Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association: This New York-based organization offers great resources for those with higher functioning autism. Ahany also provides a great list of summer programs and day camps in New York, as well as useful questions to ask when choosing any camp or summer program for your special needs child.
Autism Beacon strives to supply the best resources for autism treatments. It also offers a broad range of articles on autism, including sensitive topics such as bullying and sexuality.
Autism Hwy: Autism Highway was started by Kelly Green after her son Wyatt was diagnosed with autism. It provides an extensive list of autism-related events and specialists. It also includes many fun games that children are sure to enjoy.
Autism Society has been providing information for individuals on the spectrum, their family members, and professionals for more than 50 years. It hosts an annual conference and lobbies nationally for policies to help families touched by autism.
Autism Speaks is an organization dedicated to improving quality for life for people of all ages who are on the spectrum.
AutismNow.Org features news, information, an easy-to-use search engine, upcoming events, and even a local agencies map to help you find services and support in your area.
Autism Learn, a site is dedicated to the process of teaching autistic children how to learn. It is jam-packed with visually stimulating activities geared toward helping develop skills with people, fine motor control, creating a connected hierarchy, learning about the seasons and weather, money, and much more.
Autism and Oughtisms: The mom of 2 autistic boys is the author of this inspirational and informative blog about autism.
The Guardian: “The biggest problem for children with special needs? Other people.” The An inspiring story about a mother and her son, who has autism. It discusses one of the biggest challenges parents and their disabled child face. At the end of the article, there are more than 175 comments from others sharing their stories and offering tips and resources.
Deafness & Hearing Impairment
American Society for Deaf Children: This ASDC has numerous resources for parents related to early language and development. It also publishes Endeavor magazine for families.
Educating Deaf Children: This site by the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf offers information about the social, emotional, and behavioral development of deaf children as well as early intervention, educational strategies, and research about cochlear implants and other assistive technologies.
Hands & Voices is a non-profit, parent-driven organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is an inclusive community that brings together parents whose children use American Sign Language as well as those whose kids have cochlear implants or communicate with assistive technology.
Hearing Like Me is a wonderful resource for parents who have deaf children or hearing loss. Their website is full of helpful information and has an amazing forum where you can share your story and talk with other parents.
Hearing Loss Association of America is a great resource for any parent with a hearing-impaired child. In addition to offering support resources, news, personal stories, and articles, it also has a section on laws and the rights of people with hearing loss.
Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss: This is a privately developed website for professionals and family members of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. It offers practical resources related to early intervention and school-aged students. There are also products and training tools for sale.
Down Syndrome
Band Of Angels: Established in 1994, Band of Angels provides support, advocacy, and independence for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
Down Syndrome Research And Treatment Foundation: The DSRTF is dedicated to finding a treatment to improve cognition including learning, memory, and speech for individuals with Down syndrome. Its website provides detailed information about the latest Down syndrome research and clinical trials as well as how to apply for a research grant from the foundation.
Down Wit Dat: Down Wit Dat is a blog by Jen Logan, a mother of three children; a boy and a set of boy/girl twins. One of the twins, Wyatt, was born with Down Syndrome. Jen writes about her life, medical research, and advocacy for individuals with Down Syndrome.
Enjoying The Small Things: Kelle Hampton is a photographer and mom of a child with Down syndrome. She uses her writing and photography talents to bring you into her family’s life and share the beauty of small victories.
Garden of Eagan: Garden of Eagan chronicles the life of an older child with Down syndrome.
Global Down Syndrome Foundation: The GDSF is a nonprofit advocacy group. Its “Be Beautiful Be Yourself” fashion show is the nation’s single-largest annual fundraiser benefiting people with Down syndrome.
International Down Syndrome Coalition: The International Down Syndrome Coalition is dedicated to serving individuals with Down syndrome from conception throughout their lives. IDSC provides support to families who have been given a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. It also provides up-to-date information, resources and support groups for families with Down syndrome.
Linda Crnic Institute For Down Syndrome: The Linda Crnic Institute For Down Syndrome is part of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Its mission is to significantly improve the lives of all people with Down syndrome and through research, medicine, and targeted therapies.
National Down Syndrome Congress: Founded in 1973, the National Down Syndrome Congress is the country’s oldest national organization for people with Down syndrome, their families, and the professionals who work with them. It provides information, advocacy, and support concerning all aspects of life for individuals with Down syndrome. It also lobbies for nationally for policies that respect the worth and dignity of individuals with DS.
National Down Syndrome Society: The NDSS supports people with Down Syndrome by providing resources such as wellness, education, and research.
Noah’s Dad: Rick Smith documents the journey of his son, Noah through his early life. He also provides resources and tips about Down Syndrome and other special needs topics.
Research Down Syndrome: The mission of Research Down Syndrome is to expand and enhance life opportunities by funding scientific research aimed at improving cognition.
University of Stanford Center for Down Syndrome Research: The center’s primary goals are to understand the underlying causes of learning deficits and communication disabilities in Down syndrome and develop pharmaceutical and behavioral therapies.
UC-San Diego Center for Down Syndrome Treatment and Research: The DSCRT is one of the first programs in the country to connect academic research with treatment of adults and children with Down syndrome. Its goal is to apply cutting-edge research to develop treatments that will help people with Down syndrome improve their cognition and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Language and Speech Delays
Closing the Gap: Closing the Gap helps people learn how to use assistive technology to change lives.
SpeechDelay.com was created by a practicing speech and language pathologist. It features tips to stimulate language development, a forum to ask questions, a wealth of links to other sites, a comprehensive reading list, and even a sign language section.
Signing Time: What started as a home-made video series to teach toddlers American Sign Language has become a movement with lots of resources for parents of children with speech and language delays.
Learning Disabilities
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities is an excellent and resourceful website for parents with children who have dyslexia, are ADHD, or have other learning disabilities. The site focuses on empowering parents with knowledge and a strong supportive community. It also has a section on success stories for those that may be feeling overwhelmed.
National Center for Learning Disabilities: Children and adults with learning disabilities will benefit from the information and resources available from the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Multiple Disabilities
DisabilityScoop: Disability Scoop pulls together reputable news stories about all kinds of disabilities into a single forum. Sign up for its e-mail news to get timely updates on developmental disabilities.
Disabled Sports USA: Disabled Sports USA provides recreation and sports opportunities to disabled youth, adults, and wounded warriors.
Easter Seals: For almost 100 years, Easter Seals has been providing services to those with special needs and disabilities.
Families of Children with Disabilities was established in 1982 and provides information to parents whose children have multiple disabilities. It offers newsletters and resources, as well as upcoming events and community services.
Family Hope Center: When children or adults have special needs, the Family Hope Center provides support to the entire family.
Family Resource Center on Disabilities: Training, assistance, and information are given to parents of children with disabilities by the Family Resource Center on Disabilities.
Pacer Center: The Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights advocates parents helping parents and provides support and resources for children and youth with disabilities and their families.
Parent to Parent USA: Parent to Parent USA offers support to parents of children with special needs.
Council for Exceptional Children: The Council for Exceptional Children provides information and resources about Special Education.
Federation for Children with Special Needs: The focus of the Federation for Children with Special Needs is on the parents and providing support for them, which in turn benefits the child with special needs.
U.S. Department of Education: The U.S. Department of Education provides many resources and research for parents of children with special needs.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Brainline.org has an impressive guide for parents who have a child with a traumatic brain injury. It covers information on how to help your child adjust, cope, develop, and rehabilitate after an injury. It also helps parents understand cognitive changes in their child and has useful information into peer networks and gaining self-esteem.
Cerebra Foundation for Brain Injured Children: This UK-based organization coordinates an international parent network (PARNET) for support, information, and research. It provides medical, educational, legal, and therapeutic information to anyone concerned with brain injury.
Love that Max: A magazine editor mom whose son had a massive stroke at birth writes this inspirational blog about parenting a child with special needs.
The TBI Recovery Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims and families of brain and other serious injuries. Its website provides practical advice from people who have been through the same experience, offering information and support from the crisis phase through rehabilitation and coping with aftereffects.
