Starting Points: Disability.gov, US Federal government website for comprehensive information on disability programs and services nationwide. Family Voices, Parents Helping Parents, MUMs Parent-to-Parent network, disABILITY Information and Resources, Children's Disabilities Information and nodisability.co.uk are great places to start. For Dads there is National Fathers Network.
Special Education: For information regarding special education laws, IDEA and IEPs visit Disability Advocacy Work With Networking (DAWWN), TASH and Wrightslaw has several links worth looking into. To pursue complaints, Office of Civil Rights, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), and Protection and Advocacy.
IDEA 2004: Learn about IDEA2004, at the U.S. Department of Education.
Inclusive Education: A good starting points for inclusive Education is Kids Together.
Pharmaceutical/Drug Info: RxList, Drug InfoNet, Medline Plus
Drug Information are great aids in researching drugs. Drugwatch.com provides up-to-date
information on side effects of prescripton and over-the-counter medications.
REMEMBER: Double check all research with your Doctor!
Need help paying for medications? Check with Needy Meds, and lots of links at Makoa.org
Diets: Special Diets information can be found at The Kitchen Link.
Diagnostic and Informational Sites: Many parents struggle to find a diagnosis. The following resources can be very technical and intense, but some parents have found them useful in their research.
Special Needs Assistance and Tools:
Wish Foundations: Give Kids The World, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Starlight Children's Foundation
Check out these pages if they apply to your situation:
The Arc (formerly Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States) offers a number of Question & Answer pages. The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) are exceptionally helpful organizations and can help with information, laws and programs at the federal and state levels. The Easter Seals provides services to help children and adults with disabilities and/or special needs as well as support to their families.
Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through the development of a human/canine partnership.
The Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic and burn care to children under 18.
Make a Child Smile is a website that features children with special needs and life threatening illnesses and offers people an opportunity to send them and their siblings cards.
The Compassionate Friends is a resource with people who really understand the loss of our loved ones.
Feel free to send me your comments.
Randy Ryan
Our-Kids Administrator
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Last updated on December, 2013