1. Parental Resources By Allegra Montemayor

2. Families with Special Needs Children The Family Village This web site provides many resources to families who want to learn about their child’s diagnosis. Also they provide links to assistive technology and are directed to products that may benefit their child such as communication aids, computer software, headgear, wheelchairs, and so forth. Other links direct families to their legal rights and what that entails. What I enjoyed about this web site is that there is a link providing articles that include leisure activities families can have their children participate such as physical fitness for people with disabilities, conditioning with physical disabilities, which is a guide for all levels of physical disabilities, and many more. If you scroll down, there are products that families can look into and maybe purchase for their child. This web site overall is a great link for families who want to learn about more resources available to them.

3. Parenting Challenges This link talks about the many challenges that parents may face with their child with specials needs. It goes into issues such as marriage problems, teasing in school for their children, improving their education and the challenges they may face during that time, and many other internal issues such as self-esteem and depression. There are many links on articles discussing issues such as building trust when children have special issues, learning tricks, Autism, self-esteem builder, tips on dealing with teasing, and so forth. This web site was formed by a woman named Judith Lavin, who is an author and former journalist with the Chicago Sun-Times. Her book is called Special Kids Need Special Parents, and you can purchase this book on this website. Overall, really helpful resources that she provides for parents and even has link where you can ask her questions about your child or any issue.

4. Autism

5. A utism Speaks This is a web site that talks about Autism and giving parents an overview of the disorder. They also provide links for families on how to cope, how to grow with it, and ways families can help their child with Autism. This is a very useful web site which is easy to use and gives parents information on additional resources such as organizations that provide more information and support for families.

6. Fragile X This is another website in relation to the Autism Spectrum called Fragile X. There are many frequently asked questions about Autism in general and Fragile X is another disorder that falls under the Spectrum. This link provides information about Fragile X: what it is, the cause of it, some of the characteristics, latest interventions such as assistive technology, intervention for sensory integration, speech and language therapy, and many others. It is important for parents to know that early intervention is vital and this link provides useful information for parents that have a child with Fragile X.

7. Resources for Legal Issues

8. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 These links provides parents information on Section 504, which is law that “provides services to students who have physical or mental impairments.” It outlines in detail what the Section 504 entails and requirements the child needs to have in order to be covered under Section 504. Section 504 Section 504 continued

9. Information about IDEA This link provides clear details on the IDEA 2004. This states that all children with disabilities have the right to educational services. There are programs for the different age groups such as the very young children, birth-2 and ages 3-21. This website goes into detail of what each program entails as far as the children’s and parent’s rights. IDEA

10. Due Process Due process is important for the parents to know about when dealing with legal issues. This TEA website explains in detail some of the frequently asked questions parents may have when going into a due process hearing. There are questions pertaining to what happens before, during, and after a due process hearing. Due Process Request Form This link is a direct link to the request form parents will need in order to get the process started. They have it both in English and in Spanish.

11. Notice of Procedural Safeguards Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities This link explains the rights and responsibilities the parent of a child with disabilities has during the special education process. The Notice of Procedural Safeguards is a document explaining the rights and responsibilities the parents have and this notice is given only one time per year unless otherwise notified. This link provides the document in several different languages (still under production but will be in use soon.) The contents in this notice and a ARD guide will help the parents in the decision making process in their child’s education.

12. The Legal Framework for the Child- Centered Special Education Process Legal Framework This link provides the legal framework of the special education process. They provide links to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal guide in both English and Spanish. They also provide the Notice in Procedural Safeguards, and view of the Special Education Rules and Regulations.

13. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Issues

14. Multicultural Education for Exceptional Children Multicultural Education This is an article explaining multicultural education for exceptional children and why it is important to have multicultural materials within the classroom. It lists characteristics of the ideal textbooks to have in the classroom and what to look out for so that the children can have a wide aspect of cultural and diversity issues.

15. Addressing Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Special Education Issues and Trends This is an article that talks about cultural diversity among three specific ethnic groups: African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Mexican Americans. There are a total of four chapters and each chapter focuses on issues of education among the different ethnic groups and their perspectives on education based on their culture.

16. Reduce Disproportionate Representation Culturally Responsive Policies This page is off of the Council of Exceptional Children, CEC and it lists the policies to promote a culturally responsive education for students. Their argument is that there are many classrooms that may have a disproportionate representation so it lists federal and state policies, district policies, and school-level policies to follow. It goes on in explaining what it means to be a culturally responsive teacher and carry that into instructional practices.

17. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and IDEA This is another article that explains the different “cultural issues that may affect evaluations between culturally and linguistically diverse children for special education services under the IDEA.” This helps deal with evaluations for students considering their language, culture, instruction, and development. This article deals with cultural issues but also what is important under the IDEA. An Evaluation Resource Guide

18. Cultural Diversity and Academic Achievement Academic Achievement This last link is an article that talks about an issue that is very important in education today which is meeting the needs of culturally and linguistic diverse children. The argument is that if the education continues to go in the path that it is going, there will be many culturally diverse people not acquiring the education they essentially need to contribute “in the economic and civic life of the country.” It goes on by giving a list of goals that teachers should set to educate culturally and linguistically diverse students and promote success in their educational outcomes.