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Parent-to-Parent Sites

Some of the best websites that feature resources for families of children with disabilities have been created by parents or caregivers. The sites included on this page are those that represent the efforts of families or parent groups or that can connect families with support networks.

Beach Center on Disability
http://www.beachcenter.org/

This site at the University of Kansas offers online access to parents and professionals. You can access their online information data base. The site also has links to other relevant organizations.

Family Connect
http://www.familyconnect.org/

FamilyConnect is an online, multimedia community created by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI). This site gives parents of visually impaired children a place to support each other, share stories and concerns, and link to local resources. The site also features a mom-authored blog, inspiring video testimonials from families, and articles authored by parents and experts in the field of blindness on multiple disabilities, technology, education, and more. From the personal to the professional, families will find all the resources they need to raise their children from birth to adulthood.

Family Voices
http://www.familyvoices.org/

Family Voices is a national grassroots network of families and friends speaking on behalf of children with special health care needs. Their site provides links to their wonderful publications, newsletters and advocacy alerts. Information is also available in Spanish.

Federation for Children with Special Needs
http://www.fcsn.org/

Although this Massachusetts-based parent organization concentrates on state issues, it has a lot of worthwhile information for parents of children with disabilities anywhere. Its link to "All Kids Count" alone makes it worth a visit.

Insurance Help for Autism
http://www.insurancehelpforautism.com/

This website was created as a starting point to help California parents obtain insurance coverage for autism related therapies, which include, but are not limited to: Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, etc. This is based on our personal experience getting coverage for our son's various therapies. I am just a mom and have no legal training or background in the insurance industry. My statements and advice are not intended to replace your own research. I have included copies of the documents that helped us along the way. This may not help everyone, but I hope that it gives you the information and tools you will need to obtain insurance coverage for your child.

Mothers From Hell
http://www.mothersfromhell2.org/

In addition to offering information, Mothers from Hell is the place to come for "Humor" and to subscribe to the "Brimstone Bulletin."

MUMS
http://www.netnet.net./mums/

MUMS provides parent-to-parent matching through its network of families of children with various disabilities. You can consult their database to see if there are other families with children with a matching disability, and contact MUMS to arrange a connection. They have a "Links" page with good disability-specific resources.

My Autism Team
http://www.myautismteam.com/

MyAutismTeam is the social network for parents of children with autism. Here you can share daily experiences & questions, and find recommendations of local autism specialists (from doctors and OTs, to barbers and dentists).

My Name is Not Autism
http://www.mynameisnotautism.blogspot.com/

Autism, Autistic, Aspergers - they are all "A" words. Another one is Alone. This blog is all about one mom, one parent, reaching out to the world and sharing her fears, her challenges, and her triumphs as she helps her son navigate his world with the hope that someone else out there feels the same way.

National Fathers Network
http://www.fathersnetwork.org/

This site is designed for fathers raising children with special needs, but it is good for non-fathers, too. Its news, resources and links are great. There is a bulletin board and information in Spanish.

PACER Center
http://www.pacer.org/

This is one of the most valuable websites out there for families of children with disabilities. PACER is a Minnesota-based PTI (parent and training information center) and their site is full of articles and publications. Information on behavior, transition and juvenile justice are only a few of the resources on this site They have an excellent "Links" section, too.

SFkids.org
http://www.SFkids.org/

SFkids.org is an information resource created by San Francisco parents for San Francisco parents. It includes over 60 pages of content and lists over 1200 organizations that provide services in San Francisco, including art, music, and sports classes; social services; and more. SFKids.org features the City's most comprehensive Family Events Calendar.

Special Child
http://www.specialchild.com/

Special Child is an on-line magazine/resource developed by a mother of child with special needs. Its Disorder Zone provides brief descriptions of many individual disabilities, sometimes including personal stories.

Technical Assistance Alliance (TAA) for Parent Centers
http://www.taalliance.org/

TAA provides assistance to PTIs throughout the country. This site is a good place to visit to harvest information about PTIs and special education issues. Don't overlook their "Helpful Resources" section.

The resources on these pages are for your information. These listings are not necessarily comprehensive, nor are they an endorsement. If you find that any information is incorrect, if you would like to offer feedback or if you know of additional resources that may be helpful to include, please contact us.

This page was last updated January 6, 2012 .