ARC

The ARC website is currently not working. Contact them at:

ARC Downriver

4212 13th St.

Wyandotte, MI  48192

(734) 283-0710

The Arc is the national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families. It is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for people with mental retardation and their families. The association also fosters research and education regarding the prevention of mental retardation in infants and young children

Autism – Center for study of Autism

The Center provides information about autism to parents and professionals, and conducts research on the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions. Much of their research is in collaboration with the Autism Research Institute in San Diego, California.

Autism Society of America Oakland County Chapter

The Mission of the Autism Society of America, Oakland County Chapter is to foster knowledge, promote awareness, provide information and opportunities related to educational, medical, social and life skills issues for families and individuals with autism spectrum disorders, and to promote awareness to the general public in and around Oakland County. They sponsor many workshops and seminars in the local area.

Autism Society of Michigan (ASM)

The mission of the Autism Society of Michigan (ASM) is to assure full participation and self determination in every aspect of life for each individual. We will realize this vision by opening avenues of self-advocacy and advocating on behalf of others in a way that values equity, respect, dignity and diversity in all communities. Contains information on Michigan workshops, resources and a bookstore.

Center for Law and Education (CLE)

About CLE: The Center for Law and Education strives to make the right of all students to quality education a reality throughout the nation and to help enable communities to address their own public education problems effectively, with an emphasis on assistance to low-income students and communities. For more than a quarter of a century, the Center for Law and Education has worked to bring about school- and district-wide change across the country in order to improve educational outcomes, particularly for low-income students.

Citizen Alliance to Uphold Special Education (CAUSE)

Citizens Alliance To Uphold Special Education (CAUSE) is the Parent Training Information Center for the State of Michigan. CAUSE is a statewide non-profit coalition providing free information, referral, support, advocacy, and workshops to parents and professionals working with children with disabilities and special needs.

Congress

For things to change our elected officials should be aware of the challenges we face day in and day out that only make our job as a parent with a child with special needs more difficult. It's another way to advocate for our children.
The easiest way to do this is use the web site: www.congress.org

Developmental and Fragile X Resource Center

Developmental FX is a not-for-profit organization specializing in clinical services for families with Fragile X Syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Co-founders are internationally recognized for their expertise and dedication to these areas. Together, they have assembled a highly experienced team of psychologists, therapists and physician-consultants to provide developmental assessments, intervention and training.

Exceptional Parent Magazine

EP’s on-line resource. Continuing 33 award-winning years of providing
information, support, ideas, encouragement & outreach for parents
and families of children with disabilities, and the professionals who work with them.

FRAXA Research Foundation

FRAXA was founded in 1994 by three parents of children with Fragile X syndrome, Katie Clapp, Michael Tranfaglia, MD, and Kathy May, to support scientific research aimed at finding a treatment and a cure for Fragile X syndrome. Fragile X research is drastically under funded, considering its high prevalence, prospects for a cure, and the promise that this research holds for advancing understanding of other disorders like autism, Alzheimer's disease, and X-linked mental retardation. FRAXA provides a list serve for parents. Numerous publications you can order.

IEP Information, school site

This school web site won numerous awards related to web site design and information provided for special education.

Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service (MPAS)

Other Contact Info:  Toll Free: (800)-288-5923, Collect:  (517)-487-1755

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

Formerly known as NICHCY, National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities. The center that provides information to the nation on: disabilities in children and youth; programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities; IDEA, the nation's special education law; No Child Left Behind, the nation's general education law; and research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities. Anyone can use these services—families, educators, administrators, journalists, and students. Our special focus is children and 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, promote public and professional awareness, and advance research toward improved treatments and a cure for fragile X syndrome. Message boards are available on the site. Numerous publications you can order.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), created by Congress in 1962, supports and conducts research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations. Books from NICHD, "Families and Fragile X Syndrome". To order: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm They are FREE. Other contact info: 1-800-370-2943

Project Perform (Michigan Based)

PERFORM Mission: Provide information, resources and support to empower individuals, families, professionals, and communities to enhance outcomes for children and young adults with special needs in Michigan. Other Contact Info: (800)-552-4821

Sibling Support

Sibshops

For the adults who plan them and the agencies that sponsor them, Sibshops are best described as opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with special health and developmental needs to obtain peer support and education within a recreational context. However, for the young people who attend them and the energetic people who run them Sibshops are best described as events. Sibshops are lively, pedal-to-the-metal celebrations of the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of kids with special needs. Sibshops acknowledge that being the brother or sister of a person with special needs is for some a good thing, others a not-so-good thing, and for many somewhere in between. They reflect a belief that brothers and sisters have much to offer one another--if they are given a chance. The Sibshop model intersperses information and discussion activities with new games (designed to be unique, off-beat, and appealing to a wide ability range), cooking activities, and special guests who may teach participants mime, how to juggle or, in the case of one guest artist who has cerebral palsy, how to paint by holding a toothbrush in your mouth. Sibshops are as fun and rewarding for the people who host them as they are for the participants.

Local meetings are held at the Program for exceptional Families office in Dearborn.  Contact information (313)-791-4327

The Sensory Integration Network

Dedicated to bringing current sensory integration resources and information to families, consumers and professionals.

Whole Schooling Consortium

The Whole Schooling Consortium is an international network of schools and individual teachers, parents, administrators, university faculty and community members. Focus on inclusion.

Wrightslaw

Wrightslaw an excellent resource for advocating for your child. Great resources online to understand the special education laws that pertain to your child and how to advocate for your child. You will find articles, cases, newsletters and resources about dozens of topics in the Advocacy Libraries and Law Libraries. Excellent books available. They have a link for yellow pages, which is a list of resources by state.