There is help available at all levels; national, regional, and local. Every state has different resources available and it is very important to become familiar with the help that is out there.
Help within the TA&D Network
The TA&D Network stands for the
Technical Assistance and Dissemination network of projects funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education. This is a network of approximately 40 projects concerned with various aspects of educational and other services to children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) Act, our nation's special education law. Each center has a particular focus or field of endeavor. Some maintain databases that you can search online for various types of information, as indicated below.
- Search for publications, Web pages, and other products about disabilities and disability-related issues.
www.nichcy.org/search/advanced.aspx
Again, come to NICHCY. We maintain a resource library online of all the products of the TA&D network. Assessment, behavior, early childhood, transition to adulthood, IDEA, your rights...you name it, it's included!
- Find the early intervention contacts in your state.
www.nectac.org/search/confinder.asp
Courtesy of the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center.
Your early intervention contacts include the Part C coordinators, the Section 619 coordinators (that's pre-school), and the ICC (Interagency Coordinating Council) contacts for the state. If you'd like to know the OSEP-funded early childhood projects in your state, visit the Projects Finder, at: www.nectac.org/search/projfinder.asp
- What kinds of testing accommodations are there for students with disabilities, and what are the effects of each?
www.education.umn.edu/nceo/AccomStudies.htm
To answer these questions, NCEO (the National Center on Educational Outcomes) offers the Online Accommodations Bibliography database at the link above, where you can search for specific accommodation research studies by typing in keywords related to the accommodation, disability, test content area, or student age.
- Looking for info on assistive technology for students?
www.fctd.info
Visit the Family Center on Technology and Disability. Find fact sheets and the terrific Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology, available in English and Spanish. Take advantage of FCTD's database of AT, too.
- Here's to students with disabilities accessing the general curriculum.
www.k8accesscenter.org/index.php
That's what the Access Center is all about. Language arts, math, science...universal design...resources for teaching and learning. State profiles, state policies and practices relating to access...the kitchen sink, too, believe it or not.
Help with Specific Disabilities
There are quite a few databases online regarding specific disabilities---and much more information about specific disabilities that isn't in a database! Rather than create a list here that never ends, we strongly recommend that you use these NICHCY resources, all of which are designed to connect you quickly to disability-specific organizations and information.
- Find the organization that exists to focus light, support, and action upon the disability that concerns you.
www.nichcy.org/search/advanced.aspx
Looking for an organization specializing in a particular disability? Visit NICHCY's "Search for Info" page. We have over 1,000 organizations listed, even those focusing on rare syndromes. On the search page, click the box next to "Organizations" and enter your search term. If you don't find what you're looking for, please do give us a call at 1.800.695.0285. Maybe we can help.
- Our National Resources list.
www.nichcy.org/pubs/genresc/gr2.htm
This list of more than 90 organizations is portable, unlike the database described above! You can xerox it and share it with others, too.
- Our State Resource Sheets.
www.nichcy.org/Pages/StateSpecificInfo.aspx
One of these days our state sheets will probably also be put in a database you can search, but for now, find your state's sheet and use it to hook up with a wide range of resources in your immediate area---including agencies and organizations focused on addressing the information and service needs related to specific disabilities.
We also recommend these other resources, if you're interested in locating the type of assistance noted.
- Organizations on genetic disorders or rare syndromes.
Here's a variety of resources that can help.
- Wanna talk with another parent whose child has the same disability as yours?
www.beachcenter.org/
The Beach Center on Disability can connect you to the Parent to Parent program in your state. From the home page link above, click on "Parent to Parent Organizations" and use the map provided to locate your state's program.
- Need help understanding your rights, advocating for your child, or finding resources in your community?
www.taalliance.org/Centers/index.htm
Contact your state's Parent Training and Information Center---known as the PTI. At the link above, use the map to indicate your state and be connected to the PTIs that serve you.
- Looking for a self-help organization or group?
www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/
The American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse offers an online, searchable version of its Self-Help Group Sourcebook. This can be a useful starting point for exploring real-life support groups and networks that are available throughout the world and in your community.
For more resources that might be available in the community, please refer to the Other Resources in the Community page.