General Special Education Disability Resources

Local Disability Resources

Listed below are local resources covering many topics. To find contact information, click on the link to go to their Web site. Where a Web site is not available, a telephone number will be listed, along with address. While every effort is made to keep information currant and applicable, if you come across a site that has moved or is no longer in operation, please e-mail Kathy McBride at the link below.

• Parent to Parent of Colorado - Connects families of adults and children with special health care needs or disabilities in communities across Colorado. List serve for parents addressing many issues of parenting a child with a disability. 1-877-472-7201 (toll free)
• PEAK Parent Center - PEAK Parent Center is Colorado's Parent Training and Information Center. PEAK is a statewide organization of parents of children with disabilities reaching out to assist other parents and professionals.
• Parents Encouraging Parents - The Exceptional Student Services Unit and Early Childhood Initiatives' Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) Conferences are family centered conferences designed to offer support, information, and education to parents and professionals. PEP promotes the partnerships that are essential in supporting and including children with disabilities and their families in all aspects of the school and community.
• Boulder County Mental Health Center - The Mental Health Center of Boulder County, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation offering mental health to people of all ages -- children, teens, adults and the elderly. Contact numbers and services provided are listed on site.
• The Legal Center - The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People is a private non-profit agency whose mission is to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities and older people through direct legal representation, advocacy, education and legislative analysis. The Legal Center in Denver can be reached at 303-722-0300 or 1-800-288-1376.
• Colorado Department of Education - Office of Special Education - Offers information particular to students in Colorado from laws, regulations and policies to useful parent information.
• Association for Community Living - Boulder County's ARC. The ACL is an advocacy organization for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Also provides educational advocacy for LD, ADHD, SIED and 504.

General Disability Resources

The resources listed below are excellent sources for many topics of disability issues. Included are Web-sites devoted to a myriad of topics from writing IEP's, parents' legal rights, specific disability information and governmental educational resources. All have wonderful links to take you farther on your search for information.

• Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - Formally NICHCY, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), effective October 1, 2003. The center serves as a central source of information on: IDEA, the nation's special education law, No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities), and research-based information on effective educational practices.
• Council for Exceptional Children - The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
• Schwab Learning - Schwab Learning is a “parent’s guide to helping kids with learning difficulties” that emphasizes useful information and practical strategies. SchwabLearning.org contains more than 350 articles addressing the emotional, social, practical and academic needs and concerns of kids with learning difficulties and their parents.
• Family Village - The Family Village is a "global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities" for people with disabilities, their families, and professionals. The site also offers a helpful "Guide to Using the Internet for Parents of Children with Disabilities or Chronic Health Conditions," with helpful tips for communicating with others and finding information via the internet.
• Disability Information. gov - your gateway to the federal government's disability-related information and resources. This easy-to-use Web portal is a directory of government Web links relevant to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and other community members. President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative directed federal agencies to create this agency. This interagency Web portal offers people with disabilities the knowledge they need to pursue their personal and professional ambitions - delivering on America' promise of equal access to opportunity for all citizens.
• Special Education Resources on the Web - Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI) is a collection of Internet accessible information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education. This collection exists in order to make on-line Special Education resources more easily and readily available in one location. This site will continually modify, update, and add additional informative links.
• Wright's Law - Provides answers to many of your special education questions. Contains an Advocacy Library with articles, columns and tips. A Law Library containing statue and regulations, cases and pleadings pertaining to special education are also available. Very "parent friendly".
• No Child Left Behind - A Parents' Guide to the "No Child Left Behind" legislation.
• National Association of School Psychologists - Lots of parenting tips on successfully interacting with school personnel. Gives a good overview of what the different school professionals do and how they may interface with your child.
• Partnering with Your Child’s School: A Guide for Parents Information and Resources for Families of Children with Health and/or Mental Health Care Needs - The HSC Foundation, in partnership with George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development, offers a new resource for parents. The booklet – available online and in hard copy – in English and in Spanish, is designed to help parents of children who have been diagnosed with health or mental health care needs to learn about available resources and to develop a partnership with their children’s schools. The booklet’s content has been reviewed and validated by groups of parents, youth, and educators and is produced in partnership with the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.
• www.sitesforparents.com - Lots of free materials parents can use for academics/speech.
• PBS Parents resource helps promote inclusive communities
  PBS (Public Broadcasting System) Parents offers a wonderful online resource geared toward improving the overall quality of life for children with or without disabilities by promoting inclusion and respect for differences. The Web site contains resources that help parents and caregivers create more inclusive communities for their children including articles about inclusive education and information on assistive technology and fostering friendships.
• Thinkcollege.net  - Youth with intellectual disabilities have not had many chances to go to college. This is changing as individuals across the country begin to create opportunities for these youth to reap the benefits of postsecondary education. This website will provide information and links to anyone interested in finding out more about the possibilities. A great resource for post-secondary options for students with intellectual issues.