Learning Disabilities Association of America
• The National Center for Learning Disabilities
• LD Online : articles and resources for those with learning disabilities
• The International Dyslexia Association
• CHADD – Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder Association

Orthopedic Impairment

• United Cerebral Palsy Association
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
• Spina Bifida Association

Speech and Language

• The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• SpeechTX.com : Several free, on-line speech therapy activities
• Speaking of Speech : a web site for SLP’s and teachers to share tips, ideas and techniques
• The Cleft Palate Foundation
• The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America

Transition Services

• Cornerstone Services: Organization offering employment services, residential supports, counseling and integration service to individuals with disabilities.
• Trinity Services, Inc: Programs and services include adult learning, community living and employment services.
• Social Security Online: The official website of the US Social Security Administration
• Will-Grundy Transition Planning Committee: A consortium of schools, agencies and not-for-profit organizations working to improve the transition from high school to adulthood.

Visually Impaired

• The American Foundation for the Blind
• Lighthouse International : non-profit organization helping individuals overcome the challenges of vision loss
• National Federation of the Blind
• Optometrists Network – Children Special Needs.org : a sub-site of the Optometrist Network website with information on children with visual needs.

Disclaimer: GCSEC accepts no liability for any loss or damage, consequential or otherwise incurred in reliance on the materials in these pages. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice of any kind. Although GCSEC’s web site includes links providing direct access to other internet resources, including web sites, GCSEC has not participated in the development of those sites and does not exert any editorial or other control over those sites. GCSEC is not responsible for the accuracy or content of information contained in these sites. Links from GCSEC to third party sites do not constitute an endorsement by GCSEC of the parties or their products or services.

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