SUPPORT GROUPS
LOCAL SUPPORT GROUPS
CALIFORNIA
CALABASAS
The K.E.N. Project is a Non-Profit Charitable Organization serving Kids with Exceptional Needs and their Families. They provide advocacy instruction, parent training and family support. They are committed to helping families and professionals expand their knowledge and understanding of the laws designed to protect the rights of children with special needs.
23679 Calabasas Road, #540
Calabasas, California 91302
(818) 222-8118
dina@kenproject.com
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CUPERTINO
Organization of Special Needs Families (OSF)
The vision of OSF is that families & individuals with special needs will live life as full and active members of their community. The mission of OSF is to believe in and support community integration for individuals with special needs toward an independent, productive, and normal life; to advocate for stable and healthy environments for families and individuals with special needs.
OSF Learning Center
20920 McClellan Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 996-0850
osf@osfamilies.org
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FOLSOM
A Touch of Understanding (ATOU) provides disability awareness programs designed to educate a new generation to understand the challenges associated with disabilities and to accept and respect all individuals. We’re a nonprofit organization comprised of dedicated individuals, some with disabilities and some without, who come together to form a strong team working to help students look beyond the disability, the wheelchair, the braces, the unpredictable behavior and see the person.
A Touch of Understanding
PMB 208
4120 Douglas Blvd. #306
Granite Bay, CA 95746
(916) 791-4146
ldedora@touchofunderstanding.org
LOS ANGELES
DSALA Mission Statement:
- To enhance the welfare of people with Down syndrome and their families through the development and promotion of education, counseling, employment and recreational programs
- To increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of Down syndrome
Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles
315 Arden Ave., Suite 25 Glendale, CA 91203
Phone: 818-242-7871
info@dsala.org
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MILPITAS
Jeena is a self-help group of parents dedicated to improving the quality of life of parents and children with developmental disorders. Developmental Disorders is a broad classification for a group of diseases that affect the mental and or/ physical development of children. These disorders include Autism, Cerebral Palsy, PDD, Language disorders, certain cases of epilepsy and a number of other genetic and neurological problems. Founded in April 2000, Jeena is the first not-for-profit organization focused on the specific cultural needs of families from South-East Asia, in the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California. Jeena is a volunteer based organization that aims to provide support services and education to children and their families. Currently Jeena is focusing on projects in the Silicon Valley, California, and in India. Their mission is to enhance the quality of life of parents and children with development disability by providing non-medical support, and opportunities for training and education, to parents and professionals keeping in mind the cultural nuances.
Jeena
1510 Centre Pointe
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 957-0481
contact@jeena.org
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INDIANA
About Special Kids is a “Parent to Parent” organization that works throughout the state of Indiana to answer questions and provide support, information and resources. We are parents and family members of children with special needs and we help other families and professionals understand the various systems that are encountered related to special needs. Our central office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana where parents from the entire state can access information, resources and support.
The mission of About Special Kids is: Supporting children with special needs and their families by providing information, peer support, and education, and building partnerships with professionals and communities.
They define children with special needs as children with:
Physical, mental, emotional disabilities
Developmental delays
Chronic illnesses
Mental health concerns
Behavioral disorders
Learning disabilities and educational delays
Children who have risk factors or who are showing signs of a suspected disability
About Special Kids - Central Office
7275 Shadeland Ave., Suite 1
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(317) 257-8683 1-800-964-4746
familynetw@aboutspecialkids.org
asktraining@aboutspecialkids.org
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WEB-BASED NATIONWIDE SUPPORT GROUPS
About.com, a part of The New York Times Company, is an online neighborhood of hundreds of helpful experts, eager to share their wealth of knowledge with visitors.
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The mission of The Autism Education Site is to provide parents and caregivers comprehensive information on the educational choices available. The site is managed by a mother of two children on the autism spectrum and is a result of years of research on the topic.
One question that parents of children on the autism spectrum as well as autism professionals are asking themselves is whether or not we are facing an autism epidemic in the United States. Autism spectrum disorder prevalence rates jumped from 1 in 150 children to 1 in 110 children. Is this jump due to better diagnostics from today’s professionals? Is this jump due to those that are mildly affected by autism marrying and having children, thus passing on genetic traits to their children? Is this jump due to external factors like vaccines?
www.theautismeducationsite.com
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Autism and PDD Support Network
Here you can get the support to cope with Autism spectrum disorders.
Postal Mail:
Autism-PDD.NET
14271 Jeffrey #3
Irvine, CA 92620
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The Autism Research Institute (ARI), a non-profit organization, was established in 1967. For more than 40 years, ARI has devoted its work to conducting research, and to disseminating the results of research, on the triggers of autism and on methods of diagnosing and treating autism. They provide research-based information to parents and professionals around the world.
Autism Research Institute
4182 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
Autism Resource Call Center: 1-866-366-3361
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The mission of The Autism Education Site is to provide parents and caregivers comprehensive information on the educational choices available. The site is managed by a mother of two children on the autism spectrum and is a result of years of research on the topic.
Band of Angels provides support for families of individuals with Down syndrome, autism and other disabilities. Band of Angels is dedicated to creating greater understanding of the full and rich lives of people with differences by helping parents, educators, persons with disabilities and medical professionals recognize the true potential of all people. They want the world to see the sameness, not the difference, of people with Down syndrome, autism and other disabilities.
Band of Angels Foundation
3048 Charlwood Drive
Rochester Hills, MI 48306
Phone: (248) 377-9308
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Children's Disabilities InformationArticles and resources empowering parents of children with disabilities and special needs.
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When the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was established in 1955, most children did not live to attend elementary school. Today, the predicted median age of survival is more than 37 years, thanks—in large part—to the care provided though the national network of CF Foundation-accredited centers. The network provides expert cystic fibrosis care for people living with the disease. In fact, the National Institutes of Health has cited the CF care center network as a model of effective and efficient health care delivery for a chronic disease. The Foundation funds and accredits about 115 cystic fibrosis care centers nationwide. Most care centers have a pediatric and adult program or clinic. Some centers also include affiliate programs. All programs, however, are staffed by dedicated healthcare professionals who specialize in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (national headquarters)
6931 Arlington Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(301) 951-4422 (800) FIGHT CF (344-4823)
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Over 60 years ago, several parents, driven by a powerful vision and their love for their children who were born with developmental disabilities, forged the creation of Exceptional Children’s Foundation. These parents knew with the right mission, ECF would stand the test of time and attract caring, service-oriented people who would improve lives and strengthen communities for decades to come. Our founders were right. For six decades, ECF has promulgated these original plans and helped thousands of children and adults with disabilities grow with opportunities to live in communities throughout Los Angeles with dignity, self-respect, and happiness.
Exceptional Children's Foundation
8740 Washington Boulevard.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 204-3300
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Provider of used durable medical equipment
Based in the Denver, Colorado, Kids Mobility Network, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is changing the lives of children with disabilities by providing durable medical equipment ("DME") such as walkers and wheelchairs to children whose families are underinsured or uninsured.
Because children often outgrow their equipment long before its useful life is exhausted, Kids Mobility Network collects used DME, reconditions it, and provides it to appropriate children to enhance their lives.
The goal of Kids Mobility Network is to optimize the use of durable medical equipment to enhance the lives of children with disabilities. DME is critical to the development of children - both physically and socially!
Kids Mobility Network
2687 W. Bitterroot Place
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
(303) 242-8281
Christy will be happy to provide information about the KMN program.
info@kidsmobility.org
donate@kidsmobility.org
The mission of The Morgan Project is to provide support to parents/caregivers and act as a reference source for information, financial resources, used equipment exchanges, research and clinical studies, support groups, web links, etc. This will be done in the form of creating an interactive website, and monthly newsletters.
The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project, Inc.
3830 S. Hwy. A-1-A, Suite C4, #153
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
MUMS
MUMS is a national Parent-to-Parent organization for parents or care providers of a child with any disability, rare or not so rare disorder, chromosomal abnormality or health condition. MUMS' main purpose is to provide support to parents in the form of a networking system that matches them with other parents whose children have the same or similar condition. Through a database of over 21,200 families from 56 countries covering over 3500 disorders, very rare syndromes or conditions can be matched. Parents can then exchange valuable medical information, as well as, the names of doctors, clinics and medical resources or research programs. Families provide each other with emotional support and they don't have to feel so alone when they have each other to reach out to in time of need. MUMS networks with other organizations which do matching, thus expanding the possibilities of finding a match. MUMS also connects parents with support groups dealing with their child's specific disability or assists them in forming a group.
MUMS: National Parent to Parent Network
Julie J. Gordon
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-1243
1-877-336-5333 (Parents only please)
920-336-5333
mums@netnet.net
http://www.netnet.net/mums
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Families with Autism Helping Families with Autism
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA helps to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and the professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help people with autism be the best they can be.
TACA Headquarters
3070 Bristol Street #340
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(949 640-4401
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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, the UCP mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.
See UCP-Wheels for Humanity for wheelchair donation and refurbishment program.
UCP National
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
(800) 872-5827 (202) 776-0406
info@ucp.org
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