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For Parents of Children with Disabilities
This page contains links to resources for Parents who have children with disabilities or Learning Differences. That can include Downs Syndrome, Autism Spectrum, ADHD or any of the alphabet soup labels. Specifically, the purpose of sharing these resources is to help parents find support and information that can assist them in helping the children, whatever age, focus on their strengths and learn how to use strategies and skills to make their strengths even stronger.
This page will grow as we locate more resources that can be of benefit.
If you know of a resource, not located on this website, that would be useful to parents. Please send us a note at Info@LifeAnew.com
Some of the subjects we anticipate covering are listed below. As I said above, if you know of additional resources and subjects, please pass those along so we can share. Thank you.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Intellectual-Developmental Disabilities [IDD]
Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD],
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD]
Oppositional Defiance Disorder [ODD]
Down Syndrome
and a multitude of other labels
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
AFIRM Autism Focused Interventions, Resources & Modules now has a COVID-19 Toolkit on their site. Click on the link below to go to the AFIRM site.
https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/supporting-individuals-autism-through-uncertain-times
"All children and young adults require support from caregivers during times of stress and uncertainty, such as those we are facing now with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Coping with the unknown and navigating school closures, abrupt changes in routines, loss of connections with teachers and friends, and fear around contracting the virus- are burdens for all, and caregivers play an important role in helping children and young adults understand the changes and process their related feelings. Individuals with autism may need additional support to process the news and adapt to the many changes. This population may face additional challenges related to comprehension, communication, difficulty understanding abstract language, an insistence on sameness, and a greater likelihood of anxiety and depression—all of which may be exacerbated during this stressful period."
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times Full Packet
The Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times Full Packet contains all of the content, strategies, and resources related to supporting individuals with ASD.
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertian Times Full Packet.pdf
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times Article Only
The Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times Article Only contains all of the content and strategies related to supporting individuals with ASD. This content is adapted from Hume, Regan, Megronigle, & Rhinehalt, 2016.
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertian Times Article Only.pdf
Naturally Recovering Autism is a program that takes a health approach to determining the cause and recovery from autism. Some may find that the program helps their child to develop better coping skills with their trauma associated from divorce. https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/
Empower Parents Resource Center of Northwest Florida [EPRC]
The EPRC is a good source of information. This is a link to their online Resource page which includes information on Autism, ADHD, IEP's, Self-determination and more.
Parent resources
https://www.eprcnwfl.com/parent-resources/
If you happen to live in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walden, or Okaloosa Counties please explore their site to see what other services they offer locally and be sure to take the needs assessment on that page.
Survey / Needs Assessment
https://surveys.complexsystemsinnovations.com/s3/EPRC-Needs-Assessment
Other Resources For Parents of Children with Disabilities
50 Great Websites for Parents of Children with Special Needs
This article begins with:
“The following are 50 Great Websites for Parents of Children with Special Needs. This list of resources is great for parents of children with special needs. The list contains links for associations, councils, centers, and societies. It also has links for conferences, financial aid and internships, and helpful websites, articles, and research. Blogs and Facebook pages are also on the list.”
National Resources for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities
https://www.washington.edu/doit/national-resources-parents-children-and-youth-disabilities
Produced by the University of Washington [State of Washington]
PDF of Directory
Link to the pdf of National Resources for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities
You may want to explore this website as it has a lot of additional, including, but not limited to the following subjects:
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Disabilities: “Learn about specific disabilities, disability rights, education, employment, and legal issues using DO-IT's extensive collection of disability-related resources on the Internet.”
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Accessible Technology: “DO-IT brochures and online resources on topics including accessible web design, apps for students with disabilities, and funding for assistive technology.”
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Parents & Mentors: “Information on college and career preparation, education plans, activities for young people with disabilities, social security, and more.”
One of the goals of the University of Washington is to have a website and classes that are totally accessible
OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER [ODD]
Raising a child that exhibits normal defiance as they become more and more independent, while challenging, is expected and is a learning and growing experience for all children to some extent. There are normal temper tantrums that are gone through in a few minutes, not those of the child diagnosed with ODD. Their "tantrums" can go on for hours.
This is a link to a website that may give you some insight into the behaviors of a child diagnosed with ODD, suggestions and possible resources.
"Parents of children with ODD know that the behavior associated with this condition is more than just that of a difficult child. ODD kids are keenly interested in challenging and upsetting the authority figures in their lives and have the unfortunate habit of blaming others for their own mistakes or bad behavior. These qualities can cause a lot of problems in a child's relationships with parents, teachers and other caregivers. Children with ODD often have severe social and academic impairments compared with their non-ODD peers. In fact, their degree of social impairment is usually greater than that of children with depression, bipolar disorder or multiple anxiety disorder [source: American Academy of Family Physicians].
Quote from: Colleen Cancio "Oppositional Defiant Disorder Overview" 8 January 2010.
HowStuffWorks.com. <https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/childhood-conditions/oppositional-defiant-disorder.htm> 13 December 2019
THE CENTER FOR PARENTING EDUCATION
"The Center for Parenting Education is a non-profit organization founded in 1997. Our mission is to provide parenting support and education to families so they can do the best job they can in raising their children. By gaining important insights and learning new skills parents can help their children can reach their potential."
https://centerforparentingeducation.org/
On this site you can find Articles, a resource directory, a list of Recommended books and more. Below is their list of books relating to Special Needs children.
Special Needs
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Ashley, Susan, Asperger’s Answer Book: The Top 275 Questions Parents Ask
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Chansky, Tamar, Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescents
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Cronin, Eileen M, Helping Your Dyslexic Child: A Guide to Improving Your Child’s Reading, Writing, Spelling, Comprehension, and Self-Esteem
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Freed and Parsons, Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child
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Gottlieb, Daniel, Letters to Sam: A Grandfather’s Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life
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Greenspan, William, and Serena Wieder, Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think
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Hallowell, Edward and John Ratey,Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder and Answers to Distraction
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Higashida, Naoki, The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
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King-Spears, Kelley, Jumpstart The Resource Guide For Parents With Developmentally Delayed Children
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Kranowitz, Carol Stock, The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder
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Magg, John, Parenting Without Punishment: Making Problem Behavior Work for You
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Myles, Cook, Miller, Rinner, and Robbins, Asperger Syndrome and Sensory Issues: Practical Solutions for Making Sense of the World
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Nadeau, Littman and Quinn, Understanding Girls With AD/HD
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Naseef, Robert, Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability and Autism in the Family: Caring and Coping Together
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Notbohm, Ellen, Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew
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Ozonoff, Sally, Geraldine Dawson, and James McPartland, A Parent’s Guide to High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: How to Meet the Challenges and Help Your Child Thrive
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Smith, Karen A. and Karen R. Gouze, The Sensory-Sensitive Child: Practical Solutions for Out-of-Bounds Behavior
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Stehli, Annabel, The Sound Of A Miracle: The Inspiring True Story of A Mother’s Fight to Free Her Child from Autism
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Waltz, Mitzi, Bipolar Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
ADHD
ADHD
ADDitude Magazine has a variety of information that is helpful for understanding some of the alphabet labels as well as strategies for successfully living your life around the "symptoms" and seeing the gifts.
Go to the site to see many more articles, suggestions and links for information and assistance.
https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/treating-adhd-without-medication/
This link takes you to an article dealing with the following subject - some excellent nutritional and behavioral information is included in this article.
Natural Remedies for ADHD: ADD Treatment Without Medication
"Omega-3 fatty acids. Behavior therapy. Zinc. Brain training. High-protein, low-sugar foods. Medical professionals recommend a range of natural remedies for ADHD that, paired with medication, may help treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder naturally."
https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/adhd-and-your-child/adhd-behavior-management-strategies/
This is a short article with some tips/ reminders of things you may have already heard, but are basics that may bear repeating. These are definitely things that could to be included in an IEP Plan.
10 ADHD Behavior Management Strategies
Define the rules, be consistent, and make consequences immediate. These are some of the keys to successful behavior management for your child's ADHD treatment plan.
By Beth W. Orenstein
Medically Reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Last Updated: July 08, 2010
"Behavior management, also called behavior modification, can make parenting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a little easier. This approach to ADHD treatment involves rewarding and praising your child’s good behavior and discouraging unwanted or impulsive behavior with appropriate consequences.
The concept of behavior management is easy to understand, but it can be difficult for parents to implement, says Betsy Davenport, PhD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in ADHD and is in private practice in Portland, Ore."
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/
Center for Parent Information Resourcers - "CIPR"
What is CIPR?
CIPR is your central “Hub” of information and products created for the network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities.
All the materials found on the CPIR Hub have been created and archived for Parent Centers around the country to help them provide support and services to the families they serve. The CPIR employs a user-centered process, gathering the perspectives of our experienced audience—Parent Center staff members and other experts—every step of the way, to create products and services that increase Parent Centers’ knowledge and capacity in specific domains.
Here is a link to 10 great things you will find on the CIPR website:
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/10-great-things-at-cpir/#
There are 3 IEP information resources listed below:
http://www.kidstogether.org/IEP/iepd-10 mistakes.htm
https://adayinourshoes.com/parent-iep-mistakes/