Resources

Care Connection for Children
Care Connection for Children (CCC) is a statewide network that provides health care services, community support and resources to children with special health care needs and their families. Among many other services, they offer family to family support.

Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia
The Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia provides referrals to the “central point of entry” for services for children with special health care needs in each locality.

Virginia Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics
The Virginia Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics’ mission is the attainment of optimal health, safety, and well-being for Virginia’s children and promotion of pediatricians as the best qualified of all health professionals to provide child health care.

Virginia Child Development Services Program
The Virginia Child Development Services Program has a local team of medical and educational specialists can provide assessment, care planning, care coordination and referral help, available through 11 offices across Virginia.

Virginia Community Service Boards and Behavioral Health Authorities
Representing Virginia’s Community Services Boards and Behavioral Health Authority that provide the premier behavioral health and developmental disability services in Virginia’s Communities.

Virginia Comprehensive Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families
A Virginia program that can pay for comprehensive services for children and youth with serious emotional problems through the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) process.

Virginia Pediatric Screening and Genetics Service
This program focuses on reducing and preventing disabilities and death resulting from disorders detectable through newborn screening, diagnosis, and treatment, and assuring availability of follow-up genetic services for families at risk.

Campbell Collaboration
Education research that has been reviewed by experts.

Center for Evidence-Based Practices
Research on effective intervention procedures to help children with special needs who have challenging behaviors.

Clinical Trials.gov
Authoritative, evidence-based research on effectiveness of treatments for people with disabilities, among other conditions.

Council for Exceptional Children
An organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

Medline Plus
Comprehensive online resources for healthcare information in an easily searchable format on over 700 health topics with over 165 online tutorials.

Merck Manual Online
Searchable online database of authoritative, concise information on diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.

National Library of Medicine
Gateway to a vast array of authoritative health care information.

PubMed
One of the most comprehensive online directories providing access to authoritative information on medical conditions, treatment options and evidence-based research.

U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education offers the What Works Clearinghouse, an authoritative source of scientific evidence on what works in education.

The Arc of Virginia
The Arc of Virginia advocates and speaks out on issues that affect people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families. They help people with disabilities, family members, friends, and others become advocates themselves.

Family Voices
A national grassroots network of families and friends that advocates for health care services for children with special needs, offering several publications on how to advocate on behalf of your child.

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) provides information and assistance to families in understanding and negotiating the special education and disability service systems, and training to enhance collaboration between parents and professionals.

Parent to Parent of Virginia
A network of parent volunteers who provide families of children with special needs with emotional support, coping skills and a model of positive family integration, as well as information about services and support programs.

Care Connection for Children
Care Connection for Children (CCC) is a statewide network that provides health care services, community support and resources to children with special health care needs and their families. Among many other services, they offer family to family support.

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Children’s Online Medical Organizer, a free online medical record system that lets you set up a personal website to centrally store critical information about your child with special needs.

National Center for Medical Home Implementation
The National Center for Medical Home Implementation (National Center) is focused on ensuring all children and youth — particularly those with special health care needs — have access to a medical home.

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) provides information and assistance to families in understanding and negotiating the special education and disability service systems, and training to enhance collaboration between parents and professionals.

Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers
Links to a broad range of resources on building more effective collaboration between parents and education professionals and a number of excellent resources on the IDEA.

Virginia Community Service Boards and Behavioral Health Authorities
These are the local government agencies which serve as the “single point of entry” for services for individuals with mental health, mental retardation or substance abuse disorders.

Virginia Comprehensive Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families
A Virginia program that can pay for comprehensive services for children and youth with serious emotional problems through the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) process.

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services 
VDARS provides and advocates for the highest quality of services to help those with disabilities to maximize and secure their employment, independence and full inclusion into society.

Association on Higher Education and Disability
The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) offers a wide range of publications and resource references on postsecondary education opportunities for people with disabilities.

Career Guide for People With Disabilities
As a person with a disability, you may hesitate to look for work. You can be unsure whether or not to make a disability known when applying for employment. In today’s job market, however, that shouldn’t be an issue. A disability doesn’t prevent you from having the job of your dreams. The job market accommodates people with a wide range of qualifications, passions, talents, and abilities.

Center for Parent Information and Resources
The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) provides a wealth of general information about special health care needs, including definitions of disabilities which may qualify for special education and a 13-page guide to over 90 national disability organizations.

Council for Exceptional Children
An organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

The ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV)
ECNV is a community-based resource center for people with disabilities, offering peer counseling, advocacy, independent living skills training, referral services and support groups.

Institute of Community Integration
This website offers a wide range of fee-based products and services, including transition planning services and training materials on transition and career preparation and self-advocacy.

Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
A variety of presentations and over 10,000 pages of downloadable information on independence, self determination, integration and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability
This website is a resource for youth with disabilities, including information on programs available to help youth develop and implement an effective strategy for finding employment that meets their needs and interests

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) provides information and assistance to families in understanding and negotiating the special education and disability service systems, and training to enhance collaboration between parents and professionals.

Transition Coalition 
The Transition Coalition, located at the University of Kansas, Beach Center on Disability, has been maximizing professional development opportunities for secondary transition and college and career readiness of youth with disabilities.

The Ultimate Guide to Finding and Renting Housing With Disabilities
Everyone is entitled to a safe, accessible, and comfortable home. If you or a loved one live with a disability, finding and renting the right housing can feel like an uphill battle. But there is no reason to go it alone. Government agencies and national organizations are available to help with the process.

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
Promotes maximum independence, productivity, family support and community participation for people with disabilities.

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services 
VDARS provides and advocates for the highest quality of services to help those with disabilities to maximize and secure their employment, independence and full inclusion into society.

Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council
VASILC promotes policies, programs and activities to maximize independence of people with disabilities. The council offers independent living skills training for Virginia’s disabled population through 16 centers across the state.

The Youthhood
The Youthhood is an excellent website resource designed to help youth with disabilities plan their future

Council for Exceptional Children
Excellent set of publications available online on topics such as inclusion, assistive technology, assessment, ADD, autism, behavior management, IEPs, IDEA, and transition.

Kids Together, Inc.
Kids Together is a nonprofit organization providing information for children and adults with disabilities, including information on assistive technology and other special ed topics

Two Little Hands Productions
A wide range of information and educational materials on sign language and its benefits for children with normal as well as impaired hearing, in addition to children with other conditions that may interfere with verbal communication.

Virginia Assistive Technology System
Information on assistive technology and how it can help your child with special needs.

Virginia Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority
Information on how to get assistive technology services for your child.

Kennedy Krieger Institute
Kennedy Krieger Institute treats children and adolescents with developmental disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, behavioral, neurological and genetic disorders, traumatic brain injury, learning disabilities, and more. Their website offers information on a broad range of diagnoses.

National Respite Locator
Online source for respite programs.

Respite Resource Project
Information about and support for respite services, including resource information and a summer camp guide.

• American Academy of Pediatrics – Information on educational interventions for children with autism

• Autism Speaks – Austism Speaks is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a possible cure for autism and striving to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families and society

• Commonwealth Autism – A very broad range of services and resources for Virginia residents with autism

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Autism information center and developmental screening information

• Council for Exceptional Children – Excellent set of publications available online on topics including autism

• Kennedy Krieger Institute – The Kennedy Krieger Institute treats children and adolescents with developmental disabilities including autism

• National Institute of Mental Health – Information on autiism treatment options

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Listing of parent support groups for parents of children with autism

• Special Education Resources on the Internet – A collection of information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education, including autism

• Autism Society Central Virginia (ASCV) – For over 30 years, the Autism Society Central Virginia (ASCV) has been proud to serve as one of the region’s premier sources of education, advocacy, services, and support for individuals with autism, their families and friends, and professionals.

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on cerebral palsy statistics, symptoms and more

• Cerebral Palsy of Virginia – Information on cerebral palsy and related advocacy activities in Virginia

• Kennedy Krieger Institute – The Kennedy Krieger Institute treats children and adolescents with developmental disabilities including cerebral palsy

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Listing of parent support groups for parents of children with cerebral palsy

• Cerebral Palsy Guidance – Provides answers and assistance to parents of children with cerebral palsy. 

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on Down Syndrome statistics, symptoms and more

• Virginia Down Syndrome Association – Multi-location association serving individuals with Down Syndrome across Virginia

• National Down Syndrome Society – Current news on scientific developments in all fields relating to Down Syndrome, including reports on clinical trials, as well as contacts for your local Down Syndrome Association

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Listing of parent support groups for parents of children with Down Syndrome

• Down Syndrome & Dental Care – A Guide for Caregivers and Family Members – Down Syndrome Dental Resource Guide 

• Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice – Information on emotional and behavioral problems with focus on ideas that work in education, functional assessment, early intervention and other topic areas

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on emotional/behavioral disorder statistics, symptoms and more

• Kennedy Krieger Institute – The Kennedy Krieger Institute treats children and adolescents with developmental disabilities including behavioral, neurological and genetic disorders

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Listing of parent support groups for parents of children with emotional disabilities

• Special Education Resources on the Internet – A collection of information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education, including behavior disorders

• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services – DBHDS supports individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination and wellness in all aspects of life

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on epilepsy/seizure disorder statistics, symptoms and more

• Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia – Information, training, and a network of resource contacts around Virginia

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Listing of parent support groups for parents of children with epilepsy

• Brain Injury Association of Virginia – Current, practical information for professionals, persons with brain injury, and family members

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on head injuries/stroke statistics, symptoms and more

• Kennedy Krieger Institute – The Kennedy Krieger Institute treats children and adolescents with developmental disabilities including head injuries or stroke

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Listing of parent support groups for parents of children with head injuries or stroke

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on deafness and hearing loss statistics, symptoms and more

• Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America – The Apraxia Kids website provides a family guide to childhood apraxia as well as an online library of indepth articles and information on other support resources and groups

• National Association of the Deaf – The mission of the National Association of the Deaf is to preserve, protect and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States of America

• Signing Online – This website provides access to comprehensive online training in American Sign Language. The site provides access to free “sample” courses as well as fee-based full-length online courses

• Special Education Resources on the Internet – A collection of information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education, including hearing impairment

• Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia – This website includes an excellent set of resources and links to organizations and websites that serve individuals with speech, language and hearing disabilities

• Two Little Hands Productions – A wide range of information and educational materials on sign language and its benefits for children with normal as well as impaired hearing, in addition to children with other conditions that may interfere with verbal communication

• Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – This state agency’s website has information on its community support and interpreter services, as well as technology for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

• Virginia Association of the Deaf – Information about the many events sponsored by this Virginia association for individuals who are deaf

• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Information on intellectual disabilities, including a broad range of downloadable publications, links to other resources, and policy briefings on issues that impact individuals with intellectual disabilties

• The Arc of Virginia – Statewide advocacy organization for people with developmental disabilities offering many resources and services

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on intellectual impairment statistics, symptoms and more

• FRAXA – An organization of parents of children with Fragile X Syndrome

• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services – DBHDS supports individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination and wellness in all aspects of life

• Council for Exceptional Children – Excellent set of publications available online on topics including learning disabilities

• International Dyslexia Association – FAQs and fact sheets on language-based learning differences

• Kennedy Krieger Institute – The Kennedy Krieger Institute treats children and adolescents with developmental disabilities including learning disability

• Learning Disabilities Association of America – A broad selection of free downloadable articles and booklets on learning disabilities, as well as links to government agencies, teaching resource sites, professional organizations, and other resources that serve people with learning disabilities

• LD Online – Background information on learning disabilities and ADHD, as well as hundreds of articles, multimedia, columns by experts, and a comprehensive resource and referral guide on both topics

• National Center for Learning Disabilities – The mission of NCLD is to improve the lives of the one in five children and adults nationwide with learning and attention issues

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center – Listing of parent support groups for parents of children with learning disabilities

• TeachingLD – A website providing information and resources for teaching students with learning disabilities, including background information on learning disabilities and a series of downloadable “teaching how-tos” articles from the Council for Exceptional Children

• Special Education Resources on the Internet – A collection of information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education, including learning disabilities

• American College of Rheumatology – The ACR provides meaningful education, research, advocacy, and practice support

• The Arthritis Foundation – AF leads the way in providing support to children with juvenile arthritis and their families

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases – The mission of NIAMS is to support research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases; and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases

• American Council of the Blind – Free downloadable resources about braille, education, pedestrian safety and technology, legislative updates, job listings, and resource links

• Center for Parent Information and Resources – Information on visual impairment statistics, symptoms and more

• Special Education Resources on the Internet – A collection of information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education, including visual impairment

• Virginia Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired – Evaluation services, early intervention screening, work evaluations, training and counseling to adjust to loss of vision