Links to Special Needs Organizations

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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.

Center for Children with Special Needs

The Center for Children with Special Needs was formed in 1998 as a program of Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. The Center focuses on improving systems of care for children with special needs through education, research and evaluation. Our work impacts policy, quality of care, education and family partnerships in health care.

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/) new
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

new 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)