Resources for

Parents and Caregivers

Websites of Interest

Autism Spectrum Disorder Guide written by Pierrette Mimi Poinsett, M.D., appears on parentingpod.com, and includes information about symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments, with resources and references.

Maryville University's Guide to College for students with disabilities.

Autism Treatment Network's toolkits for numerous topics, including: toilet training, behavioral health treatments, sleep, pica, puberty (& many more!)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Sleep tool kit - the guide provides an overview ASD, how it affects sleep, medication concerns, sleep management information and more.

"Understanding Down Syndrome" is a booklet prepared with assistance from the Down Syndrome Consensus Group. It "is intended to provide a general overview of Down syndrome and select, reliable resources."

Seattle Children's Center for Children with Special Needs offers a Care Organizer. The organizer is an expandable plastic file folder with labeled pockets that can help families of children with special needs organize their paperwork. If you are parenting a child with special needs you can order 1 free organizer by going to: Care Organizer.

Washington State Fathers Network (WSFN) connects men, who have a child in their life with special health care needs, with each other.  The network also provide resources, information, advocacy  and education.

LifeSPAN website: http://www.lifespan-wa.org/

Primary Activities of LifeSPAN

• Future planning advisory services.
• Creating and sustaining personal networks of support.
• Family support, mentoring and advocacy.
• “A Lifetime Commitment” to maintaining an enduring network for the individual of disability that is supported, in part, by a modest bequest and understanding stated in the parent’s will.

Washington State Department of Early Learning Website: https://www.del.wa.gov/

 Patricia Sarmiento of PublicHealthCorps of CA has put together the following list of web resources for families working with autism:

What is Autism?

After the Autism Diagnosis: Staying Connected as a Couple

Securing Life-long Accommodations for Special Needs

Autism Diagnosis in Adulthood

Creating a Sensory-Friendly Home for Your Autistic Child

Supporting Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Coping with Grief and Loss

Educator & Homeschooler J. Wise

of SpecialHomeEducator has put together the following list of web resources for educators and families:

For students of all ages:

Creating the Optimal Environment for a Kid with ADHD

Suggested Classroom Interventions for Children with ADD & Learning Disabilities

The Life-Changing Impact of Autism Service Dogs

Addressing Special Education Needs for Students Learning English as a Second Language

50 Must-See Blogs for Special Education Teachers

The Ultimate Guide to Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Autism

Teaching Your Child About Peers with Special Needs

For high school and college educators, parents and students:

​Teaching College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism and Addiction: Coping with and Treating Your Dual Diagnosis

Choosing a College: Planning for Teens with ADD

College Resources for Students with Disabilities

The Little City Foundation located in Palatine, IL,  "engages and supports individuals, families and communities to ensure that children and adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities can realize their unique potential to live safely, learn continuously, explore creatively and work productively throughout their lifetimes."  Check out their website.

Lifespan Respite Washington (website) states they have a "Respite Voucher System for providing short breaks for unpaid family caregivers."

The Early Intervention Family Alliance (website) is "a national group of family leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families."  They are currently running a survey for families who have received early intervention services in the last six years or are currently participating in services. The survey is accessible here.

The Wee Care Coalition supports "advocacy for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their need for stable and equitable funding in Washington State. The purpose of the group is to advocate for public policy that supports this population and their families statewide."  You can find their website here.

 Recommended Reading

"Parenting Children with Health Issues and Special Needs: Love and Logic Essentials for Raising Happy, Healthier Kids"

by Foster W. Cline & Lisa C. Greene

"The Out-of-Sync Child"

by Carol Kranowitz 

"The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, Revised Edition: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder"

by Carol Kranowitz 

"Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder"

by Lucy Jane Miller

"Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn, and Grow Paperback"

by Carol Kranowitz 

"Quirky Kids: Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn't Fit In- When to Worry and When Not to Worry"

by Perri Klass 

Articles of Interest

December 2016 NY Post Article:"Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy linked to autism in babies"

August 2014 BBC blog entitled "My son has Down's syndrome and I wouldn't swap a thing about him"

July 2014 article in NY Times entitled "When the Caregivers Need Healing"

The Report to Congress on Activities Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities Under the Combating Autism Act of 2006 and Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 (FY 2010 - FY 2012) can be found at the IACC website.

ScienceDaily Article: Motor skill deficiencies linked to autism severity, research says

A relationship between motor skill deficiencies and the severity of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder has been found in very young children. The findings indicate that development of motor skills should be included in treatment plans for young children with autism. Most autism treatment plans for young children focus on social communication because the disability has such a significant effect in that area. Incorporating fine and gross motor skill development into early interventions could provide a similar boost, the researchers say.

Seattle Times Blog: "Endless testing fails to measure true strengths of special-needs students"

NY Times Article  (Apr 8, 2014) "Legal Settlement Aims at Ending Exploitation of Disabled Workers," deals with the area of exclusive (e.g. sheltered workshops) versus inclusive employment of people with DD.

Check out this article about parents who created a "housing alternative for [their] disabled adult children."

Chicago Tribune article "Parents create housing alternative for disabled adult children"

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