This area provides a comprehensive list of sites that we feel are of interest to the TelAbility community. Use the search interface below to search by keyword or category for sites related to your area of interest. We are constantly reviewing and adding new links so please check back often.

Know a good link, don't see it here? Recommend it!

• AblePlay
  A website designed to offer expert opinions and ratings on toys and play products for children with special needs.
  You can search this site for recommended toys related to age, disability, manufacturer, brand, and more.
  
• Alpha-1 Association Mission
  Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is a common hereditary disorder characterized by a reduction of serum levels of Alpha-1, emphysema, and occasionally liver disease.
  The alpha 1 association provides education, information, advocacy, and supports research.This site features research, links, information, and realted events.
  
• Ask Dr. Greene
  An on-line resource established by a certified pediatrician to answer many of your child care related questions.
  
• Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore
  The Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore was foundd in 1988 in response to parent requsts for information on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Over the past 17 years the bookstore has grown to become the largest non-profit ASD-specific bookstore in the United States, with nearly 500 titles in stock.
  
• Bullying and Teasing of Youth With Disabilities: Creating Positive School Environments for Effective Inclusion
  An informational webpage from the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition.
  Includes definitions of bullying and teasing, strategies to limit their occurrence and a list of resources for more information and support.
  
• Care Notebook and Care Organizer
  The Care Notebook and Care Organizer are tools for families who have children with special health care needs.
  At this website, you can download forms to keep track of important information about your child's health and care.
  From the Center for Children with Special Needs in Washington state.
  
• Champions on Wheels
  A 75-minute documentary about elite wheelchair tennis and basketball players.
  This website provides information about the film and allows you to purchase a DVD copy.
  
• Child Care plus+: The Center on Inclusion in Early Childhood
  This website offers a number of free and inexpensive resources to help facilitate the inclusion of young children with disabilities in early childhood programs.
  
• Coping with Stress During the Holidays
  This article by the American Psychiatric Association provides helpful tips to help families cope with the stress and busyness often associated with the holiday season.
  
• Counseling Families Who Choose Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Their Child With Chronic Illness or Disability
  A policy statement (March 2001) from the American Academy of Pediatrics which provides information and guidance for pediatricians when counseling families about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
  

• Custom Weighted Vests
  An online company run by the parent of a child with sensory processing disorder, this website gives you information about custom made weighted vests and blankets that are said to improve attention and focus, body awareness and regulation.
  
• Dental Care for Children with Special Needs Financial Aid Program
  Sponsored by the Humanitarian Foundation of the Grottoes of North America, this program helps to provide free dental care to children who have Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy,
  Mental Challenges or who have received an Organ Transplant. The program allows families to see their local dentists and helps to cover what insurance does not include.
  This webpage provides information about the program and how families can access these funds.
  
• DynaVox Technologies
  DynaVox Technologies is a company that creates tools to make it easier for individuals challenged by significant speech, language, learning and physical disabilities to communicate and take control of their lives.
  At this website you can learn more about their products, funding resources, tech support, and more.
  
• EFM Connections
  This website, from the US Department of Defense, is designed to provide information on services and resources available to military families with special medical or educational needs. The site also has a discussion board for families to exchange information, a list of disability related links, and information about military and community services around the country.
  
• Early Intervention and Early Childhood Libraries
  At this website, users can search North Carolina's Early Intervention and Early Childhood libraries by keyword (a list is provided), title or author and then contact them to borrow the materials.
  A short list of related websites is also provided.
  
• Easter Seals UCP North Carolina
  Easter Seals UCP North Carolina creates opportunities, promotes individual choice and changes the lives of children and adults with disabilities by maximizing their individual potential for living, learning and working in their communities.
  Services include individual and family support, children's therapy, advocacy, recreation, equipment, and support groups.
  This website includes descripitons of their services, news about their programs, job opportunities, and more.
  
• Educating Children with Autism
  A 2001 report from the National Academy of Sciences that explores education interventions for young children with autism.
  To read the report online, click on the icon in the upper left portion of this homepage.
  
• Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
  The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is one of the nation's oldest multidisciplinary institutes for the study of young children and their families.
  Research and education activities focus on child development and health, especially factors that may put children at risk for developmental problems.
  This website offers information about the institute and its many programs, investigators, publications, and products.
  
• Hatchbacks Footwear
  A great idea for children who wear braces, these shoes (up to size 3/adult size) open up in the back, making it much easier to fit a foot wearing a brace into and out of the shoe.
  This website gives you information about their products, allows online shopping and also provides a list of stores in your state that carry their products.
  

• Keeping Pace Shoes
  A Boston-based company that sells children's shoes that fits easily and quickly over a brace/afo without being oversized.
  This website describes their company, their products, offers FAQs and more.
  
• Kids with Tubes
  A parent-run organization based in Bedford, Massachusetts, that provides information and support to families of children who received gastrostomy (g-tube) feedings.
  The website contains information about the organization, copies of newsletters about placing and using g-tubes, and more.
  
• Kids with Tubes
  A parent-run organization based in Bedford, Massachusetts, that provides information and support to families of children who received gastrostomy (g-tube) feedings.
  The website contains information about the organization, copies of newsletters about placing and using g-tubes, and more.
  
• Lekotek
  The National Lekotek Center aims to contribute to the knowledge base about the link between play and early learning for children with special needs. This website provides information and resources for parents and professionals, including a listing of play and toy ideas developed for different conditions.
  
• Let's Play Project
  This model demonstration project from the University at Buffalo Center for Assistive Technology and Virginia Commonwealth University, provides families of children with disabilities with useful resources to help them play through the use of assistive technology.
  This wonderful web site includes lessons about the role of play in a child’s life, illustrated handouts about adapting toys for use by children with special needs, links to toy catalogs, websites, and lots of other resources.
  
• Mommy Speech Therapy
  This is a blog written and managed by Heidi Hanks, a mother and Speech Language Pathologist. The blog provides information on research and therapeutic practices, as well as website links and resources. It's a tool for both parents and professionals. (apraxia)
  
• My Baby's Hearing
  A website from Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska that is designed to answer parents' questions about:
  * Infant hearing screening and follow up testing.
  * Steps to take after diagnosis of hearing loss.
  * Hearing loss & hearing aids, language & speech.
  * Parenting issues.
  
  Funded by a grant from the National
  Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
  
• NBIA Disorders Association
  A national non-profit organization based in El Cajon, California that offers families, physicians, and support providers information about an inherited disease called Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA).
  This website contains information about the organization, an FAQ section, a link to their Listserv, upcoming events, research updates, and more.
  
• NC Partners in Policy Making
  The NC Council on Developmental Disabilities is offering the Partners in Policy Making training opportunity. This is a program that educates people with disabilities and their families on developing leadership skills and how to work with policy makers to advocate for change in legislation and within communities.
  

• NIDCD's Apraxia Page
  This is an informative page from the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders. The page provides a definition of and list of symptoms for apraxia; information on the types and causes of apraxia; diagnoses and treatments and additional resources.
  
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
  Formerly the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities.
  Provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. An excellent site for policy issues, IDEA / special education, pertinent nationwide conferences and resource organizations at both the state and federal levels. Text-only version available.
  
• National Maternal and Oral Health Resource Center
  Designed to promote better oral health care for children this national organization has publiations and conferences to help parents improve their child's dental care.
  The website contains contact information and regional conferences schedules.
  
• North Carolina Assistive Technology Project
  The NC Assistive Technology Program is dedicated to creating a statewide system that coordinates assistive technology services. Activities include awareness and training, consumer groups, expansion projects, funding information, technincal assistance, and much more.
  Be sure to take a look at the Check-It-Out program - an assistive technology equipment loan program for North Carolinians with disabilities, their families, and their service providers.
  
• North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center
  Based in Raleigh, this center improves child care services for children by providing information, training and technical assistance to North Carolina's Child Health Care Consultants.
  This website provides information about the resource center, training modules on asthma and sun protection, a listing of day care related links, and online editions of the NC Child Care Health and Safety Bulletin, available in both English and Spanish.
  
• North Carolina Early Intervention Services
  The website of Together We Grow, the NC Early Intervention Services Program.
  This site includes information about the NC Interagency Coordinating Council (NC-ICC), the Infant Toddler Program (Part C - birth to age 3), and our state's Preschool Program (Part B - ages 3 to 5).
  This site also includes a training calendar, links page, brochures, and more.
  
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
  The website of this national non-profit organization offers a great wealth of information and support for caregivers, parents, providers, and researchers.
  
• Partnerships for Inclusion
  A statewide technical assistance project providing technical assistance to support the inclusion of young children with disabilities in child care, school, and all aspects of community life.
  This website includes information about the organization, its programs, and its products.
  
• Playground Safety for Your Child with Special Needs
  Adapted from the National Program for Playground Safety, this handout from the Center for Children with Special Needs lists things to look for when considering how safe a playground is for a child with special needs.
  

• Project Inspire: Texas Women's Univeristy
  Includes information on programming, strategies, disabilities information sheets, legislation, and advocacy pertaining to adapted physical education.
  
• Right Under My Nose
  An online book that helps young children with spina bifida learn about and be comfortable with their bodies.
  With a fully interactive story, activities, tips, and a printable version of the whole book, this site is intended to be educational and fun.
  From the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
  
• Sibling Support Project
  A national program, the Sibling Support Project strives to increase the availiability of peer support and educational programs for the brothers and sisters of people with special health care needs and developmental disabilities. Information is geared to both younger brothers and sisters as well as adult siblings.
  
• Sickle Cell Kids
  This is a great web site developed especially for kids. It's goal is to help kids with sickle cell disease learn what to do to stay healthy. It is full of interactive and fun educational activities.
  
• TEACCH
  Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children) is a comprehensive, community-based program dedicated to improving the understanding and services for autistic and communication handicapped children and their families across the state. This website decribes TEACCH's programs, lists its regional centers, and offers information and resources about autism, Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and strategies for inclusion of children with autism-spectrum conditions.
  
• Taking Charge of Your Future: A Financial Planning Guide for People with Spina Bifida and Their Families
  An online guide that includes information about insurance, financial planning, estate planning, budgeting, and more.
  Includes both a Financial Planning Guide for Parents/Caregivers
  of Children with Spina Bifida as well as
  a Financial Planning Guide for People
  with Spina Bifida.
  From the Spina Bifida Association of America and the National Endowment for Financial Education.
  
• The Center for Health and Health Care In Schools
  The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS)was established to explore ways to strengthen the well being of children and youth through effective health programs and health care services in schools.The site provides newslalerts, mailing lists, policy intitiatives, parent resources, and general information on dental and medical health services.
  
• The Expressive Communication Help Organization
  The Expressive Communication Help Organization (ECHO) is a parent-friendly resources & support website for children with oral motor speech disorders.
  
  ECHO is a volunteer-run non-profit charity established by parents for parents/caregivers of late-talking children diagnosed with or suspected of having Apraxia of Speech, Dyspraxia, Dysarthria or Oral Motor Speech Disorders. The site offers resources, information, friendship and support to those whose lives are touched by a late-talking child.
  
  
• The Family Center on Technology and Disability
  A national resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities by offering a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies and augmentative communication.
  Includes a searchable database containing reviews of books, articles, and research, a monthly newsletter, updates on legislation and regulation, online conferences, and presentation materials on the subject of assistive technologies.
  Funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs.
  

• The Fathers Network
  This website celebrates and supports fathers and families raising children with special health care needs and developmental disabilities.
  It contains news and resources, articles by dads, links, bulletin boards, and a photo album.
  Has materials in Spanish as well.
  Funded by the Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs, Washington State Department of Health.
  
• The First Words Project
  The FIRST WORDS® Project and website is a longitudinal research investigation in the Department of Communication Disorders at Florida State University. The project's major goal is to identify early red flags of developmental language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and other communication delays in children under 24 months of age. Through research findings, the project aims to improve screening tools and early detection of communication disorders by maximizing the role of the family, which will help families obtain intervention services sooner.
  
• Tots 'n Tech Research Institute (TnT)
  This is the newest section of the Tots 'n Tech web iste that features AT ideas from early interventionists around the United States. It is being updated weekly with new categories and new ideas.
  
• Toys R Us Guide for Differently Abled Kids
  An online catalog of toys available from Toys R Us that uses categories to make it easier to find the right fit between your child's abilities and stimulating toys that will promote development.
  
• Wake Count Local Interagency Coordinating Council
  The Wake County LICC is a collaborative partnership among:
  • parents,
  • caregivers,
  • public agencies,
  • private and non-profit organizations,
  • interested community members or organizations,
  to promote a coordinated and effective Early Intervention (EI) system in Wake County.
  
  This website provides an overview of the Wake LICC goal areas, showcases resources for families,and ofers a listing of Wake LICC Member agencies. Parents can download a copy of the Wake County Early Intervention Road Map, a short guide to help parents navigate the Early Intervention system. The guidebook provides information on early intervention services, an early intervention timeline, support groups, and much more. It's also available in Spanish.
  
  
• Wake County Cerebral Palsy Support Group
  The Wake County Cerebral Palsy Support Group welcomes anyone whose child has a special need- whether it is a physical limitation, developmental delay, etc. Families dealing with all spectrums of Cerebral Palsy as well as other disabilities/diagnoses are involved. The support group welcomes anyone looking for a support group.
  
• Yellow Pags for Kids
  This website is free through Wrightslaw services and is a site for people searching for reliable information and support for children with special needs. The site is organized by state and lists a variety of evaluators, educational consultants, tutors, support groups, grassroots organizations, advocates, attorneys and others who help parents and professional get services for children with special needs.
  
• Zot Artz Arts for All
  A Wisconsin-based company that makes special art tools (paint roller and chalk holder attachments for wheelchairs) designed so participants with limited movement or lack of fine motor skills can be successful in using what mobility they have to create, paint, draw, print and more.
  This website offers information about the company, contact information, and an online catalog.
  

Know a good link, don't see it here? Recommend it!