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Resources on the Internet
for parents of special needs children

Last update
January 6, 2024

 

Project NoSpank

 

 

 

PhDinSpecialEducation

 

 

 

 

Cerebral Palsy Resources

 

 

 

 

Common Dreams

 

 

TxP2P

 

 

 

OlmsteadRights

 

 

 

 

 

COPAA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holocaust Teacher Resource Center

 

 

 

Southern Poverty Law Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amnesty International

 

 

 

 



ABLE RISE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wonder Moms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Home Educator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

autcom.org

 

 

 

 

 
 


School Speciality Abilitations

 

S&S Worldwide

 

 

 

 

 

CSUN Website

 

 

AbleNet



 

Elo Touch Solutions

 

 

 

 

Community Playthings

 

 

Rifton Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Library of Congress

 

 

Texas Home School Coalition

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accredited Online Schools

 

 

 


As the late Carl Sagan might have said, "There are billions and billions of websites on the Internet." Here are just a few suggestions. Please note that the fact that a site is listed here implies no association at all with YourChildMyChild.com. It is just the nature of the web that the technology permits linking one site to another. - Dave Thompson

 

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Project  NoSpank

A resource for parents, students, educators, education policy makers, healthcare providers, children's advocates, and all others who are concerned with the safety and wellbeing of children.

See also on this site Judge Rotenberg Center investigated for child torture
By Susan Lawrence, June 15, 2006 https://www.nospank.net/jrc-1.htm

 

ONLINE HANDBOOK FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTING

"... offers resources for parents at every stage of the journey of caring for their special needs children. From learning more about special needs to picking a school, planning a financial structure, and getting past the bullying and discrimination that so often plague people with special needs."

 

General

 

Cerebral Palsy Information

"United Cerebral Palsy’s (UCP) knowledge of disability issues has been accruing for more than sixty years ..."

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Enlightenment - A progressive world view

Common Dreams News Center - Breaking news and views for the progressive community.

Advocacy/Legal

Texas Parent to Parent

"Texas Parent to Parent provides support, information, and education to families of children of all ages who have disabilities or chronic illness."

 

 

OlmsteadRights: Texas Disability Resources and Advocacy Organizations

"Many of these organizations work to address the unique needs associated with different disabilities, including but not limited to physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, and mental illness. Others focus on issues such as access to housing and legal assistance based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)."

 

The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. Pretty much what the name implies. I went to the first COPAA meeting in January 1998. They cover a wide range of legal and practical matters specifically aimed at special education and public schools.

 

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Tolerance

Here are two sites with teaching and research materials for students, teachers, and those seeking an understanding of the horrors of intolerance. Our disabled children - I am convinced - are victims also. When institutions and schools use violence against autistic and mentally retarded children under the guise of discipline, it is an outrage against humanity. The evidence indicates to me a dangerous trend in attitudes in America, not by all -of course- but when violence and intolerance becomes instituionalized, we have a problem.

The Holocaust Teacher Resource Center (TRC) web site, is dedicated to the memory of the six million Jewish people and the six million other people slaughtered during the Holocaust. It strives to combat prejudice and bigotry by transforming the horrors of the Holocaust into positive lessons to help make this a better and safer world for everybody. This site is sponsored by the Holocaust Education Foundation, Inc. 

The Southern Poverty Law Center is a non-profit organization that combats hate, intolerance, and discrimination through education and litigation. Its programs include Teaching Tolerance and the Intelligence Project, which incorporates Klanwatch and the Militia Task Force. The Center also sponsors the Civil Rights Memorial which celebrates the memory of 40 individuals who died during the Civil Rights Movement.
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Human Rights

Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. In particular, Amnesty International campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience; ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners; abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners; end political killings and "disappearances"; and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups.

 

 

Advocates at work

ABLE RISE

"We are here to help locate disability resources and make the world a bit more caring."

... a site designed to empower the disabled as well as their friends & family with resources, with the ultimate goal of fostering community mechanisms for seamless acceptance and assistance for those coping with any measure of disability.

 

The Wonder Moms Blog is a project by three moms to share real talk, helpful information, and practical advice with parents of kids who have intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, autism, language and speech delays, deafness, chronic illness, and traumatic brain injury.

Some suggestions from Christy:

What to Look for in Accessible Apartments

Helping Kids Deal with Trauma

Simple Home Modifications for Kids with Special Needs

Guide to Special Needs Trusts

Tips for Coping with Covid Stress

Finding Accessible Apartments

Making Special Education Work for Your Child During COVID

 

Special Home Educator is blog by mother of four (Jenny Wise), one "is a very special girl who just happens to be on the autism spectrum"

Some suggestions from Jenny:

Safety in the Home

Creating a Home Atmosphere of Solitude to Help Cope with Adult Autism

When My Son With Autism Melts Down, Here’s What I Do

Breaking Free of Addiction When You Have a Disability

 

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Special Needs - Associations, Catalogs, Publications

The Autism National Committee (autcom.org) "This is the only autism advocacy organization dedicated to 'Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism' through a shared vision and a commitment to positive approaches. Our organization was founded in 1990 to protect and advance the human rights and civil rights of all persons with autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and related differences of communication and behavior. In the face of social policies of devaluation, which are expressed in the practices of segregation, medicalization, and aversive conditioning, we assert that all individuals are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

 


Abilitations  "At Abilitations we put fun in function. Our catalogs, products, and information provide solutions for professionals and parents working with and raising children with special needs."

S&S Opportunities catalog. "Equipment and supplies for Recreational Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Rehabilitation, Special Education, Sensory Stimulation." They have several catalogs.


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Computer and Technology Resources

California State University, Northridge Center On Disabilities


AbleNet

"AbleNet is a world leader in assistive technology, curriculum, and services to help individuals with disabilities lead productive and fulfilling lives."

Elo Touch Solutions - This company sells PC/Mac compatible touch screen monitors. They have "SAW" (surface acoustic wave) monitors that provide touch screen technology without the use of a covering (membrane) over the monitor screen. Membrane technologies introduce distortion (fuzziness) and reduce brightness. Elo pricing is industry standard. (My son has touch screen monitor from Elo that has provided 15 years of trouble-free service - Dave Thompson)

NOTE: Touchscreens are available now from various manufacturers and PC/Laptop manufacturers. EloTouch is durable, high-end product, but we do have other choices now - Dave Thompson April 2018

 


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Mobility and Adaptive Needs

Community Playthings  - Maker of toys and furniture for children in kindergartens and child-care centers since 1948. Solid maple blocks, chairs, tables, cribs, shelving and more.
Very high-quality, creatively designed furniture (wooden) and assessories. Some neat items suitable for home use, but focus is on small group facilities. A few items for my own home are on my wish list from this catalog.

Rifton Equipment - Special equipment made for children with physical disabilities since 1977.  Rifton works with teachers and therapists to develop products for positioning and mobilizing children for functional activity. 

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U.S. Congress

U. S. Congress - Current US Federal Legislative Information. Bills, Laws, Congressional Record, reports, and links to further information.
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Home Schooling

THSC. As we know, home schooling is not an option for many parents, especially single parents. If the federal government is going to pass legislation such as IDEA, then we should have the right to expect that our children should be safe in public schools. Furthermore, public schools should make the experience for our children be something other than trivial and demeaning. However, some parents - myself included - find home schooling an alternative in states and school districts that are particularly "hostile" (my word) to disabled children and their parents.

While the THSC has a religious emphasis. They sure know how to lobby and sure know how to deal with the politicians in Austin (Texas state capital). And they support their members on legal issues with school districts in Texas.

 

Scholarships & Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities

"special financial aid and scholarship opportunities for students with disabilities. The purpose of this guide is to focus on these financial aid opportunities and discuss how to take advantage of them."


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Autism Resources

The autism community is large and has many online resources. Here I mention only a few websites of interest that can point you to many other sites.

Autism Resource Center

From AACAP (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) website.

Autism Speaks

"Autism Speaks is dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. We do this through advocacy, services, supports, research and innovation, and advances in care for autistic individuals and their families."

Guide to Better Sleep for Kids with Autism

Navigate Life Texas (Autism Support Network)

"The Autism Support Network connects families and individuals touched by ASD with each other, provides support and insight, and acts as a resource guide for education, treatments, strategies and therapies for autism."

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