Special Education Organizations

• Adolescent Health Transition Project - Developed to assist in the transition from pediatric to adult health care for children with special health care needs. Offers materials, and links to other people interested in health transition concerns.
• Advocating Change Together - Advocating Change Together (ACT) began in 1979 in response to the increasing concern that individuals with developmental disabilities were being excluded and separated from decisions impacting their lives. ACT is a grassroots, member-directed organization, operated by and for persons possessing developmental and other disabilities.
• AECMN - Association for the Education of Children with Medical Needs. Covers its history and organization.
• American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) - Encourages global development and distribution of progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for those possessing intellectual disabilities.
• American Brain Tumor Association - The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) works to reduce brain tumors through research and to realize the needs of patients and their families.
• American Cancer Society - The American Cancer Society (ACS) serves as nationwide, community- based voluntary health association. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS includes state divisions as well as 3,400+ local offices.
• American Society for Deaf Children - National independent not-for-profit association whose objective is offering support, encouragement, and details for families bringing up children that are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Autism Society of America - The society's purpose is to encourage lifelong access and opportunities those within the autism spectrum as well as their families.
• Bandaides and Blackboards - Purpose of the site is to sensitize people to the feeling of growing up with a medical issue. Too frequently, youngsters so impacted must deal with stigma on top of other medical conditions. Teasing often is a companion to this stigma, and increase the pain in their childhood. Pain not necessary. Isolating pain. Pain impacting the children who look or act or even just feel different as well as all the other children in the classroom.
• Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law - The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a not-for-profit legal advocacy association located in Washington D.C. Our name pays homage to the federal appeals court judge whose landmark decisions pave the way for the field of mental health law, and our advocacy established on the principle that each person has the right to choice and dignity.
• Best Buddies - Best Buddies is a not-for-profit association committed to improving the lives of people with mental retardation by offering opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated career opportunities. Best Buddies has grown rapidly, from one chapter on one college campus to a well know, international organization including participants annually from more than 500 middle schools, high schools and college campuses across the US, Canada, Egypt, and Greece in just 11 years.
• Center for the Study of Autism - Offers information and materials for professions and family members of individuals possessing autism. Features interventions, family support, and stories of persons with autism.
• C.H.A.D.D -Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders - A national not-for-profit association representing children and adults possessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). CHADD抯 efforts contribute to enhancing the lives of people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder via education, advocacy and support.
• Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation - The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) promotes and helps research create effective treatments and a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. The Foundation assesses and choose these research programs utilizing associations of internationally renowned neuroscientists and clinicians. The Foundation also provides a part of its resources to grants that enhance the quality of life for people possessing disabilities.
• Chronic Ill Net - ChronicIllnet is the first multimedia information source Web committed to chronic illnesses featuring AIDS, cancer, Persian Gulf War Syndrome, autoimmune diseases, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, heart disease and neurological diseases. Site caters to researchers, patients, laypeople, and physicians, to name a few.
• Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) - CADRE helps parents, teachers and administrators take advantage fo the full continuum of dispute resolution options which can prevent and resolve conflict and hopefully lead to informed relationships which emphasize results for children and youth.
• Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities - Six not-for-profit leaders in the field of learning disabilities serving as the core of the Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities (CCLD): Organizations involved are: Council for Learning Disabilities, Division for Learning Disabilities, International Dyslexia Association, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Learning Disabilities Association, and the Schwab Learning Center. All these associations combine forces to raise awareness of learning disabilities, share information with parents and encourage the need for early detection and intervention.
• disability.gov - A complete site of US federal programs for families confronted with disabilities. Features an area specifically related to children.
• DisabilityOnline.com - Large database for everything related with disabilities.
• EASI Equal Access to Software and Information - A resource regarding the education community which offers details and support in the area of access-to-information technologies by individuals with disabilities.
• Eating Disorders Education Organization - EDEO works to offer information on eating disorders and provide support for families and friends of individuals dealing with eating disorders.
• Epilepsy Foundation - The Epilepsy Foundation is a national, charitable association, formed in 1968 as the Epilepsy Foundation of America. Only organization completely committed to the welfare of those with epilepsy, our purpose is simple: to work for children and adults impacted by seizures through research, education, advocacy and service.
• Families for Early Autism Treatment - FEAT (Families for Early Autism Treatment) is a not-for-profit association of parents and professionals, developed to assist families with children who have received the diagnosis of Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD NOS).
• Hospice Foundation of America - The Hospice Foundation of America is a not-for-profit association offering hospice care and tries to educate professionals and the families they serve in areas regarding caregiving, terminal illness, loss and bereavement.
• International Federation for Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida - Objective is to enhance the quality of life of people with Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida around the globe. To minimize the prevalence of Hydrocephalus and/or Spina Bifida by primary prevention.
• International Rett Syndrome Association - The objective of the IRSA is: to help and promote the medical research to find the cause and develop a cure for Rett syndrome, to improve public awareness of Rett syndrome, and to offer informational and emotional support for families of children possessing Rett syndrome.
• Learn CPR - Site is to be utilized as a free guide and an informational resource, though it does not take the place of real CPR or first aid training. Please try to go to a CPR training course in your area and help save a life. Info based primarily on guidelines provided in American Heart Association, Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
• National Academy for Child Development - The National Academy for Child Development, Inc. is an international association of parents and professionals committed to assisting children and adults in achieving their full potential. The 15,000+ clients served by NACD have reached us with labels including: Learning Disabled, Dyslexic, Distractible, ADD, ADHD, Hyperactive, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Tourettes Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Fragile X, Developmentally Delayed, PDD, Autistic, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injured, Comatose, Retarded, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Normal, Accelerated and Gifted.
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - The objective of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is "to eradicate mental illness and improve the quality of life of those affected by these diseases." NAMI features affiliate organizations in each of state of the US.
• National Arts and Disability Center - The National Arts and Disability Center (NADC) is the national information distribution, technical support and referral center emphasizing the field of arts and disability. The NADC is committed to encouraging the full inclusion of children and adults possessing disabilities into the visual-, performing-, media, and literary-arts communities. Its resource databases, annotated bibliographies, pertinent links and conferences help to improve artists with disabilities and accessibility to the arts.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children - The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the nation's biggest association of early childhood professionals and others committed to improving the quality of early childhood education programs for children starting at birth up to age 8.
• National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems - Nationwide community of congressionally mandated, legally founded disability rights agencies.
• National Down Syndrome Society - The National Down Syndrome Society is a nonprofit association that is now the largest non-governmental supporter of Down syndrome research in the US. Today, NDSS strive to raise public awareness about Down syndrome and examine its underlying causes using research, education and advocacy.
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders - Carries out, facilitates, organizes, and guides research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological disorders and stroke, and promotes basic research in related scientific fields.
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders - The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As part of the U.S. Government, we fall under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Offers extensive details regarding all areas of deafness and other communication disorders.
• National Organization on Disabilities - The National Organization on Disability encourages the complete and equal participation of America's 54 million men, women and children possessing disabilities in all parts of life. N.O.D. was started in 1982 at the conclusion of the United Nations International Year of Disabled Persons. N.O.D. single national disability network association offering concern towards all disabilities, all age groups and all disability issues.
• National PTA - National PTA is the biggest volunteer child advocacy association in the US. A nonprofit organization of parents, teachers, students, and other citizens participating actively in their schools and communities, PTA helps remind our nation of its obligation to our youth. Provides excellent resources on disabilities.
• National Sports Center for the Disabled - The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD), is a creative, leading not-for-profit association which offers recreation for children and adults possessing disabilities.
• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) - Supports the families of children possessing disabilities through education, information and training. PEATC develops parent-professional relationships to encourage success in school and community life. Located in Virginia.
• ParentPals - Parent Pals is sponsored by Ameri-Corp Speech and Hearing. Our objective is to offer special education and gifted information, continuing education, assistance, weekly suggestions, games, book resources, and news and perspectives for parents and professionals. Therapists, audiologists, educators, nurses and physicians provide contributions to the information covering these subjects: ADHD, autism, deaf and hard of hearing, emotionally disturbed, homeschooling, gifted, learning disabilities, mental retardation, orthopedically impaired, otherwise health impaired, severe and/or multiple disabilities, speech and language impairment, stuttering, traumatic brain injury and, visually impaired.
• Paws With A Cause - Provides training for assistance dogs nationally for people possessing disabilities and offers lifetime team support which promotes independence. PAWS encourages awareness via education.
• Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic - RFB& D serves as the nation's educational library for people possessing print disabilities. We offer educational resources in recorded and digital formats from kindergarten through postgraduate level. Resources for all those who can抰 effectively read standard print due to visual, perceptual or other physical disability.
• Schwab Learning - Committed to advancing awareness concerning learning differences and to giving parents with the information, resources and support they need to enhance the lives of kids with learning differences.
• Scoliosis Association, The - The Scoliosis Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit, volunteer non-medical association. Established in 1974, we have been supporting those with scoliosis by offering details and having support groups and information lines.
• Sidran: Tramautic Stress Foundation - Sidran is a not-forprofit charitable association dedicated to education, advocacy, and research to benefit those suffering from injuries of traumatic stress. Whether due to family violence, crime, disasters, war, or any other overwhelming experience, the disabling impact trauma can have might be overcome with understanding, support, and the necessary treatment.
• Smile Train, The - The Smile Train is a not-for-profit association dedicated to eliminating the problem of cleft lips and palates.
• Special Friends Foundation - The primary focus of the Special Friends Foundation is to help families to understand quickly what Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RTS) entails and what resources are there for access.
• Special Needs - Special Kids: Disability Awareness - The purpose of this website focuses on encouraging the awareness of children with special needs of all types; encouraging brighter futures both for them as well as their families; and to offer assistance and education information for their families and others supporting them.
• SpEdEx - Site especially for teachers, professional, parent, consumer, student, and all those interested in special education. We are sure you will discover everything you need at SpEdEx. We offer resources like links, web-based documents, listings of professionals, career listings, school and university listings, conference schedules, a discussion board, and "poster sessions" in user friendly formats.
• Spina Bifida Association of American - The Mission of the Spina Bifida Association of America is to encourage the prevention of spina bifida and to improve the lives of all impacted by this condition. The Association was established in 1973 to deal with detailed needs of the spina bifida community and works as national representative for over 70 chapters. SBAA's strives to benefit 1000抯 of infants, children, adults, parents and professionals every year.
• Starbright Foundation - The STARBRIGHT Foundation is committed to the advancement of projects that enable seriously ill children to fight the medical and emotional issues they encounter each day. STARBRIGHT projects don抰 just educate or entertain: they deal with the core concerns that accompany illness, including the pain, fear, loneliness, and depression that can hurt as much as the sickness itself.
• World Association of Persons with Disabilities - WAPD promotes the interests those possessing disabilities at national, state, local and home levels. It is our belief that everyone deserves high quality life. Close to 10 years of "grassroots" planning and growth have helped the association take its place in a world leadership position, promoting the soundness and empowerment of the so called "disabled" around the world.