Links to Special Needs Organizations
Featured Organizations
Ideal Lives
Ideal Lives is a great connection for advisors. Ideal lives helps you find the answers and information you need to ensure your child with special needs gets the highest quality education and care available. They are an online research and consulting practice devoted to individuals with special needs and their advocates. They provide advice, research, resources and an online community of like-minded advocates who want the best for their children and yours.
Special Needs Planning
Special Needs Planners, provides individually crafted special needs planning services to parents and guardians of disabled children. While an array of financial and legal tools are available to parents, most attorneys and financial planners don’t, by and large, offer A-Z planning for parents. Special Needs Planners provides a comprehensive plan to parents, tailored to your individual needs.
Ability OnLine for Young People
Ability OnLine is an active support network that connects young people with disabilities to disabled and non-disabled peers and mentors via e-mail. this site is also a valuable resources for obtaining information about current medical breakthroughs, educations and employment opportunities.
Adolescent Health Transition Project
A health and transition resource for adolescents with special health care needs, chronic illnesses, physical or developmental disabilities. This site is designed to assist young adults with special needs to move into adult services.
ARC of Washington State
The Arc of Washington State develops services and programs for people with developmental disabilities, lifetime functional disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy and related neurological disorders which occur before age 18. Their goal is to promote self-sufficiency and inclusion.
Center for Children with Special Needs
The Center for children with Special Needs promotes the health and well being of children with special health care needs and their families. Located at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, they serve all children who have, or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.
Children with Special Health Care Needs ASK Resource Line
The ASK Resource line is a statewide, toll-free information and referral service of Healthy Mothers, Health Babies Coalition of Washington that links families of children with developmental disabilities or special health care needs with evaluation services, treatment, medical financing, recreational opportunities, parent support groups and other resource information. ASK Referral Specialists are bilingual in Spanish, and have access to interpretive services for 50 additional languages. Families are encouraged to call the ASK Line information and referral specialists with questions about resources in their local area. They can be reached at 1-800-322-2588.
Links to Other Organizations
Arts and Disability
National Arts and Disability Center (http://www.nadc.ucla.edu/Default.htm)
Advocacy Organizations
American Association of People with
Disabilities (www.aapd-dc.org)
American With Disabilities Act Technical Assistance (www.adata.org)
Children's Defense Fund (www.childrensdefense.org)
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (www.c-c-d.org)
Disabled Peoples' International (www.dpi.org)
Down Syndrome Research Online Advocacy Group (www.dsoag.com)
Easter Seals (www.easterseals.org)
Family Voices (www.familyvoices.org)
King County Parent Coalition (www.arcofkingcounty.org/kcpc)
March of Dimes -- Washington Chapter (www.marchofdimes.com/washington)
National Association of State Directors of Developmental
Disabilities Services (www.nasddds.org/TeleconferenceSeries-Advocacy.shtml)
National Organization on Disability (www.nod.org)
Parent Pals.com (http://parentpals.com/gossamer/pages)
Partners in Policy (http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com)
Pierce County Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (www.pc2online.org/index.cfm)
Spokane Parent Coalition (www.spokaneparentcoalition.org)
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (www.tacid.org)
The Community Circle (http://www.thecommunitycircle.org)
The National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (www.thenadd.org/)
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (www.sabeusa.org)
Speaking For Ourselves (www.speaking.org)
TASH (www.tash.org)
The Arc of King County (www.arcofkingcounty.org)
The Arc of Washington State (www.arcwa.org)
The ArcLink (www.thearclink.org)
The Council For Disability Rights (http://disabilityrights.org)
Voice of the Retarded (www.vor.net)
Washington Coalition of Citizens With Disabilities (www.wccd.org)
Washington Protection and Advocacy System (www.wpas-rights.org)
Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council (www.ddc.wa.gov)
Aging & Developmental Disabilities
Aging & Disability Services Administration (www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov)
British Columbia Association for Community Living (www.bcacl.org/home/index.cfm
)
Center on Aging and Disabilities (www.cad.med.miami.edu)
Informative Fact Sheets for Older Adults and Family Caregivers (http://epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/index.htm)
National Down Syndrome Society
(www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=Research.CurrStdyarticle&article=50)
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging With
Developmental Disabilities (www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr)
Resources on Aging with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
(www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr/pubslist.html)
Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse (www.mass.gov/mddc/documents/ddsablueprint.doc)
The Substance Abuse Resources & Disability Issues (SARDI)
Program (www.med.wright.edu/citar/sardi/index.html)
National Association on Alcohol, Drugs and Disability Inc. (www.naadd.org
)
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (http://health.org)
Arts and Disability
National Institute of Art & Disabilities (www.niadart.org)
Passion Works Studio (www.passionworks.org/index.php)
Sprout Film Festival (www.gosprout.org/film)
VSA Arts (www.vsarts.org)
Asperger's Syndrome
A.S.P.E.N. (www.aspennj.org)
Asperger's Disorder (www.aspergers.com)
Families of Adults Afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome (FAAAS) (www.faaas.org)
KidsHealth for Parents: Apserger Syndrome (www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/asperger.html)
Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic (http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/aspergers.html)
Assistive Technology
Alliance for Technology Access (www.ataccess.org/default.html)
Family Center on Technology and Disability (www.fctd.info)
Washington Assistive Technology Alliance (www.wata.org)
Washington Assistive Technology Foundation (www.watf.org)
Autism
Autism Distance Education Network (www.albany.edu/psy/autism/autism.html)
Autism National Committee (www.autcom.org)
Autism Network International (http://ani.autistics.org)
Autism Outreach Project (www.esd189.org/autism)
Autism - PDD Resources Network (Washington) (www.autism-pdd.net/LINKS/washingt.htm)
Autism Research Foundation (www.ladders.org)
Autism Research Institute (www.autism.com)
Autism Society of America (www.autism-society.org)
Autism Society of Tacoma/Pierce County (www.homestead.com/autism_society_tacoma)
Autism Society of Washington (www.autismsocietyofwa.org)
Autism Speaks (http://www.autismspeaks.org/index2.php?intro=1)
Autistics.org (www.autistics.org)
Center for the Study of Autism (www.autism.org)
FEAT (Families for Early Autism Treatment) (www.feat.org)
Geneva Centre for Autism (www.autism.net)
MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome (www.maapservices.org)
Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (www.aspergersyndrome.org)
National Alliance for Autism Research (www.naar.org)
TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related
Communication (www.teacch.com)
The Mind Institute, UC Davis (www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute)
University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (http://www.umcard.org/)
University of Sunderland Autism Research Unit (http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism)
University of Washington Autism Center (www.depts.washington.edu/uwautism)
World Autism Organisation (www.worldautism.org)
Blind/Visually Impaired
Community Services for the Blind and
Partially Sighted (www.csbps.com)
National Information Clearinghouse on Children Who are
Deaf-Blind (www.tr.wou.edu/dblink)
Washington State Dept. of Services for the Blind (www.dsb.wa.gov)
Brain Injury
Brain Injury Association of Washington (www.biawa.org)
Brain Injury Association, Inc. (www.biausa.org)
University of Washington School of Medicine, Dept. of
Rehabilitation Medicine (http://depts.washington.edu/rehab)
Cerebral Palsy
American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and
Developmental Medicine (www.aacpdm.org)
Cerebral Palsy Connection (www.cpconnection.com)
CP Resource Center (www.twinenterprises.com/cp)
March of Dimes (www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1208.asp)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm)
United Cerebral Palsy (www.ucp.org)
Children
Brave Kids.org (www.bravekids.org)
Child Development Institute (www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/learning_disabilities.shtml)
ComeUnity.com (www.comeunity.com/disability/cerebral_palsy)
Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org)
Division of Child Care and Early Learning FAQs (www1.dshs.wa.gov/esa/dccel/faq.shtml)
NICHCY (National Information Center for children and Youth with
Disabilities) (www.nichcy.org)
Disability Studies
Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (http://www.disabilitystudies.ca)
Center for Disabilities and Development (www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/cdd/index.asp)
Center on Human Development and Disability (http://depts.washington.edu/chdd)
Center on Human Policy (http://thechp.syr.edu)
Human Services Research Institute (http://www.hsri.org/index.asp)
Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Disability
Rights Movement) (www.americanhistory.si.edu/disabilityrights/welcome.html)
University of South Carolina Center for Disability Resources (www.cdd.sc.edu)
Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome Educational Trust (www.downsed.org)
Down Syndrome Information Network (www.down-syndrome.net)
Down Syndrome Health Issues (www.ds-health.com)
National Down Syndrome Society (www.ndss.org)
National Association for Down Syndrome (www.nads.org)
The Canadian Down Syndrome Society (www.cdss.ca)
Early Intervention
Infant Toddler Early Prevention Program (
www1.dshs.wa.gov/iteip)
National Early Childhood Transition Center (www.ihdi.uky.edu/nectc)
Employment
Best Buddies International (www.bestbuddies.org)
DSHS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Ticket to Work (www1.dshs.wa.gov/dvr/aboutdvr/ticket-to-work.htm)
Gladnet (www.gladnet.org)
JAN (Job Accommodation Network) (janweb.icdi.wvu.edu)
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (www.ncwd-youth.info/index.html)
U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy (www.dol.gov/odep/welcome.html)
Office of Employment Support Programs (www.ssa.gov/work)
Washingtin Initiative for Supported Employment (www.theinitiative.ws/default.html)
Work Opportunities (www.workopportunities.org)
Your Ticket To Work (www.yourtickettowork.com)
Epilepsy
British Epilepsy Association (www.epilepsy.org.uk)
Center for Epilepsy (www.siumed.edu/neuro/epilepsy.html)
Epilepsy.com (www.epilepsy.com)
Epilepsy Education Association (www.iupui.edu/~epilepsy)
Epilepsy Foundation (www.efa.org)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/epilepsy.htm)
National Society for Epilepsy (www.epilepsynse.org.uk)
Family Support
Beach Center on Disability (www.beachcenter.org)
Child Care Action Council (www.familysupport-hrsi.org)
Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities (www.prepare.org/disabilities/disabilities.htm)
Family Caregiving 101 (www.familycaregiving101.com)
National Center for Family Support (www.familysupport-hsri.org)
Parents Connect (www.parentsconnect.org/linkster/linkster.php)
Parents Helping Parents (www.php.com)
Sibling Support Project (www.thearc.org/siblingsupport)
The Fathers Network (www.fathersnetwork.org)
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FAS/FAE Legal Issues Resource Center (http://depts.washington.edu/fadu/legalissues)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Center for Excellence (www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov)
U. of Washington School of Medicine Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit
(http://depts.washington.edu/fadu)
Health Portals
Disability Resources.org (www.disabilityresources.org)
HealthFinder.gov (www.healthfinder.gov)
Health.gov (www.health.gov)
InteliHealth (www.intelihealth.com)
MayoClinic.com (www.mayohealth.org)
Medline Plus (http://medlineplus.gov)
Network of Care (http://www.networkofcare.org)
Seattle-King County Community Resources Online (www2.ci.seattle.wa.us/crisisclinic)
Healthcare
Adolescent Health Transition Project (www.depts.washington.edu/healthtr)
American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org/default.htm)
American Indian Health Commission for Washington State (www.aihc-wa.org)
American Psychological Association (www.apa.org/practice/pu/apr98/ssa.html)
Center on Human Development and Disability (www.depts.washington.edu/chdd)
Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center (www.seattlechildrens.org)
Family Voices (www.familyvoices.org)
National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov)
National Network of Libraries of Medicine (http://nnlm.gov)
SafetyNet.US (www.isafetynet.org)
Washington State Home Care Quality Authority (http://www.hcqa.wa.gov/default.htm)
Independent Living
Community
Living Exchange (www.cshp.rutgers.edu)
Housing and Urban Development (www.hud.gov/groups/disabilities.cfm)
Independent Living (www.independentliving.org)
Independent Living Research Utilization at TIRR (www.ilru.org)
Inclusion
Circle of Inclusion (www.circleofinclusion.org)
Inclusion.com (www.inclusion.com)
Institute for Community Inclusion (www.communityinclusion.org)
Institute on Community Integration (http://ici.umn.edu)
Inclusion Research Network (www.inclusionresearch.org)
Kid Source Online (www.kidsource.com)
Legal
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (www.copaa.net)
National Guardianship Association (www.guardianship.org)
Law, Health Policy & Disability Center (http://disability.law.uiowa.edu)
Washington Protection and Advocacy System (www.wpas-rights.org)
Wrightslaw (www.wrightslaw.com)
Media
Disability History Museum (www.disabilitymuseum.org)
Disability Studies Online Magazine (www.disabilitystudies.com)
Disability World (www.disabilityworld.org)
Enabled Online (www.enabledonline.com)
Exceptional Parent Magazine (http://www.eparent.com)
Family Village (www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/index.htmlx)
iCan! (www.ican.com)
Mainstream (www.mainstream-mag.com)
On A Roll Radio (www.onarollradio.com)
Medication
Harvard Health Publications (www.health.harvard.edu)
MedlinePlus (www.medlineplus.gov)
Medscape (www.medscape.com)
Merck Manual (www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/home.jsp)
Prescription Drug Info (www.prescriptiondrug-info.com)
WebMD (http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/drug_and_herb/default.htm)
Positive Behavior Support
Michigan Positive Behavior Support Network (www.bridges4kids.org/PBS/PBS.html)
SUNY at Albany - Functional Behavioral Assessment and Positive
Behavior Support (www.albany.edu/psy/autism/behavior.html)
University of Delaware Positive Behavior Support Project (www.udel.edu/cds/pbs)
Prader-Willi Syndrome
International Prader-Willi Syndrome
Organization (www.ipwso.org)
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (www.pwsausa.org)
Yale-New Haven Medical Center (http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/wspws)
Recreation
Accessible Recreational Travel (www.voaww.org/art)
America's Athletes With Disabilities (www.americasathletes.org)
Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (www.cpisra.org)
Easter Seals (www.easterseals.com)
Kids Camps (www.kidscamps.com/special_needs/developmt_disability.html)
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (www.ncpad.org
National Disability Sports Alliance (www.ndsaonline.org)
Seattle Children's Hospital - Summer Camp Directory (www.cshcn.org/resources/campcalendar.cfm)
Special Olympics (www.specialolympics.org)
Research
National Center for the Dissemination of
Disability Research (www.ncddr.org)
Self-Determination
Center on Self-determination (www.ncddr.org/du/researchexchange/v08n03/6_ohsu.html)
Individualized Funding Information Resources (http://members.shaw.ca/bsalisbury)
National Program Office on Self-determination (www.self-determination.org)
Neighbours Inc. (www.neighbours-inc.com)
Self Determination Synthesis Project (www.uncc.edu/sdsp/home.asp)
Speaking for Ourselves (www.speaking.org)
Special Education
All Kinds of Minds (www.allkindsofminds.org)
Council for Exceptional Children (www.cec.sped.org/ab/index.html)
ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) (http://ericec.org)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/108th/education/idea/conferencereport/confrept.htm)
International Journal of Special Education (www.internationaljournalofspecialeducation.com)
New Horizons for Learning (www.newhorizons.org)
Office of Special Education Programs (www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html)
Partners in Education (www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/education)
Wash. State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (www.k12.wa.us/specialed)
PACER Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights)
(www.pacer.org)
Washington PAVE (Parents Are Vital in Education) (www.washingtonpave.com)
Transportation
Wash. State Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (www.wsdot.wa.gov/acct/default.htm)
U.S. Government
The Access Board (www.access-board.gov)
Administration for Children & Families (www.acf.dhhs.gov/index.html)
Administration on Developmental Disabilities (www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/add)
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (http://cms.hhs.gov)
DisabilityInfo (www.disabilityinfo.gov)
FirstGov - The official website for searching the US Government
(http://firstgov.gov)
National Center on Birth defects and Developmental Disabilities
(www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/default.htm)
National Council on Disability (www.ncd.gov
)
President's Committee on People with Intellectual Disabilities
(www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/pcpid/index.html)
US Dept. of Health & Human Services (www.os.dhhs.gov)
US Dept. of Justice - Americans with Disabilities Act (www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm)