Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) provides information, resources, and networking opportunities to help adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) lead better lives. Local chapters in California are listed on this website.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

With more than 20,000 members and 200 affiliates nationwide, CHADD is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization serving individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). Through collaborative leadership, advocacy, research, education and support, CHADD provides science-based, evidence-based information about AD/HD to parents, educators, professionals, the media and the general public. Local chapters in California are listed on this website.

LD Pride (Learning Disability)

Information about learning styles and Multiple Intelligence (MI) is helpful for everyone especially for people with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder. Knowing your learning style will help to compensate for weaknesses and capitalize on strengths. This page provides an explanation of what learning styles and multiple intelligence are all about, an interactive assessment of your learning style/MI, and practical tips to make your learning style work for you.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD).

Autism Society of America

The mission of the Autism Society of America is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community. Education, advocacy at state and federal levels, active public awareness and the promotion of research form the cornerstones of ASA's efforts to carry forth its mission. Local support groups in California are listed on this website.

Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (O.A.S.I.S.)

O.A.S.I.S. is an online organization that provides information and links for families of children who are diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, educators who teach children with AS, professionals who work with individuals diagnosed with AS, and individuals with AS who are seeking support. Local support groups in California are listed on this website.

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

This website, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, contains a developmental milestones chart for 3 months to 5 years. It allows parents to check off by their child's age the developmental steps and to be alert early for signs of autism.

National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal government's principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This website contains extensive information on mental health issues.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. NIH scientists investigate ways to prevent disease as well as the causes, treatments, and even cures for common and rare diseases. This website contains extensive information on health issues.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections pages are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about children and youth with autism. This page is part of a "suite" of pages on disorders along the autism spectrum. The suite includes:

• Autism

• Asperger Syndrome

• Rett Syndrome

• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and

• PDDNOS, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

American Foundation for the Blind-West

The American Foundation for the Blind–the organization to which Helen Keller devoted her life–is a national nonprofit whose mission is to ensure that the 10 million Americans who are blind or visually impaired enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other citizens. The American Foundation for the Blind promotes wide–ranging, systemic change by addressing the most critical issues facing the growing blind and visually impaired population–employment, independent living, literacy, and technology.

American Printing House for the Blind

The American Printing House for the Blind promotes independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life. American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world's largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are visually impaired.

Braille Institute (Southern California)

The Braille Institute is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate blindness and severe sight loss as a barrier to a fulfilling life through integrated educational, social and recreational programs and services. The Institute has five regional centers in Southern California and 140 Community Outreach programs.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that’s readily available on the Internet with sources of information about blindness and visual impairments.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about traumatic brain injury.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY’s Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about cerebral palsy.

United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with any disability. As one of the largest health charities in America, UCP’s mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. United Cerebral Palsy has developed comprehensive One–Stop Resource Guides that are state–based and can be downloaded for free as Microsoft Word® documents or as PDFs. Click here for the California guide.

California Department of Education: Schools for the Deaf

The California Schools for the Deaf were established regionally in Riverside and Fremont. Each school provides a comprehensive residential and non-residential educational program composed of academic, non-academic and extracurricular activities.

• School for the Deaf, Riverside maintains their own Web site. For more information go to www.csdr-cde.ca.gov

• School for the Deaf, Fremont maintains a student run Web site. For more information go to www.csdf.k12.ca.us

CENTe-R: Collaborative Early intervention National Training e-Resource

For professionals serving infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard of hearing.

This project is funded by the US Department of Educatio. CENTe-R's e-Learning Portal links to Online Training Modules that are multimedia-enriched, online modules of research-to-practice content designed to help educate professionals serving families with infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard of hearing. There are also weblinks.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention/Hearing Loss

Impairments in hearing can happen in either frequency or intensity, or both. Hearing loss severity is based on how well a person can hear the frequencies or intensities most often associated with speech. Severity can be described as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. The term “deaf” is sometimes used to describe someone who has an approximately 90 dB or greater hearing loss or who cannot use hearing to process speech and language information, even with the use of hearing aids. The term “hard of hearing” is sometimes used to describe people who have a less severe hearing loss than deafness.

Educating Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Inclusion.

Provides full-text access to the ERIC Digest of this name.

The Join Together Project's Deaf Education Website

Educational Enhancements for the Field of Deaf Education.

Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet University

This Information on Deafness section of the Clerc Center Web site is organized by topic. Click on a topic below and you will see resources from Info to Go, other Clerc Center products, and Web sites that are not Clerc Center or Gallaudet University sites.

National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the Federal government's focal point for the support of biomedical research. NIH's mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability. NIH is part of the  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about deafness and hearing loss.

Down Syndrome Association

The association provides critical counseling and support for parents of newly diagnosed infants with Down syndrome as well as advocacy, referral and information services.

National Down Syndrome Congress

The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1973. The NDSC is governed by a 22-member Board of Directors comprised of parents and family members of individuals with Down syndrome, self-advocates and other individuals involved with people with Down syndrome. The purpose of the NDSC is to promote the interests of persons with Down syndrome and their families through advocacy, public awareness, and information dissemination on all aspects of Down syndrome. The NDSC is financially supported primarily through membership dues and individual contributions.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about Down syndrome.

Epilepsy Foundation – National Office

The Epilepsy Foundation is the national voluntary agency solely dedicated to the welfare of the 2.7 million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The organization works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services. In addition to programs conducted at the national level, epilepsy clients throughout the United States are served by affiliated Epilepsy Foundation offices in nearly 100 communities. The three affiliates in California are the Epilepsy Foundation – Greater Los Angeles, Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California, and Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about epilepsy.

Children’s Disabilities Information

This is a parent-operated website geared to empowering parents of children with special needs. Numerous articles and resources are available.

The DRM Regional Resource Directory: California

This site has an extensive list of links to nonprofit organizations and government agencies serving people with disabilities in California.

Family Village

This website offers library articles on specific disabilities and general disability topics. It includes a shopping area directing you to vendors selling products for individuals with disabilities. Family Village also connects families with other families through e-mail so they can share experiences and information. Family Village’s website has many resources for disabilities.

The Impact of Childhood Disability: The Parent's Struggle

This article by Ken Moses, Ph.D., a psychologist who helps people deal with crisis, trauma and loss, focuses on the process of grieving that many parents experience with the diagnosis of special needs. The article first appeared in Ways Magazine, Spring 1987.

National Father's Network

The National Father's Network provides resources and support for fathers of children with disabilities. It has wonderful articles by fathers, many of them in Spanish. The organization also produces written and video resources for fathers. The website is an excellent source of links for fathers, disabilities, and families.

National Parent Information Network (NPIN)

NPIN provides information to parents and to those working with parents. It includes articles on early childhood and disability topics. In AskERIC, e-mail questions on child development, child care and parenting are answered.

Parents Helping Parents (PHP)

Parents Helping Parents is a parent organization that has a wealth of information and resources on disabilities. The website includes a library of books and videos that can be borrowed.

LD Online

LD Online is "an interactive guide to learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and children." It is a national educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C.

LD Pride

Information about learning styles and Multiple Intelligence (MI) is helpful for everyone especially for people with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder. Knowing your learning style will help to compensate for weaknesses and capitalize on strengths. This page provides an explanation of what learning styles and multiple intelligence are all about, an interactive assessment of your learning style/MI, and practical tips to make your learning style work for you.

Learning Disabilities Association of California

The Learning Disabilities Association of California is one of the state chapters of the Learning Disabilities Association of America. LCA California is a nonprofit volunteer organization of parents, professionals, and adults with learning disabilities. Its purpose is to promote and support the education and general welfare of children and adults of potentially normal intelligence who manifest learning, perceptual, and/or behavioral handicaps. The website has an extensive links and resources pages.

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)

This website has easy-to-use resources for people seeking authoritative information on learning disabilities (LD).

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about mental retardation. Click here for another Connections, which deals specifically with reading and learning disabilities.

Schwab Learning

Schwab Learning is an operating program of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation that funds programs in learning disabilities and human services. Schwab Learning provides free information, resources, publications and support to parents of children who struggle with learning and to kids themselves through two websites and Outreach and Community Services. Schwab's Learning Outreach and Community Services further supports the needs of kids and families through educational workshops, seminars, presentations, exhibits, and special projects.

Center Center for Prevention & Early Intervention (CPEI)

WestEd’s Center for Prevention and Early Intervention in Sacramento, provides statewide high quality training, technical assistance and resource development, dissemination, and support to state agencies and community programs that administer or provide prevention and early intervention services. The state agencies have included the California Departments of Education, Developmental Services, Health Services, Social Services, Mental Health, and Alcohol and Drug Programs.

The Center for Prevention and Early Intervention is recognized as California’s premier source of training, technical assistance and resource development and provision supporting early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and at-risk conditions and their families.

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning is a national center focused on strengthening the capacity of Child Care and Head Start to improve the social and emotional outcomes of young children.

Mental Health Association in California

The Mental Health Association in California is an affiliate of the National Mental Health Association. The mission of the Mental Health Association is to provide advocacy, education, information and other assistance necessary to ensure that all people who require mental health services are able to receive the mental health and other services that they need, and are not denied any other benefits, services, rights, or opportunities based on their need for mental health services.

NAMI California

NAMI California is a grass roots organization of families and individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness. It advocates for lives of quality and respect, without discrimination and stigma, for all our constituents; and provides leadership in advocacy, legislation, policy development, education and support throughout California. It also provides updated information and support to 76 local affiliates and helps organize new affiliates. NAMI has several local affiliates throughout California.

National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal government's principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This website contains extensive information on mental health issues.

Tip Sheets: Positive Ways of Intervening with Challenging Behavior

The tip sheets have been developed to assist teachers and parents in providing the best possible educational opportunities to students with emotional and behavioral disorders.

United Advocates for Children of California

The United Advocates for Children of California (UACC), a nonprofit advocacy organization, works on behalf of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families. Its website is designed to provide education, information, and support to caregivers of children and youth with emotional disturbances. In addition to UACC, California has many family partnership programs within local communities that provide advocacy, education and support to families who reside within the local community.

UACC operates four of those local family partnership programs, and collaborates with family partnership programs all across California counties. Some of the programs are operated by county mental health departments while other family partnership programs are operated by child serving agencies. All of the programs focus on the core operating principles of advocacy, education and support for children and their families with mental health needs. All of the family partnership programs in California operate these programs with parents and youth who have experienced the system personally.

The Arc of California

The Arc of California is the state affiliate of The Arc of the United States. The Arc of the United States is the national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families. It is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for people with mental retardation and their families. The association also fosters research and education regarding the prevention of mental retardation in infants and young children. Local chapters of the Arc of California are listed on this site.

The American Association on Mental Retardation

This national organization is for professionals and others interested in the field of mental retardation. AAMR promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about mental retardation. Click here for another Connections, which deals specifically with severe and/or multiple disabilities.

NICHCY’s Briefing Paper

NICHCY developed this Briefing Paper in response to the growing concern about, and interest in, Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD). This publication is designed to answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding PDD and to provide concerned individuals with other resources for information and support.

California Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The purpose of the California Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association is to support the mission of the National Association by advocating independence through listening and talking. Its membership consists of parents and families of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, professionals in the field of hearing health care and deaf education, as well as oral deaf adults who are dedicated to keeping the oral option alive in California. The California Chapter holds annual conferences, networks and lobbies to promote the oral option.

California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA)

The California Speech-Language-Hearing Association is the officially recognized professional association for California speech-language pathologists and audiologists by the national American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). It hosts a toll free consumer helpline to provide information and assistance to those who have communication disorders, as well as to their families and friends.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about speech and language impairment.

NICHCY’s Connections

NICHCY's Connections are designed for quick contact with information that's readily available on the Internet with sources of information about spina bifida.

Spina Bifida Association of America

The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA) serves adults and children who live with spina bifida. Since 1973, SBAA has been the only national voluntary health agency solely dedicated to enhancing the lives of those with spina bifida and those whose lives are touched by this challenging birth defect. Its tools are education, advocacy, research and service.

Through its network of chapters, SBAA has a presence in more than 125 communities nationwide. There are three chapters in California: SBA of Greater Los Angeles, SBA of Greater San Diego, and SBA of the Greater Bay Area.