Parent Resources

We've put together a list of valuable and helpful resources that you can review at your convenience.

Internet Resources

• ADHD News - http://www.adhd.news.com/
  Excellent website for information and resources about ADHD. Site has e-mail discussion group for parents of children with ADHD.
  

• American Association of Persons with Disabilities - http://www.aapd.com
  A disability rights organization that advocates for independence for all people with disabilities (cross disability civil rights). A good site for beginning the journey of advocating.

• Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) - http://www.chadd.org/
  CHADD is a non-profit organization representing children and adults with ADD/ADHD. Website provides information about ADD/ADHD and links to related pages. Provides articles and fact sheets about ADD/ADHD.

• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) - http://www.cec.sped.org/
  The CEC is dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. The website provides a lot of information about the educational rights of children with disabilities, and it offers an on-line discussion forum for CEC members.

• Creative Culture Consulting LLC - http://www.patrickschwarz.com
  Using a creative culture to re-think, re-imagine and transform education and human services for people of all ages and abilities.

• Education Law Center - http://www.elc-pa.org
  

• Education Law Center of Pennsylvania (ELC-PA) - http://www.elc-pa.org/
  Contains links to many of ELC-PA's publications that can be downloaded directly from the Internet.

• ERIE SPROUT - http://www.eriesprout.com
  

  SPROUT is intended to provide Erie County, Pennsylvania parents, caregivers and youth with information about where to turn for help and how to make informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones. The website is interactive and user-friendly – providing people with the ability to submit questions and be linked with agencies and informed individuals to help meet their needs. SPROUT will also allow access to a community calendar, and promote connections with mentors and other support groups.

• Google - http://www.google.com
  Google search engine.

• IDEA Practices - http://www.ideapractices.org/
  This site is maintained by four projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and it provides a wealth of information about special education law and practice. Contains links to disability-specific sites.

• Independent Regulatory Review Commission - http://www.irrc.state.pa.us
  

• Job Accommodation Network of West Virginia University - http://www.jan.wvu.edu
  A resource for people with disabilities and employers for work place enhancement and reasonable accommodations. The site gives valuable information concerning job accommodations and consultants are available for assistance.

• KaleidAScope - http:// www.kas-erie.org
  purpose to help individuals with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) ages 15 throughout life.

• LD OnLine: Learning Disabilities Information & Resources - http://www.ldonline.org/
  Excellent site for basic and in-depth information about a wide range of learning disabilities. Offers a free electronic newsletter to provide updates about issues involving children with learning disabilities.

• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) - http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/
  OSERS, an office in the U.S. Department of Education, supports programs that assist in educating children with special needs, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities, and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. OSERS' website includes a link to a document entitled "A Guide to the Individualized Education Program" that can be downloaded off the Internet.

• Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (O.A.S.I.S.) - http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/
  Provides lots of information about Asperger Syndrome, links to other PDD/Autism web sites, and information about support groups for parents of children with Asperger Syndrome.

• Parent Education Advocacy Leadership Center - http://www.pealcenter.org
  Parent Advisors and Mentors answer education questions, provide information on resources, offer trainings in most of PA, Information Center staff helps with accessing health care and community services PEAL Center hosts an annual statewide conference featuring national experts

• Parents Involved Network of PA (PIN of PA) - http://www.pinofpa.org/
  PIN of PA is a statewide support, advocacy, information, and referral resource, and technical assistance center for families of children and adolescents with emotional or behavioral disorders. Website provides fact sheets on a wide range of topics, including medication, wraparound services, and special education. Site also provides access to back issues of Sharing, PIN’s newsletter.

• Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) - http:// www.education.state.pa.us
  Contains links to all of PDE’s Basic Education Circulars (policy statements), Intermediate Unit web pages, and school district web pages. Navigate to the Standards aligned System where you will find the K – 12 standards for every area of learning.  It breaks it down into the concepts that should be mastered for each grade level and subject.  There videos and other materials that assist educators and families to make learning accessible for all students who range from gifted abilities, English as their second language or varying abilities. 

• Pennsylvania Education for all Coalition PEAC - http://www.paedforall.org
  A state wide coalition promoting inclusive practices for all children with disabilities.

• Pennsylvania Training & Technical Assistance Network - http://www.pattan.net
  PaTTAN, formerly known as the Instructional Support System of Pennsylvania, offers assistance to school personnel in the area of Effective Behavior Support, as well as other areas. Types of support available include information, training and technical assistance on conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments, designing positive behavior support plans, and systems level interventions. PaTTAN has posted several of its publications on positive behavioral support on its website. You can download the side-by-side Chapter 14/IDEA Regulations, click on IDEA 2004 under Regulations & Forms. This same website has annotated forms such as IEP, ER, NOREP, Permission to Evaluate, Mediation Request and others These have notes that explain every part of the forms.

• Preparing for Special Education Mediation and Resolution Sessions: - http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/resources/Preparing.for.SpEd.Mediation.Resolution.Sessions.pdf
  Preparing for Special Education Mediation and Resolution Sessions:
  A Guide for Families and Advocates

• RebeccaMoyes.com - http://www.rebeccamoyes.com
  Provides information concerning awareness, education strategies and therapies to assist persons with autism and aspergers.

• Special Education ConsultLine - http://odr.pattan.net/consultline/default.aspx
  

  ConsultLine (1-800-879-2301) is a PA toll free help line for your special education questions and concerns. ConsultLine advisors will answer your questions and provide information about special education programs and the laws governing these programs for parents of and advocates for children with disabilities.

• Spectrum Training Systems, Inc. - http://www.spectrumtrainingsystemsinc.com
  Spectrum Training Systems, Inc. exists to educate parents, teachers, professionals and friends of individuals with Autism and Asperger syndrome attributes. This organization educates professionals and raises awareness by bringing knowledge to the public through international conferences and workshops. Dr. Patrick Schwarz, Dr. Paula Kluth, Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Jed Baker and Dr. Scott Bellini are among the internationally recognized experts and authors affiliated with and presenting on these topics.

• The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) - http://www.copaa.net/
  COPAA is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates and parents established to improve the quality and quantity of legal assistance for parents of children with disabilities. COPAA's site includes links to other websites of interest, including a link to EDLAW, which maintains a list of attorneys who represent parents throughout the United States. EDLAW's website is: http://www.edlaw.net/service/attorneys.html

• The Nth Degree - http://thenthdegree.com/
  

• University of Kentucky Behavior Home Page - http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/behave/homepage.html/
  Provides lots of useful information about working with children with mental health needs.

• Wright’s Special Education Law - http://wrightslaw.com/
  Excellent site operated by an attorney who represents parents in special education matters. Provides updates of recent court decisions from around the country, along with basic information about special education law.

General Resources

• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
  This federal law discrimination of people with disabilities.
  
  • Title I. Employers may not discriminate
  • Title II. State or local government may discriminate
  • Title III. Public accommodations (i.e., businesses may not discriminate).

• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  Section 504 states that any entity that receives federal dollars may not discriminate against persons who disabilities. The corresponding PA regulations are chapter XV. Students who only need accommodations without altering the curriculum are protected by this law.