Related Links

Provided below are links that offer additional information:

Assistive Technology

• Illinois Assistive Technology Project
  Technology devices for loan - sources for funding of assistive technology.
   
• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America or call 703-524-6696
  Better known as RESNA, they can provide a wealth of assistive technology-related information and resources in your specific area.

Bullying / Harassment

• Bullying - Pacer Center
  National Center for Bullying Prevention

Disability Awareness

• Call Me Capable
  "Call Me Capable" is a game that teaches that persons with disabilities are more similar than different.

Disability Benefits and Resources

• Disability Benefits / Resources / Publications
• Disability Resources
  The Disability Resources Monthly (DRM) guide to Disability resources on the internet.
• GovBenefits
  Will help the public identify federal programs designed to help them.

Disability Law Agencies

• Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance
  Provides a comprehensive resource for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
• U.S. Department of Justice
  The US Department of Justice site is organized for greater ease in locating documents and updates as well as additional links to other related programs and activities at the federal level related to the ADA.

Disability Organizations and Service Providers

• ARC Community Support Systems
  Assists people with disabilities through advocacy, support, training, employment and housing opportunities in Central Illinois.
• ARC of Illinois
• Council for Exceptional Children
  Advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
• Designs For Change
  Connecting the disability community to information and opportunities.
• Family Support Network of Illinois
  Information about family support in Illinois.
• Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Independent Living Research Utilization
  Obtain a list of the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in your state or city. CILs must provide services to persons with all types of disabilities and all age groups.
• The Institute on Disability and Human Development
  Promotes the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. IDHD works together with Equip for Equality and the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities to make up Illinois' DD network.
• National Rehabilitation Information Center
  Collects and disseminates the results of federally funded research projects.
• TASH
  TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm.

Disability Specific Organizations

Apraxia

• The Apraxia Connection
  Resources and informaion on apraxia and associated disorders.

Autism

• Autism Epicenter
  Resource for parents dealing with autism.
• Autism Society of America
  Autism resource web site.
• Illinois Autism / PDD Training and Technical Assistance Project
  The Illinois Autism / PDD Training and Technical Assistance Project is an Illinois State Board of Education initiative which provides training and technical assistance focused on educating students with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD).
• First Signs - www.firstsigns.org
• The Autism Program of Illinois - www.theautismprogram.org

Down Syndrome

• The Down Syndrome Educational Trust
  Research information on development and education of individuals with Down Syndrome.
• Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association, Inc.
  Morton, IL
• The National Down Syndrome Society
  Information on Down Syndrome and advocacy.

Fragile X

• The National Fragile X Foundation
  Information and resource site for Fragile X syndrome, a hereditary condition which causes a wide range of mental impairment, from mild learning disabilities to severe mental retardation.

Education

• U.S. Department of Education
• Read Write Think
Providing educators and students access to the highest quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction. Lessons on ponemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary.
• Online Colleges

Education of Students with Disabilities

• Disability.gov
  Serving as a catalyst for major improvements in the public schools serving the 50 largest cities in the country, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.
• ERIC - Educational Resources Information Center
• Family Resource Center on Disabilities
  A Coalition of Parents and Professional Organizations, Serving the 8 counties around Chicago.
• Illinois School for the Deaf Outreach
• Illinois State Board of Education
• Least Restrictive Environment Clearinghouse
  Provide information and resources for parents and teachers to increase their knowledge about how students with disabilities can be successfully integrated and educated in regular classroom settings.
• MilitaryK12Partners
  MilitaryK12Partners offers resources, like Special Education Modules, to assist schools that serve military families.
• National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
  NICHCY is the national information center that provides information on specific disabilities and disability-related issues.
• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
• Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
• Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER)
  PACER Center expands opportunities and enhances the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families. Legislative issues, transition from school to work, emotional and behavior disorders.
• Project Choices
  Project CHOICES is a "least restrictive environment" initiative funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. There are two components to the Project: CHOICES, which supports school-age children; and Early CHOICES, which supports preschool-age children.
• Special Ed Law
  SpecialEdLaw.net is a multidisciplinary internet resource for parents of special needs children, as well as attorneys, special education administrators, teachers, psychologists, and others with a need for information relating to Special Education law.
• Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)
  The OSEP-funded PTI for military families across the country.
• Wrights Law
• College Information for Adults with Disabilites
• National Center on Student Progress Monitoring
• IEP Institute - www.iepinstitute.com
Helps ensure that students with disabilities receive appropriate special education programming and related services.

Health Information and Resources

• Division of Specialized Care for Children at the University of Illinois - Chicago
  Administered by the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is the Illinois Title V agency that provides care coordination for families and children with special health care needs.
• Drugwatch
  Information about the risks and benefits of specific medications.
• Healthopedia
  A source for information on specific disabilities.

Legal Resources

• Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates
  An independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates and parents established to improve the quality and quantity of legal assistance for parents of children with disabilities.
• Equip for Equality
• Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy
  The Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission is an executive state agency created to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities. By providing legal representation, investigating complaints of rights violations and providing state guardianship for Illinois' population with disabilities, the Commission has given voice to those who have previously gone unheard.

Mental Health

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
• Supports for families affected by mental illness and suicide

Parenting

• Behavior Charts to use with children
• Chore Chart to use with children
• Empowering Parents

A site that provides tips for dealing with your child's behavior.

• Illinois Mommies Of Miracles

Online support group for moms of children with special needs. http://www.facebook.com/groups/ILMommiesofMiracles

Resources for Parents of Young Children

• Illinois Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse Lending Library
  The Illinois Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse has a large lending library devoted to the topic of child development and disabilities.
• My Child Without Limits
  Comprehensive informational and social networking resource for families of children ages 0-5 with developmental disabilities.
• Illinois STARNET
  Illinois STARNET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered, researched and effective practices in early childhood education and care.
• STARNET Regions I and III
• STARNET Region II
• STARNET Region IV
• STARNET Region V
• STARNET Region VI

Research-Based Educational Interventions

• Doing What Works - http://www.dww.ed.gov
• What Works Clearinghouse - http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc
• National Center on Student Progress Monitoring - www.studentprogress.org
• Center on Instruction - www.centeroninstruction.org

Response to Intervention - RtI

• RtI Action Network - www.rtinetwork.org

• National Center on RtI - www.rti4success.org

• National Center on Student Progress Monitoring - www.studentprogress.org

Transition / Self-Advocacy / Adult Living

Join a virtual community of college students with disabilities.

• Accredited Online Colleges
• A Piece of the Puzzle
• Guide on Homeownership for Person with Disabilities
• Illinois Transition Planning Committees
• Illinois WorkNet Center
• Think College
• We Connect Now
• To locate colleges that offer online programs:   www.onlineschools.org/guides