General Information Continued

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (www.aacap.org):        
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry assists parents in
understanding developmental, behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders
affecting children. Fact sheets on issues such as sleep, depression, bed-wetting,
etc.

Developmental Delay Resources (www.devdelay.org):        
Dedicated to meeting the needs children who have developmental delays in
sensory motor, language, social, and emotional areas. Also publicizes research
into determining identifiable factors that would put a child at risk and maintains a
registry, tracking possible trends.

Different Abilities (www.differentabilities.com):        
Started by a mom with four children with varying degrees of cerebral palsy.  
DifferentAbilities.com is a laid back, fun loving, and most appreciative of the
smallest accomplishments our children strive to achieve.

Disability Resources (www.disabilityresources.org):        
Encyclopedia Britannica Internet Guide calls this site "wonderfully well-organized
site  for cutting through the morass of disability-related material on the Web."  

Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
(www.ffcmh.org):        
A national parent-directed organization focused on the needs of children and youth
with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders and their families. Also in Spanish.

First Signs (www.firstsigns.org):        
Dedicated to the early identification and intervention of children with development
delays and disorders; information for parents, physicians and other professionals.

Interdisciplinary Council (www.icdl.com):        
The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders  supports
families by providing resource information and opportunities for communication
using the Developmental Individual-Difference Relationship-Based (DIR) model
(floor-time techniques).

Merrill Lynch (www.plan.ml.com/specialneeds):        
Families of Children With Disabilities Website:  valuable information on financial
planning for families as well as a regular column by Robert Naseef, Ph.D.  

National Fathers Network (www.fathersnetwork.org):        
A national program dedicated to fathers of children with special needs. Articles by
dads, photos, bulletin boards, publications, etc.  Connected to scores of local
groups.  Also in Spanish.

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
(www.nichcy.org):        
A federally funded information and referral clearinghouse for families,
professionals, and educators.  Many fact sheets and state by state resource lists.

National Institute for Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov):        
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website provides information from
the Federal agency that conducts and supports research on mental illnesses.
Included are brochures and information.

Parenting Special Needs (www.specialchildren.about.com):        
Includes articles, links, chats, and “Parenting From the Heart,” a weekly newsletter
that keeps you up to date on parenting children with special needs.

Parents Exchange (www.pex.tripod.com):        
An advocacy site. Links arranged by topics and disabilities, legislative updates,
reading lists, mailing lists and inspirational pieces.










Parents Helping Parents (www.php.com):        
A parent directed family resource center that serves families and the professionals
who serve them.  Information on this site can help other parent to parent programs
get started.

Pediatric Dentistry (www.aapd.org):        
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry provides information about
improving and  maintaining the oral health of infants, children, adolescents with
special health care needs.

Pediatric Services (www.pediatricservices.com):        
An award winning web site by a provider from central California.  Information
about child development and various pediatric therapies.  Bi-lingual services.

Prematurity (www.prematurity.org):        
Preemie Child Support Group and hundreds of article on the special needs of
preemies.  A unique site.  

Psych Central (www.psychcentral.com):        
One-stop index for psychology, support, and mental health issues, resources, and
people on the Internet, since 1995. As seen in The Wall Street Journal, L.A. Times,
Newsweek, etc.

Respite Care (www.respitelocator.org/index.htm):        
National Respite Locator Service maintains a database of respite services for
those looking for childcare for children with special needs.

Sibling Support Project (www.seattlechildrens.
org/child_health_safety/special_needs/sibshops.asp):        
A national program dedicated to the interests of brothers and sisters of people with
special health and developmental needs.  Based at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Special Child Magazine (www.specialchild.com):        
An electronic publication for families.  Bulletinboards, articles, information on
diagnosis, etc. Includes a column by Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration  
(www.samhsa.gov):        
SAMHSA, a federal agency, works to improve the quality and availability of
substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental
health services.

University Affiliated Programs (www.aauap.org):        
University Affiliated programs engage in activities to support the independence,
productivity, integration and inclusion into the community of individuals with
developmental disabilities and their families.

Vision Therapy (www.covd.org):        
If you are wondering about how vision therapy can help with visual processing
and learning disabilities, this site from the College of Optometrists in Vision
Development will inform you.  There is a large selection of links and a list of
qualified professionals.

Women's Mental Health Consortium
(www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/depwomen.cfm):        
The National Institute of Mental Health provides regularly updated information on
how the occurrence, treatment, and outcomes of mental illnesses differ between
men and women, and research that takes these differences into account, to the
benefit of both women and men.

Zero to Three (www.zerotothree.org):        
A national resource on the first three years of life which aims to strengthen and
support families, practitioners and communities to promote the healthy
development of babies and toddlers.








Learning Materials        

Lekotek (www.lekotek.org):        
A central source on toys and play for children with special needs. The National
Lekotek Center is driven by the philosophy that children learn best when play is a
family_centered activity.  Access a wealth of resources on opening up the world of
play to children with special needs.

Cognitive Concepts (www.cogcon.com):        
Cognitive Concepts, the company who distributes Earobics™, a computer CD
program that targets phonemic awareness and auditory processing.

Discovery Toys (www.discoverytoysinc.com):        
A catalogue for educational toys and materials.

Educational Insights (www.educationalinsights.com):        
Educational supply store.

Funderstanding (www.funderstanding.com):        
Information on different learning theories, education and software materials.

Lakeshore (www.lakeshorelearning.com):        
Educational supply store.

Linguisystems (www.linguisystems.com):        
Speech therapy catalogue, publisher of exercise workbooks, flashcards, games,
and testing materials.

Scientific Learning (www.scientificlearning.com):        
From the company that produces the computerized speech therapy program for
auditory processing known as Fast ForWord™, this site has information including
references, results from clinical trials and ordering information.