Resources for Families of Children with Special Needs
Special Education
Federation for Children with Special Needs - fcsn.org
The Federation for Children with Special Needs provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities.
Mass Family Voices
Wrightslaw
Mass Dept. of Education, Special Education
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Massachusetts Advocates for Children is an independent and effective voice for children who face significant barriers to equal educational and life opportunities, particularly those who have disabilities, are low income and/or are racially, culturally, or linguistically diverse.
SPED Child and Teen - http://www.spedchildmass.com/
Disability Camps, Workshops & Events in Greater Massachusetts
Rights in Special Education
DOE Guidance on Legal Obligations for Extracurricular Activities
"U.S. Department of Education clarifies schools' obligation to provide equal opportunity to students with disabilities to participate in extracurricular athletics"
Schools Cannot Deny Equal Opportunity for Participation in Extracurricular Activities
Special Education, School Sports, and IEPs
Recreation & Therapy
EMARC - theemarc.org
Since 1954, EMARC’s mission is to support, serve, and advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their families to ensure they are valued, respected and have the opportunity to fully participate in their communities.
Northeast ARC - https://ne-arc.org/
Lifelong Support for People with Disabilities
OTA Wakefield - http://otawakefield.com/
Services include occupational, physical, and speech therapy; sensory integration; neurodevelopmental therapy; pediatric feeding and swallowing; social skills; parent workshops; and more.
FUSE
The F.U.S.E. Program: Foundations for Understanding Social Engagement: - fuseprogram.com Specialized Preschool and Vacation and Summer Empowering a child to engage with peers in a fun collaborative way! Services Include Social Groups, Pretend Play Groups, Specialized Preschool and Vacation and Summer Camp in Lexington, MA.
North Shore Children’s Therapies - http://nsctpeabody.com/
Provides pediatric speech, language, and occupational therapy.
Triumph Center: child & adolescent counseling, social skills groups and camps
Angelfish Therapy (swimming) - http://angelfishtherapy.com/
The Swim Whisperers Swim School provides private swim lessons for children with Autism, Physical Difficulties and sensory challenges.
Angelfish Therapy offers private and semi-private 45-minute Aquatic Therapy sessions for children with a wide variety of special needs. Our licensed PT’s and OT’s work to improve each child’s motor skills, core strength, endurance, body awareness, motor planning, coordination and self-regulation. We are out of network providers.
Boston Ballet Adaptive Dance
https://www.bostonballet.org/Home/Education/Program/Children-7-Under/Adaptive-Dance.aspx
Adaptive Dance offers three types of classes:
● Specialized classes for individuals with Down syndrome ages 2–adult in Boston and Newton (Friday and Saturday)
● Specialized classes for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders ages 5–adult in Boston and Newton (Saturday)
● Inclusive classes for individuals of all abilities and needs ages 8 and up in the North Shore (Tuesday)
ADHD and Learning Disabilities
Understood - https://www.understood.org/en
Online resource for learning and attention issues
ADDitude - http://www.additudemag.com/index.html/
Online magazine which provides strategies and support for ADHD and LD
Dyslexia
Children’s Dyslexia Center
http://www.kidswithdyslexia.org/wp/
Provides remedial reading services for children with dyslexia, through a network of nationally recognized centers of excellence.
Mental Health
Parent Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) - http://ppal.net/
The Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) is a statewide family organization dedicated to improving the mental health and well being of children, youth and families through education, advocacy and partnership.
National Alliance on Mental Illness - http://namimass.org/
The mission of NAMI Massachusetts is to improve the quality of life both for people with mental illnesses and for their families.