Disability Related Links

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Information for Parents

• Acronym Finder - The latest news and information about Acronym Finder and related sites. 

• AssistGuide - Connecting Senior and Disability Markets Through Innovative Online Systems

• Common Disability Related Acronyms - A quick guide to some of the more common acronyms in disability education.

• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates - Premised on the belief that the key to effective educational programs for children with disabilities is collaboration -as equals- by parents and educators.

• Emergency Services - Staff provides support, information, referrals, and/or crisis intervention referrals, if needed.

• Family Education.com - Learning and information resources, personalized to help parents, teachers, and students of all ages take control of their learning and make it part of their everyday lives.

• Federation for Children with Special Needs - Center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families.

• The Ford Clinic - Providing a Quality Dental Experience for the Unique and Special Patient

• Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Services - What are Developmental Disabilities? Who is Eligible to Receive Services? MHMRA Available Services & Supports. Community Resources.

• MUMS (National Caregiver and Parent to Parent organization)
  Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center

• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities - Helping people live to the fullest.

• Parenting Special Needs - Manage your family, social and emotional issues with these articles and resources on the Parenting Special Needs site.

• Parents Helping Parents - provides lifetime guidance, supports and services to children with any special need, their families and the professionals who serve them.

• Partners Resource Network, Inc. - Providing training, information, and technical assistance to families of infants, toddlers, children and young adults with all types of disabilities throughout the State of Texas.

• Sibling Support Project - national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns.

• Special Education Parent Training & Information Center (Alabama) Directory of professionals, organizations, and schools that serve the learning disabilities and special education communities.

• Special Needs Resources for Families - Articles, resources and online support for parents of children with disabilities and special needs.

• Son-Rise Program - not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1983 by best-selling author (Happiness Is A Choice) Barry Neil Kaufman and Samahria Lyte Kaufman.

• Texas Medicaid Waiver programs - For a brief overview of Texas Medicaid Waiver programs you can view a 14 minute video: Medicaid Waiver 101.

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Information About Specific Conditions

• Asperger's Syndrome - resource for families, individuals, and medical professionals who deal with the challenges of Asperger Syndrome, Autism, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Not Otherwise Specified.

• Autism Speaks - Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.

• Autism Society of America - Information to help understand autism, resources for families with  autistic children, and directory of local chapters nationwide.

• Autism Society Index - Sponsored Listings for Autism and Related Searches.

• Autism Source - Search nationwide autism-related services and supports by location or service type.

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Your online source for credible Health Information.

• cri du chat syndrome - Relatively rare chromosome disorder affecting approximately 1 in 37,000-50,000 live births.

• Down Syndrome on the Internet - links to down syndrome web sites.

• National Down Syndrome Congress - Home page for a national advocacy organization on Down Syndrome.

• The National Down Syndrome Society - National advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

• National Fragile X Foundation - A site with to information and resources about fragile X syndrome.

• FRAXA Research Foundation - National nonprofit organization providing information on Fragile X syndrome.

• The Hydrocephalus Association - Includes Hydrocephalus fact sheet.

• The XXYY Project - Information on kids with special needs XXYY Syndrome.

• Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) - A national organization for families, professionals and service providers dedicated to improving the lives of people with Prader-Willi syndrome.

• The Comprehensive Williams Syndrome Home Page - Create or enhance opportunities in education, housing, employment and recreation for people who have Williams Syndrome and other related or similar conditions.

• World Association of Persons with Disabilities - A website for persons with disabilities.

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Support for Community Living

• The Institute for Community Inclusion - Advocates for the right of all people with disabilities to be full participants in their communities.

• Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Services - What are Developmental Disabilities? Who is Eligible to Receive Services? MHMRA Available Services & Supports. Community Resources.

• National Home of Your Own Alliance - A Technical Assistance Center at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.

• Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities

• The State of the States in Developmental Disabilities - Examines public spending for mental retardation/developmental disabilities services in the United States.

• Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders - The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services provides administrative support for the Council.

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Employment/Transition to Work

• Program on Employment and Disability - Resources and information on employment of people with disabilities.

• JAN - Job Accommodation Network, accommodations for workers with disabilities.

• Life Skills for Vocational Success - A resource of trainers to improve life skills

• Transition School to Work - A successful transition for individuals with disabilities from school to school, college, or work often requires collaboration. Students play an important role in planning their transition, and should be included throughout the process. Read more about how to engage in successful transition planning. There are 27 articles in this section.

• Transition in Texas - The purpose of this website is to provide viewers with a knowledge of the secondary transition process and links to other resources that can provide information needed to help facilitate students in the attainment of their postsecondary goals.

• Virginia Commonwealth University - Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Support.

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General Information for Families

• Beach Center on Disability - Family Support where individuals, families, service providers, and researchers share insights about their work and life lessons.

• Caregiver Guide to Special Needs - Find answers related to providing care for people with special needs. Browse by topic or learn more about challenges common to many conditions.

• Do2Learn - Free Activities and Games - A website for those with special learning needs.

• Family Village - A Global Community of Disability-Related Resources.

• Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Services - What are Developmental Disabilities? Who is Eligible to Receive Services? MHMRA Available Services & Supports. Community Resources.

• SSA Home Page - Information and publications on entitlement programs for people with disabilities.

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Special Education

• Council for Exceptional Children - professional organization dedicated to improving education outcomes for students with disabilities.

• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates - Organization established to improve the quality and quantity of legal assistance for parents of children with disabilities.

• National Information Ctr. for Children and Youth with Disabilities - The center that provides information to the nation on: disabilities in children and youth

• Special Ed. Resources on the Internet - A collection of Internet accessible information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education.

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Assistive Technology

• AbilityHub - Assistive Technology for computers and disability.

• Comprehensive Database of Products & Resources - Database lists more than 40,000 products in 20 categories. The database also offers information on non-commercial prototypes, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-it-yourself designs. To find specific products for children or parents with disabilities, use the Advanced Search function.

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Health Promotion and Disability Prevention

• American Academy of Pediatrics - An organization of 50,000 pediatricians dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children and young adults.

• FAS Community Resource Center in Arizona - Information about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

• The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Office - Part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

• Healthfinder - A gateway consumer health information web site from the United States Government.

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Disability Resources

• C L A S Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services -Early Chilhood Reserach Institue - Collection of Resources.

• disABILITY Resources on the Internet

• National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials - Vocational Rehabilitation as a centralized resource for the development, collection, dissemination, and utilization of training materials

• National Rehabilitation Information Center - Funded by NIDRR (Nat. Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research) as a collection and information resource for NIDRR projects.

• ACF- President's Committee on Mental Retardation

• Quality Mall - Person centered services supporting people with developmental disabilities - showcase of promising practices and innovations.

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Accrediting Organizations

• The Council on Quality and Leadership- A resource for individuals, families, advocates, provider organizations, professionals and the public sector.

• CARF - Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of human service providers in the areas of aging services, behavioral health, child and youth services.

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National Organizations

• AAPD(American Association of People with Disabilities)

• The American Association on Intellectual and Development Disabilities - National organization for professionals and others interested in the field of mental retardation.

• American Association of University Affiliated Programs (AAUAP)

• ANCOR - (American Network of Community Options and Resources)

• The Arc of the United States The Arc is the world largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, a national organization which focuses on legal advocacy for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental illness.

• Best Buddies - Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. We have accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development.

• Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities - A coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society.

• Epilepsy Foundation of America - National organization that works for people affected by seizures through research, education, advocacy and service.

• Genetic Alliance - A national coalition of consumers, professionals and genetic support groups for concerns on genetic conditions

• Kiwanis International - An international service organization with numerous projects focusing on individuals with mental retardation and the worldwide prevention of iodine deficiency disorders, including mental retardation. See also

• Kiwanis Aktion Clubs - Aktion Club is a community-service group for adult citizens who live with a disability.

• March of Dimes - Provides information, resources, referrals and data intended to assist the public in having healthy pregnancies and healthy births. The web site also provides information for health care professionals and offers opportunities for volunteering in March of Dimes fundraising events.

• National Organization on Disability - A national advocacy organization which promotes the full participation and contribution of America's 54 million people with disabilities, through Harris surveys and programs addressing community accessibility, emergency preparedness, employment, religious participation, and other aspects of life.

• National Organization for Rare Disorders - Technical assistance and information dissemination on rare disorders.

• Self Advocates Becoming Empowered - Founded in 1990, we have been working hard for the full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in the community throughout the 50 states and the world for 20 years.

• United Cerebral Palsy - For 60 years, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) has been committed to change and progress for persons with disabilities.

• TASH - An organization of members concerned with human dignity, civil rights, education, and independence for all individuals with disabilities.

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Organizational and Grant Resources

• The Foundation Center - Tips for finding funding sources and writing proposals.

• Funding Information Center - Provides nonprofits and donors with information, education, and other assistance.

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Disability Related Products & Services

• Allen, Shea & Associates - A technical assistance work group on community living for people with developmental disabilities. Includes various articles and publications including some excellent information on consumer-owned housing and supported living.

• You can also search for books on these disability topics at: 

• Danic Technology - Human services information services.

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Other Important Sites

More sites that would be helpful to our users.

• Links of interest