The following are some of the National Information Center for Children
and Youth With Disabilities (NICHY) guides that might be of help to some. All are in PDF format and where the guide is available in Spanish, I've included it. These are all
excellent resources to help families plan for a child with a disability, help them in
school, summer camps, etc.
Awareness
Disability Awareness - (BIB13) Interested in disability awareness issues? Integrate a new student
into your classroom, plan a special instructional unit, organize a Girl Scout information fair, write a school report on this
important topic. Anyone concerned with disability awareness will find this resource list a good starting point
for identifying curricula, books, articles, videos, and other materials on the subject. 12 pages in PDF format
General Information about Disabilities (GR3) - Read the definitions
of the 13 categories of disabilities under which a child with a disability may qualify for special education services under
the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). 2002, 4 pages. English or Spanish
Questions and Answers about IDEA
(ND21) What are IDEA's requirements regarding evaluating and educating children with
disabilities? Core questions about the special education process, as mandated
by IDEA, are asked and answered, oftenwith quotes from the lawitself. 2000, 28 pages in PDF format English or Spanish
Schooling
Assessing Children for the Presence of a Disability - A
Bibliography for Families (BIB2) To be eligible for special education, a child must first be assessed to see if he
or she has a disability. These books and articles will help
families learn more about the assessment process. 4 pages PDF
format
Your Child's Evaluation (BP1) - This publication describes the
steps the school system will take to evaluate your child to determine if he or she has a disability
and is eligible for special education. 4 pages in PDF format English or Spanish
Education of Children & Youth with Special Needs: What do the Laws Say? (ND15) The educational and civil
rights of children and youth with disabilities are
governed by many important federal laws. Three, in particular, are the focus of this News
Digest: (1) P.L. 94-142, the Education of the Handicapped Act, now known as the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act; (2) Section 504; and (3) the Carl D. Perkins
Vocational Education Act. Many others are briefly discussed as well. 1996, 16 pages in PDF format
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) (LG2) - What does the IDEA
require when a student's IEP is developed? This publication is a verbatim reprinting of
(a) federal regulations about IEPs, and (b) Appendix A (formerly Appendix C) to the IDEA '97, which is a series of questionsand answers about federal
regulations on the IEP. 1999, 32 pages in PDF format.
Student's Guide to the IEP (ST1B) - Students with disabilities can be important participants in developing their own IEPs! The audiotape in Set 1 features several students,
all of whom have disabilities, talking about their experiences as active participants in
the IEP process. The accompanying student booklet guides students through the process of learning how the IEP is developed, learning about
their own disability, listing their strengths and areas of need,
identifying what accommodations they need in school, developing a list of goals and objectives for the year, talking with teachers and parents, and preparing for and participating in the IEP meeting.
2002, 12 pages in PDF format. Transcript of Audio Tape
Severe and/or Multiple Disabilities (FS10) The Severe and/or Multiple Disabilities Fact Sheet presents a short overview of these disabilities-- characteristics, incidence, and educational implications--and concludes with a list of helpful books and organizations. 2 pages in PDF format.
Related Services (ND16) - Children with disabilities who are
eligible for special education may also receive related services according to their individual
needs. This may include such services as occupational and physical
therapy, speech-language pathology, transportation, and special health care services. Learn
more about the related services listed in IDEA and the process by which students can
obtain them. 2001, 20 pages in PDF format
English or Spanish
Special Education - Letter Writing
Communicating Through Letter Writing- Special
Education and Related Services - (PA9) This guide is rich
in examples of
the letters you might write to your child's school across the years. Ask for an evaluation, express concern about progress, request an IEP meeting, even praise the school's efforts! Learn more about what makes for an effective letter. October 2002 English 24 pages in PDF format or Spanish 20 pages in PDF format
After School
Options After High School for Youth with Disabilities (TS7) This Transition Summary helps youth with disabilities, their
families, and the professionals who work with them plan for the young person's transition
to the adult world. An overview of adult service systems (e.g., Social Security Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation) is given. Many employment
options are also explored. 1991, Resources updated 1994, 28 pages in PDF format.
Technical Assistance Guide : Helping Students with Cognitive Disabilities
Find and Keep a Job (TA3B) This Technical Assistance Guide is designed to assist families, transition specialists, employers, and
others in helping students with significant cognitive disabilities find and keep a job. 1999 20 pages in PDF format. Transcript of Audio Tape
Assistive Technologies
Assistive Technology: Becoming an Informed Consumer - (ND13) Assistive technology
refers to the special devices that are available to help individuals
with disabilities in daily life -- electronic communication aids, a
print enlarger on a computer screen, speech synthesizers, switches,
to name a few. This issue explores the subject of assistive
technology through several articles, including: tips for consumers,
a parent's perspective, legislation, effective use, and how to integrate technology into a student's IEP. 1989, Resources updated 1996, 20 pages in PDF format.
Siblings
Children with Disabilities : Understanding Sibling Issues - (ND11) Having a brother or sister with a disability can powerfully affect siblings. Find out how, often from the words of the siblings themselves, who write many of the articles in this News Digest. 1988, Resources updated
1994, 17 pages. TEXT VERSION ONLY |
Parents
Questions Often Asked by Parents About Special Education Services
(LG1) This publication explains in easy-to-read terms how students with disabilities access special education
and related services. 1999, 12 pages in PDF format English or Spanish
Parenting a Child with Special Needs (ND20) When parents learn that their
child has a disability, they begin an unplanned journey. Starting with the article "You Are Not
Alone," this News Digest is written expressly for parents to respond to their information needs and offer perspectives from
other parents. Professionals who work with families will find it helpful in understanding more about how having a child with
a disability can affect the family. 2003 English 16 pages in PDF format Spanish 24 pages in PDF Format
Vocational Assessment: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (TS6) This issue of Transition Summary describes the importance of vocational assessment in the educational process of students with disabilities planning for the transition from school to work. Vocational assessment is defined, its purposes are explained, and the ways
in which vocational assessment can benefit teenagers with
special needs are discussed. Types of assessments are discussed
as well, as are the roles that key professionals play in the assessment process. 1990, 16 pages.
Changing Schools/
Moving
Planning a Move, Mapping Your Strategy (PA8) - So you're moving. You need a strategy!
This publication will help you think about such concerns
as: learning the new state's policies for special education and SSI benefits; making sure you have your child's medical records; finding parent
and disability groups in your new location; and ensuring that your child's school
records (particularly the
IFSP or IEP!) come along, too. We give you a checklist of the tasks that you'll want to complete before the moving van shows up. 1994, 12 pages in PDF format.
Behavoir Issues
Positive Behavioral Support: A Bibliography for Families (BIB4)
For many students with disabilities, behavior is a real concern to parents
and other family members. These resources will help families understand
and positively address the behavior challenges associated with disabilities such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD),
behavior disorders, emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, and mental retardation. 8 pages in PDF format.
Interventions for Chronic Behavior Problems (RB1) - This publication is meant to help schools answer the question, "What does the research tell us?" about promising
interventions for students with a history of behavior problems. It's important to know
that there is a tremendous body of research availableon
this subject, covering a wide variety of students, situations, and settings. We also include a short overview that you can use and adapt to help your students and develop your own programs. 8 pages in PDF format.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (AD/HD) - (FS19) The ADHD fact sheet presents
an overview of the disability--its characteristics and symptoms, how
common it is, and educational implications. Tips are given to parents
and teachers for addressing the special needs of a child with ADHD. The fact sheet concludes with a list of helpful books and organizations. English-AD/HD 4 pages in PDF format or Spanish-AD/HD 4 pages in PDF format
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (AD/HD) - Briefing Paper (FS14) This publication provides information about the characteristics of
AD/HD, how to help children at home and school, and the legal responsibilities of schools to provide services to students
with AD/HD.English-AD/HD 24 pages in PDF format or Spanish-AD/HD 16 pages in PDF format
Sexuality Education for Children & Youth with Disabilities (ND17) This News Digest addresses the concerns that parents
and professionals face in informing and guiding children and young adults with disabilities in their social-sexual development and in preparing them to make healthy, responsible decisions about adult
relationships. Many books and videos available on human sexuality are listed, to assist
parents and professionals in obtaining the detailed materials necessary to support
the sexuality education of children with disabilities. 1992, 28 pages in PDF format
Estate Planning
Estate Planning (ND18) - Plan ahead for your child with a disability by writing
a specialized will and trust that will protect your child's eligibility for government benefits and provide for his or her
needs. Also read about how to write a Letter of Intent, which will give
future caregivers an in-depth understanding of your son or daughter with a disability.
1992, 20 pages in PDF format
Public Transportation
Travel Training for Youth with Disabilities (TS9) - Knowing how to use public transportation is an important
skill for many youth with disabilities. This Transition Summary
looks at training people with disabilities to use public transportation safely
and independently. It answers such questions as: What are the essential components of a successful travel training program? What specific skills do travelers need? What issues arise with specific disabilities
such as physical, cognitive, or visual impairments? 1996,
24 pages in PDF format.
Respite
Respite Care: A Gift of Time (ND12) Respite care provides families with specialized temporary
child care. In recent years, more and more respite services have become available, many on
a sliding-fee scale. This issue discusses types of respite care available and gives tips and advice to parents
seeking such care. 1996, 8 pages in PDF format.
Summer Camps
Directory of Summer Camps (CAMPS1) - Plan for the summer using this listing of directories
and Web sites about summer camps for children with disabilities.
2003-2004 2 pages in PDF format
Therapy
Speech-Language Impairments (FS11) The Speech and Language Impairments Fact
Sheet presents a short overview of this disability-its characteristics, incidence, and educational
implications-and concludes with a list of helpful books and organizations. 2 pages in PDF format
English or Spanish |
