More Special Needs Resources and Information

Special Education Advocacy and School-Related Information

• Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book -- Learn what you need to be your child's best advocate
  
  
• Teach Your Children Well: Hot Topics in Education -- ABC4LifeSuccess.com radio show on the Health and Wellness Channel of www.voiceamerica.com.
  
  
• College Scholarships and Resources -- This is an extensive list of college scholarship resources - review carefully!
  
  
• "Break in Communication: When an Advocate is Needed"-- from Parenting for High Potential, March 2008
  
  
• Help for college tuition for your child with disabilities!-- The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation was established in 1979 with emphasis on MD, DE, NJ, NY, PA and Washington, D.C. It provides funding to college and universities for scholarships for needy students with disabilities. They pay directly to the university on the behalf of the student. If interested, please contact Janet Fearon, Executive Director, Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, 35 Park Place, Princeton, NJ 08542. Go to http://www.temple.edu/disability/scholar2.htm for more information.
  
  
• Gifted Children and Gifted Education - Prufrock Press, Inc.-- great books on helping exceptional children with their schooling
  
  
• Information on Alternate Assessments: When your child is not diploma-bound -- Alternate Assessments Guide
  
  
  
• Special Needs Estate Planning -- Matthew B. Bogin, Esq. is an attorney in Rockville, Maryland who specializes in doing estate planning for parents of children with special needs. See his quick tutorial (it is a PDF file) on special needs estate planning.
  
  
• For-Hire Advocates Help Parents Traverse the System:-- Washington Post Article:
  
  

The Law

• State of Maryland Medical Programs: Maryland Medical Programs Web Site
  
  
• Understanding IDEA: Now is the time to learn about the Reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)! The laws have changed.
  US Department of Education
  Under Laws and Policy on this site, click on IDEA or NCLB (No Child Left Behind) links to learn about the law in depth

Our Brains

• The efficacy of medication on brain development for children with ADHD -- learn about it at. Journal of the Americal Medical Assocation
  
  
• Amazing! -- Snapshot of how our brain interprets words
  
  

Teacher Training and Requirements

Parents -- discover the certification status of any teacher or paraprofessional working with your child! Information regarding teacher certification is available to you. By the end of the 2005-2006 school year, all special and general educators must meet the criteria to be 'Highly Qualified'. Write to the Principal of your child's school today to request educator certification status!

• Parents' Right to Know and Teacher Quality Requirements
  
  
• General Definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher

Helping people manage their AD/HD lives with just a phone call!

The A.D.D. Toolkit is a collection of services for people with AD/HD of all ages that send personalized, computer-generated messages directly by phone.

·   Daily medication alarms

·   Appointment reminders

·   Phone calls helping kids practice time/task management

·   Reminders for bill payments, to-do lists, etc.

People set up and regulate their services as their own needs require.  The A.D.D. Toolkit is convenient, affordable, reliable and fun.  Go to http://www.addtoolkit.com for more information.