For Parents When They Learn That Their Child Has a Disabilityby Patricia McGill SmithPDF versionIn Spanish | En españolUpdated October 2010If you have recently learned that your child has a developmental delay or a disability (which may or may not be completely defined), this message may be for you. It is written from the personal perspective of a parent who has shared this experience and all that goes with it.When parents learn about any difficulty … [Read more...]
Print 
PDFThe Unplanned Journey
When You Learn That Your Child Has a Disability by Carole Brown, Samara Goodman, and Lisa Küpper Originally published 1992 2nd edition, 2003 Updated, 2010 The birth of a child with a disability, or the discovery that a child has a disability, can have profound effects on the family. In “You are Not Alone,” Patricia McGill Smith offers the insights that she and others have gained through their own experience of having a child with … [Read more...]
Disability Groups
Updated October 2010 | Links checked, February 2013Disability groups operate nationwide to share information and resources on specific disabilities. Quite often, these national-level organizations also have chapters in every state---and those state chapters may have multiple local chapters. All operate as a source of help for families and professionals in addressing the needs and well-being of individuals with the disability of interest.This webpage … [Read more...]
Parent Groups
Updated October 2010Families with a child who has a disability have special concerns and often need a great deal of information: information about the disability of their child, about school services, therapy, local policies, funding sources, transportation, medical facilities, and much more. Many families find it very useful to join a parent group, which is what this page is all about.Quick-Jump LinksWhy join a parent group?Your PTI and CPRCThe Parent … [Read more...]
Resources Especially for Military Families
Updated August 2012 Being part of a military family can be filled with many surprises, challenges, and opportunities. Part of the military life is moving to new locations every few years or even more frequently. This can be a bit more challenging when there's a child in the family who has a disability. Lots of questions naturally arise: Will special education services be available in the new location? What about the types of therapists or … [Read more...]
A financial resource guide for parents of children with disabilities
Need a financial planning guide? Who doesn't? The PACER Center has updated its Possibilities: A Financial Resource for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities Financial Planning Guide for 2011. First published in 2004 by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) and PACER, this financial planning guide is now in an online format and includes more content relevant to parenting transition-age youth with disabilities. Topics include … [Read more...]
Organize your child’s medical records
This 2-page brief gives great suggestions and several step-by-step instructions for getting your child's medical records and then organizing them. (Posted July 26, 2011) http://www.pacer.org/health/pdfs/HIAC-h17.pdf … [Read more...]
Is your child’s behavior caused by a disability?
Read more about how problem behavior and disability may coincide. Another great Wrightslaw article. http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/11/nl.0215.htm … [Read more...]
Who Can Help?
by Elaine Mulligan Here at the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), we like to think of ourselves as your central source of information and resources on special education. We work hard to give you the most accurate and accessible information about: • the laws and procedures that guide the special education process • the best practices for serving students with disabilities in … [Read more...]
