Links for Families

Organizations

Parent to Parent of Miami, Inc.

BraveKids.Org (or call 800-568-1108) - bilingual site that helps children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses and disabilities

Devereux Early Childhood Initiative - promotes young children's social and emotional development

Division of Early Chilhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
(DEC)

Family Cafe and the Family Cafe Questions and Answers Books (2004 - 2007)

Family Center on Technology and Disability - supports organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities and offers information and services on the subject of assistive technology

Florida's Central Directory or call (800-654-440) - provides information and referral on services for disabilities and special health care needs.

Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten Program - their mission is to ensure that all children are intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially ready to enter school and ready to learn

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)

Project Participate - provides families, educators, administrators and therapists with simple strategies to increase the active participation of students with disabilities in school programs

Teach More Love More High/Scope Educational Research Foundation

Resources for visual strategies

PicSearch.com - An image search service with more than 2,000,000,000 pictures.

SET-BC (Special Education Technology British Columbia) pictureSET database - a collection of downloadable visual supports that can be used by students for both receptive and expressive communication in the classroom, at home, and in the community.

Use Visual Strategies.com - Pictures to print to help you to - organize the environment, teach skills and improve two-way communication, develop calendars and schedules, give students information, communicate what is happening, explain what is changing and establish rules and behavior guidelines.

Resources/Home Activities

AblePlay - toys for children with special needs

Dr. Becky Bailey's Loving Guidance - renowned teacher, author, and nationally recognized expert in Early Childhood Education and Development

Garden of Song - song tunes and lyrics for young children

Let's Play! Projects - information on selecting toys for play, toys for children with disabilities, adapting toys to make them easier to use, locating specially designed toys

National Child Care Information Center - book lists for children's literature

Toys for the Holidays for Children with Disabilities - Article from Assistive Technology News with information on buying appropriate toys for children with hearing impairments, physical impairments, developmental delays and vision impairments. Includes links to other sites as well.

Washington Learning Systems - includes "Free Parent Education Handouts" - 46 home and community activities for adults and preschool children that encourage early language and literacy development

Wilbooks - has five great programs which offer free books for your school in English or Spanish

Featured Links

UM-NSU CARD

UM-NSU CARD is a comprehensive outreach and support program serving people with autism and related disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them.

UM-NSU CARD serves both children and adults of all levels of intellectual functioning who have autism, pervasive developmental disorders, autistic-like disabilities, dual sensory impairments, or sensory impairments with other disabling conditions. Services include family support, technical assistance and consultation, parent and professional training programs, and public education activities.

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The “On the Go” materials include 14 activities designed to be used outside the home:  in the car, while walking, during bus rides, etc.  The activities encourage early language and literacy development from birth through preschool.  They are appropriate for children with disabilities as well as children who are developing typically.

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