The following Web sites offer a wealth of information on cognitive and developmental disabilities, as well as resources and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. This information is presented as a service to visitors to the Special Olympics Web site. Note that the Web sites listed below are not owned or managed by Special Olympics.
Helpful sites
- American Association on Intellectual and Developmental DIsabilities
- Since 1876, the association has been providing leadership in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities; it is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals (and others) concerned about intellectual disability and related disabilities.
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- The official site, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice,offers comprehensive and up to date information on all aspects of the Act, free publications and resources, and more.
- The Arc
- The Arc offers a comprehensive site, including fact sheets covering services/support, the ADA, community living/employment, education, and MR/related conditions; descriptions of research and programmatic activities; training materials (for advocates): and a large list of links.
- Best Buddies
- The mission of Best Buddies is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
- Centre for Disability Studies
- The Centre for Disability Studies is housed within the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds and involved in research on a wide range of disability-related issues.
- Centre for Inclusive Education
- The Centre is a research association composed of faculty members, research associates, and graduate students who share an interest in inclusive education research
- Civitan International Research Center
- The Center focuses on preventing and treating a wide range of developmental disabilities. Faculty, clinicians, and scientific investigators are international leaders in their fields, committed to training the next generation of world-wide professionals.
- Community of Caring
- Community of Caring is a K-l2, whole school, comprehensive character education program with a unique focus on disabilities. Community of Caring was founded in 1982 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and has been adopted by almost 1000 schools nationwide and in Canada. It is research-based and has a proven record of accomplishment.
- Council for Exceptional Children
- The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted.
- Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Online
- Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics online was created to promote better care and outcomes for children and families affected by developmental, learning, and behavioral problems by providing access to clinically relevant information and educational materials.
- Disability Information (Ireland) Ltd.
- An information service for people with disabilities and special needs, as well as their family and friends, providing easy access to a comprehensive resource list.
- Disability Resources, Inc.
- Disability Resources, Inc. offers a multidisciplinary network of service providers and consumers, targeting its services and publications to libraries, disability organizations, independent living centers, health and social service providers, and more.
- disABILITY Information and Resources
- A portal created and maintained solely by Jim Lubin, a C2 quadriplegic, offering an assortment of links to other Web sites dealing with disabilities.
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center
- The Center promotes the understanding of neurological, cognitive and behavioral development associated with developmental disabilities, emphasizing intellectual disabilities.
- Exceptional Parent Magazine
- Exceptional Parent's online resource continues 30+ award-winning years of providing information, support, ideas, encouragement and outreach for parents and families of children with disabilities, and the professionals who work with them.
- Family Friendly Fun
- The mission of Family-Friendly-Fun is to enable families with special needs to share their experiences by subscribing to its newsletter, joining its eGroup forum, talking in chat rooms and posting to bulletin boards, etc.
- The Family Village
- A global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support. It includes informational resources on specific diagnoses, communication connections, adaptive products and technology, adaptive recreational activities, and more.
- Fragile X Research Foundation
- FRAXA's mission is to accelerate progress toward effective treatments and a cure for Fragile X, by funding the most promising research.
- Funding Sources for Grantwriters in Disability Field
- The Institute for Community Integration provides links to funding sources to assist grantwriters seeking funding for disability related research, etc. The Institute on Community Integration produces a wide range of publications and electronic media resources.
- The Guided Tour
- The Guided Tour, Inc., offers opportunities for personal growth, recreation and socialization through travel. Travelers are persons with developmental challenges (sometimes persons both physical and developmental challenge), ages 17 and up.
- IDEA (U.S. Department of Education)
- The U.S. Department of Education's official site covering The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997, which was signed into law on June 4, 1997. This Act strengthens academic expectations and accountability for the nation's 5.8 million children with disabilities and bridges the gap that has often existed between what children with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculum.
- IDEA Partnerships
- The IDEA Partnerships site is a collaboration of national projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs to inform professionals, families and the public about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and strategies to improve educational results for children and youth with disabilities. This network of 105 organizations work together to improve special education and build collaboration, cooperation, and communication in the delivery of special education services.
- Inclusion
- Created by the U.K.-based National Grid for Learning as a gateway to educational resources on the Internet, Inclusion is a free catalogue of resources for teaching professionals, learners, parents and carers. Resources include publications, software, hardware, guidance and links to other organisations to aid independent living and learning.
- Institute for Special Education
- Created and maintained by the University of Fribourg/Switzerland, this site includes information on special education research programs, appropriate publications, and calendar of events covering conferences, exhibitions and more about Special Education. The site has resources available in various languages: French, German, and English
- International Order of Alhambra
- Founded in 1904, the International Order of Alhambra is a Fraternal Order of Catholic Men. The Order focuses its primary efforts on providing assistance to persons developmentally disabled by mental retardation through its charitable programs and projects. Examples include participating in Special Olympics; and conducting recreation, field day programs and summer camps.
- International Paralympic Committee
- The IPC is the international representative organization of elite sports for athletes with disabilities — primarily physical disabilities. Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
- Japan Down Syndrome Network
- Japan Down Syndrome Network is a center dedicated to information and communication relating to Down syndrome in Japan and worldwide. The site is in English, with a link to the Japanese version off the home page.
- Job Accommodation Network
- A free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.
- JP Das Developmental Disabilities Centre
- Activities at the JP Das Developmental Disabilities Centre, located at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada include research, publication, and selected clinical services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Kennedy Krieger Institute
- The Kennedy Krieger Institute is committed to improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders of the brain, either of congenital onset or acquired through injury or illness.
- LAB Resources
- LAB Resources is a U.S.-based business specializing in selling assistive technology products.
- Laureate Learning Systems, Inc.
- Laureate Learning Systems publishes computer software for children and adults with disabilities, appropriate for those with severe-profound developmental disabilities to mild language-learning disabilities.
- Mental Retardation Research Center of UCLA
- The general aims of the Mental Retardation Research Center of UCLA are the acquisition of new knowledge on mental retardation and related aspects of human development and the training of research personnel.
- National Association for the Dually Diagnosed
- NADD is a not-for-profit membership association established for professionals, care providers and families to promote understanding of and services for individuals who have developmental disabilities and mental health needs.
- National Center on Educational Outcomes
- The National Center on Educational Outcomes provides national leadership in the participation of students with disabilities in national and state assessments, standards-setting efforts, and graduation requirements
- National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
- The NCPAD site is supported by the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and contains information related to health, fitness and exercise for individuals with disabilities.
- Our-Kids
- Our-Kids is a 'family' of parents, caregivers and others who are working with children with physical and/or mental disabilities and delays. More than 35 countries are represented on its e-mail list.
- PALAESTRA
- PALAESTRA: Forum of Sport, Physical Education & Recreation For Those With Disabilities is a resource on adapted physical activity, published quarterly.
- Parents Helping Parents
- PHP is a free public service that provides a searchable online human services resource directory, with a focus on the needs of children; condition and disability files and shareware; and more.
- Points of Light Institute
- The Points of Light Institute advances innovative civic change strategies. Its three main goals are: Citizen Action - create an engaged citizenry where every individual has the opportunity to make a difference through meaningful civic engagement; Civic Infrastructure - develop a civic infrastructure equipped with the resources, tools, and knowledge to create change in communities; and Campaigns for Impact - demonstrate the power of citizens actively engaged in changing our world and solving problems.
- President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
- The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities is a U.S. federal advisory committee to advise the President of the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on issues concerning citizens with intellectual disabilities, and coordinate activities between different federal agencies and assess the impact of their policies upon the lives of citizens with intellectual disabilities and their families.
- Service Nation
- ServiceNation - a coalition of almost 200 national and local nonprofits, including Special Olympics, with a collective reach of some 100 million Americans - works to inspire the county's leaders to expand meaningful community and national service opportunities for Americans of all ages and to invest in scaling proven service strategies to help address some of the nation's most important challenges, from the high school dropout crisis to the need for greater energy efficiency. ServiceNation also works to elevate service - which is about giving back to community and country - as a core ideal.
- Sibling Support Project
- The Sibling Support Project is a national program dedicated to the interests of brothers and sisters of people with special health and developmental needs. Its goal is to increase the availability of peer support and education opportunities.
- Special Needs Education Project
- The Special Needs Education (SNE) project is an Internet service providing resources for parents, teachers, schools, and other professionals, individuals, groups, and organizations involved in the education of students with special needs. SNE operates under the auspices of SchoolNet, a cooperative initiative of Canada's provincial, territorial, and federal governments in consultation with educators, universities, colleges and industry.
- Sprout
- Sprout is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation grow through challenging and safe travel experiences. Based in New York City, programs are available to individuals and the agencies that serve them throughout the United States. Participants fall in the range of moderate to high functioning levels and travel in a group (typical size: ten participants and three leaders).
- Stanford University School of Medicine
- Stanford University School of Medicine is a training ground for biomedical research and medical practice. Research is in three main areas: syndromes and disorders, neuroimaging, and cognitive and behavioral assessment. Ongoing research studies include: Autism, Fragile X, Trisomy 21, Turner syndrome, Velo-cardio-facial syndrome, and Williams syndrome.
- Trace Research and Development Center
- The goal of the Trace Research and Development Center is to prevent the barriers and capitalize on the opportunities presented by current and emerging information and telecom-munication technologies; current work includes ways to make standard information technologies and systems more accessible and usable by people with disabilities.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development
- The aims of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development are to better understand human development, to prevent and solve developmental problems, and to enable persons with developmental disabilities to lead fuller lives in their communities.
- With A Little Help From My Friends
- A booklet series supporting people with intellectual disabilities and related conditions to participate as full citizens in their communities in every aspect of their life. The series provides timely and creative possibilities for issues such as how people can direct their own services to assure a full life in the community.