Resources
LOCAL/STATE/NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
These resources are being provided to help you understand more about your child’s disability and places to seek assistance in understanding your rights. You should feel free to contact your child’s classroom/special education teacher, building principal, or Office of Special Services (658-3873) for assistance in resolving any issues pertaining to your child. There are also social service organizations affiliated with state and national advocacy groups which can also be of assistance.
LOCAL:
- Building Principals, Assistant Principals, Department Supervisor and Special Services staff are available to assist you with any questions.
- Special Education Policy and Procedural Manual in the Simsbury Public Schools (Principal’s office, Special Services staff)
- Parent and Student Guide in Special Education (Principal’s Office, Special Services Web Site on Simsbury Public Schools web page).
- Special Education Parent-Teacher Organization (SEPTO). Contact person: Mary Centrella and Suzanne Sinacori
PARENT INFORMATION/ADVOCACY
Simsbury School Guidelines for Independent Educational Evaluations [pdf]
Connecticut Lifespan Respite Coalition
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
CPAC is a statewide non-profit organization that offers information and support to parents of children with disabilities and the professionals who work with them. The staff primarily consists of parents of children with disabilities who assist other parents in understanding how to participate more effectively in their children’s education.
Connecticut Parent Power
CT Parent Information and Resource Center
Connecticut Special Education Parent Teacher Association Council
FAVOR
A family advocacy organization for children's mental health
Infoline
The New England Assistive Technology Center (NEAT)
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (Nichcy)
NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Our special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22).
Parents Available to Help (PATH)
State of Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
The Office of Protection and Advocacy seeks to protect the rights and to advocate for people with disabilities by providing information, referral services, case advocacy services, abuse investigation, protective interventions and community development activities. (This program is Federally and State funded and services are, for the most part, free of charge)
Statewide Legal Services
Wrightslaw- Special Education Law
Thousands of articles, case studies and free resources about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.
DISABILITIES
Autism Society of Connecticut (ASCONN)
Brain Injury Association of CT (BIAC)
Cerebral Palsy
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program
Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities (CACALD)
Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center (ASRC)
Connecticut Coalition for Inclusive Education (CCIE)
Downs Syndrome
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
Arc of Connecticut
This is an advocacy organization committed to protecting the rights of people with intellectual, cognitive, and developmental disabilities and to promoting opportunities for their full inclusion in the life of their community.
Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association (NLDA)
Non-profit organization dedicated to research, education and advocacy for non-verbal learning disorders.
www.schwablearning.org
Includes subject indexes to learning disabilities resources, offers e-mail responses to individual questions.
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities
This national non-profit organization publishes a newsletter for parents of children with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders offering current, authoritative information from experts and encouragement and practical guidance from parents.
Speech and Hearing
STATE:
Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB)
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS)
Connecticut Commission of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Department of Development Services
Special Education Resource Center (SERC)
FEDERAL:
Council for Exceptional Children
Special Education Resources on the Internet
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD).
Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
Office for Civil Rights Center for Effective Collaboration (CECP)
Supports collaboration at local, state and national levels to improve services for children and youth with emotional and behavioral problems
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