Links To Resources For Families

There are a huge number of resources available to families dealing with developmental disabilities, so many that it can be overwhelming. The following links are provided for informational purposes only and are not in any way endorsements. We offer them to open the door for you to the kind of information and support that is there for you. If you learn of a program or information source that is not listed here, and you believe it should be, please send us a comment. We are always adding to our resource files.

 

Website links by topic:

Advocacy Bullying Airlines
Especially for Fathers Education and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) Government & Agencies
Employment Palm Beach County School District Specific Disabilities

 

Advocacy

  • The Arc of Florida advocates for people with developmental disabilities to be included in all aspects of their community. www.arcflorida.org/news.php
  • The Arc of the United States advocates for full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. www.thearc.org
  • TASH is an international grassroots leader in advancing inclusive communities. www.tash.org
  • The ADA Center of the Department of Education is the leading resource on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability rights laws. www.disabilityresource.org
  • The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc., provides Protection and Advocacy services in Florida. www.advocacycenter.org
  • Floridians for the Future of the Developmentally Disabled was created to help elect public officials who are committed to advancing legislation that benefits this special population. www.ffddnews.com
  • The Florida Family Care Council advocates, educates, and empowers individuals with developmental disabilities. www.fccflorida.org
  • Florida Developmental Disabilities Council promotes meaningful participation in life for Floridians with developmental disabilities. www.fddc.org
  • Florida’s Voice on Developmental Disabilities advocates for a full continuum of educational, medical, recreational, residential, therapeutic, and vocational options based upon individual needs and choices. www.floridasvoice.org
  • Florida Statewide Advocacy Council is a consumer protection mechanism for people receiving services from state agencies. www.floridasac.org
  • ADA Watch is a rapid response network of hundreds of organizations united to advance the rights of people with disabilities. www.adawatch.org 
  • Florida Commission on Human Rights. fchr.state.fl.us/
  • National Disbility Rights Network. www.napas.org
  • American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)- Association devoted to working with and for individuals with an intellectual disability or developmental disabilities.
    www.aaidd.org/
  • Center for Self-Determination- Interactive site of organizations committed to the principals of self-determination.
    www.self-determination.com
  • Disability Nation: Disability Nation brings you the latest from the disability community and features news and interviews covering important issues in an audio magazine form.
    www.disabilitynation.net

Airlines

  • The Air Care Alliance lists non-profit volunteer flying groups to provide all possible help to patients, communities, and others with needs. www.aircareall.org
  • Angel Flight SE arranges free air transportation, via private aircraft, for those in medical and financial need, needing to travel long distance to access health care. www.angelflightse.org
  • Air Charity Network provides access for people in need seeking free air transportation to specialized health care facilities or distant destinations due to family, community or national crisis. http://aircharitynetwork.org/
  • Lifeline Pilots provides people in medical and financial need with access to free air transportation on small aircraft to distant health care facilities. www.lifelinepilots.org
  • Miracle Flights for Kids is dedicated to helping very sick children overcome financial obstacles that prevent them from accessing proper medical care and second opinions. www.miracleflights.org

Bullying

Especially For Fathers

Education And Individual Education Plans (IEPs)

  • Florida Dept of Education- The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services administers programs for students with disabilities. www.fldoe.org/ese/

  • The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a network of 19 Associate and 4 Specialized Centers in Florida which provide support services to educators, parents, and other professionals who work with exceptional students. http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/ESE/fdlrs.htm (Find parents services to locate specific needs.  *Parents as liasons is a very helpful resource for IEP negotiations.)

  • Homeschooling- Information on home schooling and non-traditional private school support.
    www.familytreeprivateschool.comHomeschooling
  • Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Service Clearinghouse Info Center-
         www.fldoe.org/ese/pub-home.asp
  • Transition Out Of High School- The Florida Dept of Education offers services for students with disabilities transitioning from High School into an adult setting. For more information, please contact Janet Adams at janet.adams@fldoe.org. 
  • Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)- The Association of University Centers on Disabilities is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university -based interdisciplinary programs.
    www.aucd.org/template/index.cfm
  • Circle of Inclusion- This web site offers demonstrations of effective practices of inclusive educational programs for children from birth through age eight.  Information is available in Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.
    www.circleofinclusion.org
  • Survey for parents of Students with an Individual Educational Plan. Survey Link

Government & Agencies 

  • Agency for Persons with Disabilities- This agency supports persons with developmental disabilities in living, learning and working in their individual communities.  www.apd.myflorida.com
  • The Center for Personal Assistance Services- provides research, training, dissemination and technical assistance on issues of personal assistance services in the United States. www.pascenter.org
  • Florida Disability Disaster Plan- Disaster can strike without warning. It is important for citizens with disabilities to plan ahead for an emergency situation and know what to do in the event of an emergency. www.floridadisaster.org/disability
  • DISABILITY*GOV.-  The official federal government site connecting the Disability Community to Information and Opportunities. www.disability.gov
  • Governor's Commission on Disabilities- The official state clearinghouse for programs and information for the disabled.  dms.myflorida.com/other_programs/governor_s_commission_on_disabilities  
  • Children's Medical Services-  A collection of programs for Florida children with special needs. Each program and service is family
    centered and designed to help children with a variety of conditions and needs.     www.cms-kids.com 
  • FACTS.org.-  Sponsored by the Department of Education and the Florida Center for Advising & Academic Support, this free online advising website helps students plan and track their education progress from middle school through college. www.facts.org  
  • Florida Disabled Outdoors Association- enriches lives through accessible inclusive recreation and active leisure for all. www.fdoa.org
  • Family Network on Disabilities of Florida-  is a statewide network of families and individuals of all ages who may be at-risk, have disabilities, or have special needs and their families, professionals, and concerned citizens. www.fndfl.org/                      

Employment

  • The Able Trust also known as the Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities, annually assists 2,000 Floridians with disabilities fair employment opportunities. www.abletrust.org
  • Applying for Disability Assistance- The Division of Disability Determinations makes decisions on the eligibility of Florida citizens applying for state and federal disability benefits. http://www.doh.state.fl.us/DD/DDdescription.html
  • The South Florida Workforce offers youth with disabilities access to all of the services available through the youth program with training customized to meet their special needs. www.southfloridaworkforce
  • Florida Commission on Human Resources- It is against the law to discriminate in employment on the basis of disability. Complaints should be filed at fchr.state.fl.us
  • Social Security Administration- Website for people receiving Social Security disability benefits who want to return to work.
    www.choosework.net/
  • Get Help In Understanding Work Incentives- This web site offers a state-by-state list of contacts to help people who receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and are interested in working or learning more about how to maximize a young person's options when he or she goes to work.
    secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate
  • Going To Work- A Guide To Social Security Benefits And Employment For Young People With Disabilities- Provides basic information about Social Security disability and health benefit programs, and explains how to maximize a young person's options when he or she goes to work.
    www.communityinclusion.org/article.php
  • Partnerships Between State vs. Agencies and Employment Networks- The Partnership Plus Online Toolkit is designed to assist State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies in taking advantage of the new service of delivery option under the New Ticket to Work program.
    partnershipplus.cessi.net/

Palm Beach County School District

  • Palm Beach County School District-  www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us 
  • Assistive Technology- The Palm Beach County School District offers special equipment to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of children with developmental disabilities: who have difficulty accessing the curriculum.  www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/ESE 
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder- The Palm Beach County School District offers programming in pre-K through age 22 for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/ESE/autism.htm
  • Florida Inclusion Network- provides students with significant disabilities needed aids and support services in age-appropriate classrooms in their neighborhood schools to prepare them for productive lives as full members of society. www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/ESE/fin.htm 

Specific Disabilities

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 Development of this website was supported by a grant from the Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc.