Resources for Special-Needs Children
by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Child Development
There have been a lot of comments and questions from parents of special needs children recently.
Honestly, as RaisingSmallSouls is a personal website that I have developed about a subject I am passionate about- raising emotionally healthy children- I am not qualified to begin to answer some of the questions regarding special needs children.
Many parents have brought up autism, ADD, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, to name a few.
Please help us guide parents by posting links to websites or support forums that have helped you!
Post the link, a description, and what YOU have found to be helpful on that site!
Thanks!
Ellen
[UPDATE] There’s a large list of learning disability resources for parents located on GuideToOnlineSchools.com. The resources are divided into categories so you can quickly find what you’re looking for. Whether you’re in search of self-help information, non-profit organizations to assist you and your child or even looking for quality Online Schools be sure to check out this site.
No related posts.
One site that is helpful for parents w/ children w/ learning disabilities and other problems is
http://www.schwablearning.org
It has different options for parents and children in coping w/ the problems each face.
Hope this might help!
I found this site on Aspergers to be helpful.
Asperger Resources
As the mother of a child with profound autism I have found great solace and understanding as well as wonderful resources through autismspeaks. Suzanne and Bob Wright the founders have a grandson with autism and they have really taken up the mantel of advocacy to see that resources are brought up to speed in finding a cure as well as help for all the families that need it.
Center for children with special health care needs
Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) or Irlen Syndrome (Light Sensitivity). This website has a self test for anyone who might have Irlen Syndrome. My son is 7 and has this – he now reads with an overlay. He went from a level D to H from March to May. His self esteem has improved and he is back to being a happy confident little boy.
I am a board certified music therapist with extensive experience working with children with special needs, and would encourage parents or caregivers to look into music therapy as a highly effective and engaging therapeutic medium for addressing a wide range of needs. More information and local music therapists can be found at http://www.musictherapy.org
For parents of children with Autism that want to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis:
http://www.elija.org/links.html
http://rsaffran.tripod.com/aba.html
http://www.elija.org/jennicasnotes.html
For Free e-learning courses about the history of the disabilities movement, self determination, and how to “make your case” working with policymakers:
http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/
To understand you and your child’s rights in special education for all disabilities:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/
For support, look into yahoo groups to find what fits your needs. I have found yahoo groups like the IEP Guide, Reed Martin special Ed. Law, ABAParents, and local yahoo groups offer support 24/7 from parents and professionals all around the world.
Just in general, it is very important to learn from many resources and try whenever possible going directly to the source. Sometimes, information gets watered down and may not be accurate (learned that the hard way,don’t underestimate your gut instincts!)
Keep in mind that your child is individual and unique, there is no one right way. If you listen and follow exactly what one person says they think you should do(including me :0) , you may be limiting your child’s success and dreams
and your happiness to someone else’s’ interpretations…
I personally found live support groups a bit depressing.
I like going to educational conferences from reputable individuals because
you learn that yes, this is challenging and that it’s hard at times, but this is WHAT you DO about it, plus,I like learning along side my sons teachers.
good luck,stay positive,learn the art of day by day, enjoy your family, be proud of how capable and strong you become, celebrate EVERY victory whether a small step or huge milestone.
Cheers,
Jennica
As a mother of 5, the youngest requiring special needs, I have been on a mission to find all that I can for all types of syndromes. My daughter is still undiagnosed yet specialists feel they are getting closer.
I’d like to thank those that took the time to reply to this for it will help me in research. However, I am looking for so much more.
I am opening up a facility where I live, yet also I have a place online that is meant to help all of the children throughout the USA. We have a Refer a Child and a Child of the Month that we work hard to help those that need something by us parents sticking together and helping eachother. There are resources, a support group and more.
If you would like to visit, the site is http://www.briannasblessings.com
We are also trying hard to help with the costs of things to parents by having things reduced to almost wholesale costs. We still need to put things on there, so if there is something you need or want, just let us know!
As a mother who has had a child die from cancer the following were useful to me. angleonmyshould@yahoogroups.com and http://www.cancerindex.org/ccw/guide2n.htm for children and families dealing with Neuroblastoma cancer.
If you live in the New York City metropolitan area, Resources for Children with Special Needs, located in downtown Manhattan is an excellent resource and advocacy organization for parents.
Visit http://www.resourcesnyc.org
Best site for info on Asperger’s Syndrome
http://www.schwablearning.org/ is a wonderful website for anyone who’s child has just been diagnosed and who has a million questions. If they don’t have just the answer you’re looking for, they can direct you to the site that does.
Schwablearning.org is a great site to start with if your child has been diagnosed with LD, ADHD or other disability and you want to know what to do. Wrightslaw.org is great for additional input regarding legal aspects and interfacing with schools to get services. I also recommend attending a Wrightslaw seminar in your area when you get a chance…made a big difference in my feelings of confidence in dealing with all of the things associated with learning disabilities.
Thank you all for your heartfelt contributions for this page.
I want to recommend this site: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info for children (or adults) with Crohn’s disease, colitis, or other GI issues.
I was diagnosed with colitis 2 years ago, and the diet truly changed my health for the better. There are several support group recommendations on the site.
NATHHAN’S GOAL and PURPOSE:
To encourage homeschooling families with special needs children, in ways that glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to find Christian homes for children with special needs.
Take a look at the information and links at this site:
http://specialchildren.about.com//
I’ve found many ideas that have helped here.
This is a terrific site for information about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and has tons of links to sites about related problems.
This website offers a quarterly newspaper about special needs students and their education. It also lists any conference, vendors, etc., that specializes in software/hardware, additional information. This is a good place to start.
My son is also autistic. He has made massive strides in all areas. The word miracle is used by his therapists. It feels so good to be able to find the things he needs to grow. And to receive support when I need it. What I have found most useful on line is the yahoo groups. I’m on ANDI site, that is biomedical approach group. Single parents of autism for my own support. GFCF diet to learn about the gluten/casien free diet and recipes etc that kids will eat. Recovered kids is a forum for parents of kids who have “recovered”
HPN – for hyperlexic kids. Autism BC yahoo cause I live in British columbia and the RDI-Canada yahoo forum.
All of these have been useful to me at different times, I’m signed up to all and made a folder in my inbox they all go in to, then when I have time I can read and learn. Mostly they give me ideas I hadn’t thought of and then I can go and do the research on them and find if it is right for my family.
One more I belong to was started by my mother. It’s called Gracing and is a site for grandparents of autistic children who want to be a positive impact on their grandchildren. My mom and I share what we can with any family members who find their way there.
good luc
I am the list owner of “Bright Late Talking Children UK”
We are a small group and have 27 parent members mostly from the UK who have late talking children. My own son is 7 and had
little speech until he was 4 years old- he is very bright and although still not quite age-appropriate in his language, he’s really making great progress. Our group was formed in April 2005 and although it’s not for parents of autistic children who are happy with their diagnosis, we have many parents who have been told their child is autistic and have been
misdiagnosed.
Many of our children talk late but are very bright or have high IQ’s, some are very early readers-like my own son and have developed their language skills through being able to read.
If you’d like to join us, please click on the link
Kind regards
Beth Morrison
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BrightLateTalkingChildrenUK
This is the link
Beth
Hi
Anyone coming to Western Australia please view:
http://www.adapt.org.au
and
http://www.parentswantinghelp.com
Thank you
http://www.helpforkidspeech.org/articles/index.cfm
This site was a big help to me.
Jan Bedell, a neurodevleopmentalist, is the wonderful woman you want to talk to. She can help with any learning disability. Her motto is Say No To Labels and Yes to Learning. Please, Please look her up. My child was not “labled with anyhing, but I used some of her methods and now my child that couldn’t stay focused on the task at hand is now we get through chores, games and school with no problem.
http://www.littlegiantsteps.org
Jan Bedell-Litte Giant Steps
This website is not only a support group type website but also an educational website. There is an educational consultant that can answer any questions you have regarding IEP’s and 504′s. Starfish Advocacy Association (www.starfishadvocacy.org) is a wonderful place to go. It is for parents of children with neurobiological disorders such as ADHD, Autism, Early Onset Bipolar Disorder, and PDD just to name a few. This website truly has been my saving grace.
This is a great website for parents with children with Septo optic dysplasia/Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. It is very informative of all issues these parents and children deal with and there is even a great group web site on it to talk with other famiies and adults with sod and onh. If you child has this a highly recommened it. I don’t know where we would be with out it. My son has SOD and we have gotten so much info from this site and all the families with have talked with.
sorry hear is the web site for sod/onh http://www.focusfamilies.org
sorry here is the web site for sod/onh http://www.focusfamilies.org
Our Autism Spectrum children are everyone of the same animals in the movie animal school. Our children are on the spectrum just the same way the “neurotypical” children are. We are raising small souls that in some ways are closer to the soul realm than the regular children. They’re stories, words, and accomplishments are significant when they are only to speak a word for the first time at age 5, or say “I love you for the first time at age 7, or say just say they see the angels. They are “Special” because they “know” more than we do–not because someone has deemed less than adequate.
See a website that has a perspective that shows the Connection between God and Autism
http://www.williamstillman.com
It will change the way you see autism-FOREVER.
Son-Rise Mom with boys age 5 and 6 previously diagnosed with ASD.
I HIGHLY recommend http://www.son-rise.org . A parent training center and a “place for miracles”
Wrong Planet is a web community designed for individuals (and parents of those) with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, and other PDDs. We provide a forum, where members can communicate with each other, an article section, where members may read and submit essays or how-to guides about various subjects, and a chatroom for real-time communication with other Aspies. Asperger’s Syndrome, a pervasive development disorder, is a form of autism. People with Asperger’s Syndrome usually have normal or above normal IQs. It is described as an inability to understand how to interact socially.
And here’s the URL:
http://www.wrongplanet.net
I found this to be one very informative site!
http://www.autismspeaks.com
Hi,
I am currently working on a web page with my sons journey. If you like you can send parents to the schafer report at http://www.subs@doitnow.com
http://www.autismspeaks.org Autism speaks
DANquestions@aol.com Defeat Autism Now
http://www.autism.com/ari Autism Reasearch Institute
http://www.TAAP.info The Autism Autoimmunity Project
These web sites are very informative and up to date ARI is the grandad of them all, headed by Dr. Rimland.
your readers can also look up the USAAA, they are having a conference in Utah in Aug. they are still taking registrations. Going to at least one of the Autism conference is highly recommended the info is priceless. UA Autism Asperger’s Association
I would love to have the opportunity to help give info to as many partents as I can. I do have a resource and support group in Madera.
Thanx
with blessings form the heart,
Diana
18551 El Paso Rd.
Madera, CA. 93638
(559) 662-0651