Developmental Disability Resources
Administration on Developmental Disabilities
The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) is the U.S. Government organization responsible for implementation of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, known as the DD Act. ADD, its staff and programs, are part of the Administration for Children and Families, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry was established in 1953. It is a membership based organization, composed of over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists and other interested physicians. Its members actively research, evaluate, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders and pride themselves on giving direction to and responding quickly to new developments in addressing the health care needs of children and their families.
American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. The site has general information related to child health and more specific guidelines concerning pediatric issues (there is a helpful parent information page). You will find information regarding the Academy's many programs and activities, policies and guidelines, publications, and other child health resources. Best of all, you can rest assured that the information comes from the nation's leading child health experts and that we have scientific research supporting our recommendations.
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Since 1876, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) has been providing worldwide leadership in the field of mental retardation. AAIDD, (formerly AAMR -- American Association of Mental Retardation) is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and citizens concerned about intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities are in every state and territory. Centers work with people with disabilities, members of their families, state and local government agencies, and community providers in projects that provide training, technical assistance, service, research, and information sharing, with a focus on building the capacity of communities to sustain all their citizens.
Autism Society of America
The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. They accomplish this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
California Child Health and Disability Prevention Program
The Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) is a preventive program that delivers periodic health assessments and services to low income children and youth in California. CHDP provides care coordination to assist families with medical appointment scheduling, transportation, and access to diagnostic and treatment services. Health assessments are provided by enrolled private physicians, local health departments, community clinics, managed care plans, and some local school districts.
California Children's Services
California Children's Services (CCS) is a state program for children with certain diseases or health problems. Through this program, children up to 21 years old can get the health care and services they need. CCS will connect you with doctors and trained health care people who know how to care for your child with special health care needs.
California Department of Developmental Services
The California Department of Developmental Services is the agency through which the State of California provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities.
These disabilities include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and related conditions. Services are provided through state-operated developmental centers and community facilities, and contracts with 21 nonprofit Regional Centers. The regional centers serve as a local resource to help find and access the services and supports available to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
California Department of Education
Information and resources to serve the unique needs of persons with disabilities so that each person will meet or exceed high standards of achievement in academic and nonacademic skills.
California Department of Mental Health
The California Department of Mental Health (DMH), entrusted with leadership of the California mental health system, ensures through partnerships the availability and accessibility of effective, efficient, culturally competent services. This is accomplished by advocacy, education, innovation, outreach, understanding, oversight, monitoring, quality improvement, and the provision of direct services.
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, based in Sacramento, Calif., is a statewide, non-profit trade organization made up of 25 Independent Living Centers. Through unified action, CFILC envisions civil rights for all people with disabilities. CFILC's mission is to support independent living centers in their local communities through advocating for systems change and promoting access and integration for people with disabilities.
California Regional Centers
Regional centers are nonprofit private corporations that contract with the Department of Developmental Services to provide or coordinate services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. They have offices throughout California to provide a local resource to help find and access the many services available to individuals and their families.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is an online source for reliable health information. The site includes information on diseases and condtions, including developmental disabilities.
Disability.gov
Disability.gov is an award-winning federal website that contains disability-related resources on programs, services, laws and regulations to help people with disabilities lead full, independent lives. With just a few clicks, visitors can find critical information on a variety of topics, including benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, housing, health, technology and transportation.
Family Resource Centers
The mission of Family Resource Centers is to support families of children with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and those at risk by ensuring the continuance, expansion, promotion and quality of family-centered, parent-directed, family resource centers.
Family Village
Family Village brings together thousands of online resources in an organized, easy-to-use directory. The Library Link has information on over 300 diagnosis and assistive technology, legal rights and legislation, special education, leisure activities and much more.
FEAT - Families for Early Autism Treatment
FEAT is a non-profit organization of parents, family members, and treatment professionals dedicated to providing best outcome education, advocacy and support for the Northern California Autism Community.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities provides information nationally for children and youth. The site is useful to families, educators, administrators, journalists, and students. Special focus is on youth (birth to age 22).
National Fragile X Foundation
The National Fragile X Foundation unites the Fragile X community to enrich lives through educational and emotional support. Promotes public and professional awareness and advance research toward improved treatments and a cure for Fragile X.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
The NICHD, established by congress in 1962, conducts and supports research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations. Some of these topics include reducing infant deaths, improving the health of women, men, and families.
National Institute of Mental Health
The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For the Institute to continue fulfilling this vital public health mission, it must foster innovative thinking and ensure that a full array of novel scientific perspectives are used to further discovery in the evolving science of brain, behavior, and experience. In this way, breakthroughs in science can become breakthroughs for all people with mental illnesses.
National Organization for Rare Disorders
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), a 501(c)3 organization, is a unique federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. NORD is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service.
The Office of Special Education Programs
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.