A drop down list of beneficial links, click any link you would like to know more about:
- Autism Research Institute – Publishes an excellent quarterly publication, The Autism Research Review International” presenting current developments in biomedical and educational research.
- Autism Society of America – Resource of the entire autism community in education, advocacy, services, research and support.
- http://nationalautismassociation.org/
- http://www.publichealthdegree.com/resources/autism/
- http://www.autism.org/
- http://autismsocietyoregon.org/ – Autism Society of Orgeon
- Beyond Autism – Beyond Autism is a site by a parent that has “been there”. It contains over 2,700 working links to other resources.
- http://www.tacanow.org/ – 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.
- Dana’s View From the Inside – ASD recovery stories and many links including links for “Autism Business Cards” for parents.
- http://www.sarnet.org/ – An autism publication via e-mail that monitors all major news sources, websites and latest research for important and practical news.
- http://www.autismsource.org
- http://www.thegraycenter.org – The resource place for social story information.
- http://www.treatingautism.com – An organization to raise awareness and provide resources for biomedical approaches to treating autism.
- http://www.generationrescue.org/home – Jenny McCarthy’s Generation Rescue is an international movement of scientists, parents, and physicians researching the causes and treatments for autism, ADHD, and chronic illness, believing autism can be cured. Has a rescue family grant program!
- Sandbox Learning – Personalized Children’s Books
- O.A.S.I.S. – Asperger Syndrome Information and Support
- Tony Attwood’s Web Site – Resources, messages and issues related to Asperger’s Syndrome, and papers Tony Attwood has written on related topics.
- Vision Help – Vision therapy and sensory treatment
- AAPC Autism Aspergers Publishing Company – AAPC Autism Aspergers Publishing Company. Books, conferences, and resources.
- Autism Speaks Science, Awareness, Advocacy – Autism Speaks Science, Awareness, Advocacy, family Support. Has free autism video glossary
- IAN Community – IAN Facilitates research that will lead to advancements in understanding and treating ASD’s. IAN Community: library and meeting place to learn more about autism research. IAN Research: is scientific study where individuals with ASDs, their families, and qualified researchers throughout the United States
- Model Me Kids – Model Me Kids Videos to purchase for modeling social skills.
- http://www.wrongplanet.net/ – Web community with discussion forum, article selection, blogging and chatroom.
- www.worldallergy.org – Education in allergy tab has specific topic areas including asthma.
- www.foodallergy.org – Alerts, news feeds, information, research, camps, videos and recipes for food allergies.
- www.medlineplus.gov – Easy to find health topics for all ages, drugs and supplements, and videos and suggestions.
Biomedical Interventions:
- Enzyme Stuff – Information about digestive enzymes.
- www.gfcfdiet.com – Free resources for parents implementing the Gluten Free Casein Free diet
- GFCF Kids – A Yahoo discussion forum for parents of children on who are avoiding gluten and casein.
- MSG Myth.com – Learn about Monosodium Glutamate, MSG myths and it’s effects.
- The Pratt Family Gluten and Dairy Free Cookbook and Resources
- http://www.generationrescue.org/– Biomechanical interventions for metals, viruses
- www.SafeMinds.org – The Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders) is a private nonprofit organization founded to investigate and raise awareness of the risks to infants and children of exposure to mercury from medical products, including thimerosal in vaccines. Safe Minds supports research on the potential harmful effects of mercury and thimerosal.
Free Pictures or Crafts for Children
- ABC Teach – 5000+ free printable worksheets, geoboards etc.
- Beyond Autism: PECS, Pictures, Icon Page – This is probably the best place on the internet to start looking for PECS pictures!
- Do 2 Learn – Free picture schedules. Put on a paint stick for portability. Social skill picture cards, Street safety songs, social stories.
- LearningPage.com – Lesson plans, eBooks, worksheets and more (First need to register for free)
- DLTK’s Printable Crafts for Kids – Crafts, custom writing paper, memory cards, awards, cards, bingo cards, bookmarks, custom coupons and more. (Be advised: This site generates pop-up windows and tracking cookies that you may want to clear after looking at the site.)
- Preschool Printables – Free printable awards. games, bulletin boards, felt board stories, file folder games and more
- Speech Teach UK Resources – Written by a mother of a child with speech difficulties. She shares on her site, clipart of common activities and objects. Her use of color in her images makes the items very appealing to look at and use.
- The Toymaker – Awesome site to download for free, beautiful, full color paper toys to cut and fold.
Free Beginning Reading Sites:
- www.starfallcom – Starfall’s online reading program together with Starfall’s printed materials are available free as a public service.
- http://www.readamerica.net/parents.asp – Phono-Graphix method for teaching reading is based simply on the nature of the English code (letters are pictures of sounds and sounds can be more than one letter…).
- First Strokes – By Jan McCleskey, MA, OTR “The First Strokes Multi-Sensory Handwriting Program was designed by an occupational therapist to teach print handwriting on a multi-sensory basis. Inherent in the program, is large gross-motor (kinesthetic) learning of the lower and upper case, print letters.” Billy the Seal is also used to engage children in their learning.
- http://www.npr.org/templates/story – Writing Study Ties Autism to motor skill problems.
Handwriting Articles:
- Handwriting in the News – link to more articles.
Birth to 5 screening for parents: According to the National Survey of Children’s Health 2007, one in five households with children has a child with a special health care need. Easter Seals, through the generous support of the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, is now making it possible for parents and caregivers to easily track their children’s’ development through age 5 by means of a free online screening tool. It can be mailed directly to your e-mail address designated. Bring the copy in to your appointment!
- Do the screening: EasterSeals.com Site
Normal and Abnormal Development
“Pathways Awareness Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the benefit of early detection and early therapy for children with movement differences. This web site, designed for both parents and professionals, contains valuable information about children’s physical development including a growth and development chart where you can track a child’s physical, play and speech milestones from 3 to 15 months.” Also on the site is the Open Hearts Program dedicated to increasing awareness of barriers to participation in faith communities for persons with physical, mental, emotional or sensory differences.
Free Infant Vision Screening
The American Optometric Association and The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., have partnered to create InfantSEE®.a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide. Under this program, member optometrists will provide a comprehensive infant eye assessment within the first year of life as a no cost public health service.
Use of Baby Walkers
- “Baby Walkers: Considering the Full Price of Convenience” – By Michelle P. Pronsati, PT Advance Staff
- “Baby Walkers are Dangerous” – American Academy of Pediatrics Fact Sheet
W-Sitting: “Sitting with bottom on floor with legs out to either side in the shape of a W.”
- “What’s Wrong with W-Sitting?” -By Jean McNamara, PT this is on web site of huge California pediatric therapy .com
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/index.html – National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Search topics easily from A to Z.
Products and other needs
- Fun and Function
- http://www.yellowpagesforkids.com/help/or.htm – Oregon Yellow Pages for Kids
- Parents favorite finds: Life Jacket: “Puddle Jumper” for kids that do not like that confined feeling. Coast Guard Approved. Basic model (fits 30-50lbs) which includes arm bands and chest float, sown into one piece. The chest part buckles around the back, but there is no flotation around the back, which child may like. It also does not have a crotch strap.
Listening Programs: Therapeutic Listening®
- “Music As Therapy for Autistic Children” – Benefits of music and more sites.
Sensory Processing Disorders – Disorders of Sensory Integration are now called Sensory Processing Disorders
- http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html – A huge site developed by mom and OT re: life with a sensory child and all sorts of resources.
Articles of interest:
- Calming Effects of Deep Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students and Animals, by Temple Grandin, Ph. D. – From The Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Volume 2, Number 1, 1992
- The Incidence of Confirmed Allergies Among a Group of Tactile-Defensive Children – By AM Smith, MSc, DJL Venter, BSc Hons, NT Naidoo, PhD, and S. Roux, D Med Sci, HED [PDF Format]
- List of Heavy Work Suggestions for Parents, edited by Carrie Lippincott, OTR/L [PDF format]
Helpful Links
- Continuing Education in the Area of Sensory Processing Disorders
- Research information on Sensory Integration – From Child and Family Research Programs at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
- Sensory Processing In Everyday Life – This is a web site sponsored by the University of Kansas Medical Center, where Winnie Dunn, Ph.D., OTR, FAOTA. is a professor. This is a place to look for answers to questions about the different versions of the Sensory Profile. On the site is an extensive bibliographic information.
- SIGN – Sensory Integration Global Network – SIGN is made up of a group of volunteers who are dedicated to protecting the integrity and promoting the work of Dr. A. Jean Ayres in Sensory Integration Theory and Intervention. The originators of this group include former co-workers and students of Dr. Ayres, who are now among the leading experts in the field, and occupational therapists committed to providing occupational therapy services from a sensory integrative perspective in a manner consistent with Ayres’ core principles.
- Touch Research Institutes – “The Touch Institutes are dedicated to studying the effects of touch therapy. The TRIs have researched the effects of massage therapy at all stages of life, from newborn to senior citizens. In these studies the TRIs have shown that touch therapy has many positive effects.”
- Science Daily: Autism News – Latest research news.
- 211 Info – Health for your whole life. Keeping people and communities healthy means more than access to medical care. At the nonprofit 211info, we promote Health for Your Whole Life by easily connecting people to nonprofit and public services in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Products Available
Sensory Needs:
- www.cameronspecialt.com – Cameron’s Special T’s – Weighted t-shirts. Washable.
- www.gerbing.com – -Gerbing’s Heated Clothing for winter.
- www.sockcompany.com – Variety of smart knit seamless socks.
- Therawear.com – smart knit seamless socks without latex specifically for sensory processing differences.
- http://www.softclothing.net/ – Variety of sensory friendly clothing, especially for kids.
Products Available
Other Needs:
- www.keepingpace.com – Fashionable children’s orthopedic footwear (socks and shoes) designed for AFO’s.
- www.pocketsweatshirts.com – Pocket sweatpants and shirts to put calendars and inhalers etc. Teen/adult sizes.
- www.snowshack.com – seamless tops and pants.
- www.special-clothes.com – Brace socks, adaptive closures and styles of clothing, G-tube pockets, incontinence garments.
- www.minimiracles.ca – Mini Miracles adaptive children’s clothing:100% Peruvian cotton with adaptations sensitive to to child’s sensitivities/comfort (G-tube access).
- www.llmedico.com – Incontinence garments, covers and pads.
- www.urincontrol.com – UR-in-Control – Washable incontinence garments, bed and chair pads, associated with KOOSHIES.
- www.quietheadphones.com – Comfortable headsets to block out sounds for the hypersensitive child.
- Attention Deficit Disorder, Vision and Learning
- Children’s Vision Network – A site with great visual information by the Kansas Vision Development Center, Wichita, Kansas
- Eye Exercises Just for Fun – Also from the Kansas Vision Development Center
- Parents Active for Vision Education (P.A.V.E.®) – “is a national non-profit education, resource and support organization whose mission is to raise public awareness of the crucial relationship between vision and achievement.”
- Vision3D.com
- Inspiration Software Software programs for visual learners grades k and up. Free trials
www.cerebralpalsyguide.com – Learn more about Cerebral Palsey, get resources, and support.