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.
• Infinitec
  To advance independence and promote inclusive opportunities for children and adults through 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
• stopbullying.gov
  Includes infographics on bullying
• Guide to Bullying and Cyberbullying
  - Guide from online schools
• Learn Psychology-Bullying
  -Experts discuss the effects of bullying and prevention strategies.
• Online Teen Safety Guide
• Bullying in the US - Rates, Tips and Resources
• Stop Cyber Bullying Guide
• School Bus Bullying

Disability Awareness

• Call Me Capable
  "Call Me Capable" is a game that teaches that persons with disabilities are more similar than different.
  Specific Disabilities: Cerebral Palsy- A blog about living with cerebral palsy.

Disability Benefits and Resources

• PUNS List Explanation & Resources for Families IN SPANISH
• Disability Benefits / Resources / Publications
• Disability Resources
  The Disability Resources Monthly (DRM) guide to Disability resources on the internet.

Disability Law Agencies

• 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 of Illinois
• Community Support Systems
  Assists people with disabilities through advocacy, support, training, employment and housing opportunities in Central 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.
• Family to Family
  The Family-to-Family (F2F) Health Information Center provides information and resources regarding healthcare and benefits specifically for families of children and youth with any disability, special needs and/or chronic illness. F2F is both a program of The Arc of Illinois and the Illinois affiliate of a national organization, Family Voices. The program is funded through a grant from the federal Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). Webinars on topics of interest are translated (voice to print) in Spanish. Additional accommodations can be arranged for participants given at least a two week notice. Toll-free numbers:  English 866-931-1110, Espanol 800-588-7002
• 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.
• 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 Resources

Apraxia

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

Autism

APP - This app, ABA Flash Cards and Games, offers fun and simple ways for your child/student with autism to recognize emotions. You can also use your own pictures!Autism Epicenter

• Resource for parents dealing with autism.
• Autism Resources for Families
• Autism Society of America
  Autism resource web site.
• CDC Autism Links and Resources
• Classroom Accommodations for Kids with Sensory Issues
• Create a Sensory Safe Yard for Children with Special Needs
• Estate Planning for Parents of Kids with Autism
• First Signs
• How to Calm a Child with Autism
• How to Improve Emotional Self-Regulation Among Children with Autism and Attention Disorders - discusses how teaching children with special needs emotional self-regulation skills can help them better manage emotional responses.
• Moving with Special Needs Kids
• Operation Autism for Military Families
• Reduce the Noise: Help Loved Ones with Sensory Overload Enjoy Shopping
• Sensory Processing Treatments
• Sesame Street Autism Resources for Parents
• Temple Grandin's Teaching Tips
• Ten Guiding Principles
• The Autism Program of Illinois
• http://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/

Cerebral Palsy

• Cerebral Palsy Guide - Learn about the causes
  Educational materials, financial options, and support related to cerebral palsy.
• Cerebral Palsy Group
  Free educational information and support to those affected by cerebral palsy.
• Cerebral Palsy
  Cerebral palsy information and assistance to families.

Diabetes

• Sample Diabetes Medical Management Plan
• Section 504 Plans for Students with Diabetes
• School Staff training on Diabetes Care

Down Syndrome

• Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association, Inc.
  Morton, IL
• The National Down Syndrome Society
  Information on Down Syndrome and advocacy.

Dyslexia

• The Dyslexia Guide

Fragile X

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

Learning Disabilities

• National Centers for Learning Disabilities
• Learning Ally
• LD Online
• Dyslexia Training Institute
• Decoding Dyslexia
• Dyslexia Illinois State Board of Education
• Ultimate Guide to Reading Comphrehension

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.
• Family Engagement Framework Guide
• Online Education Degree Guide - Includes key information for students deciding if it is the right field for them.
• Parent Guide to Child's State Testing Scores - (enter your state and the grade the child was in when the state test was administered)

Education of Students with Disabilities

• Center for Parent Information and Resources 
  The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) serves as a central resource for all Parent Training and Information Centers, including Family Matters.  Resources on their site are also directly available to parents.  We invite you to visit their website at www.parentcenterhub.org and choose the ‘RESOURCES’ tab across the top of their home page, or click on the ‘RESOURCES’ block at the bottom of the page.
• CADRE- The Center for Appropriate Resolution in Special Education
• 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.
• Differentiation Central - Differentiated Instruction
• Family Resource Center on Disabilities
  Chicago's Metropolitan Area Parent Training and Information Center, Serving the 8 counties around Chicago.
• Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities Guide
  This guide includes valuable resources for students with disabilities, such as, a curated list of more than 85 disability-specific scholarships, strategies for untilizing state and local financial aid resources, and an overview of loan forgiveness and reduction options.
• IDEA- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• IDEA - State Complaint Resource Center 
  Information on the IDEA State Complaint process, including the basics, tips for advocates, strategies for addressing systemic noncompliance, limitations and more.
• 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.
• MilitaryK12Partner
  MilitaryK12Partners offers resources, like Special Education Modules, to assist schools that serve military families.
  Branch Military PTAC
• 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.
• 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.
• Special Needs App - This is a complete guide to educational and special needs apps. Categories include skills acquisition, early learning, health and games.
• IEP Goals and Objectives Bank - The IEP Goals and Objectives Bank allows users to locate specific goals in areas such as academic areas, functional goals, motor skill, recreation and leisure, self-management and daily living skills, social emotional, speech and language skills, study skills and vocational/career education and exploration goals.

Health Information and Resources

• Drugwatch
  Information about the risks and benefits of specific medications.

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
  Protection and Advocacy System for persons with disabilities in Illinois.
• 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.
• Land of Lincoln Legal Assitance Foundation
  Free legal help for low-income persons (Southern & South Central Illinois).

Literacy for Kids

Kid Zone! Audiobooks, Video books, Apps, Games, Reading

Mental Health

• Suicide Prevention Guidebook for Students

Parenting

• Empowering Parents
  A site that provides tips for dealing with your child's behavior.
• Illinois Mommies Of Miracles 
  A statewide virtual support group of more than 300 moms of children who have medical complexities, life-limiting conditions, or developmental disabilities.
• Family Engagement Framework
  "In an effort to strengthen family-school partnerships, over the past year and a half, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has been coordinating across divisions to develop a shared framework guide for engaging families. The ISBE Family Engagement Framework Guide is a tool for ISBE, school districts, and schools to use in developing and expanding school-family partnerships to support improved student learning and healthy development outcomes. This resource brings together research, promising practices, and a consolidation of key program requirements to provide districts, schools, and families with tools to assist with planning, implementation, and evaluation of family engagement
  practices."

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.
•  
• 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

• What Works Clearinghouse - http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc
• Center on Instruction - www.centeroninstruction.org

Response to Intervention - RtI

• RtI Action Network - www.rtinetwork.org

• National Center on RtI - www.rti4success.org

Siblings

• S.I.B.S.-Network Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters
  -Resources and Information for siblings of persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities

• APP - This app, ABA Flash Cards and Games, offers fun and simple ways for your child/student with autism to recognize emotions. You can also use your own pictures!