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Getting Started

This page is designed to provide a list of internet sites that are a good place to begin when looking for information affecting children with disabilities. The links on this page (and all pages on this website) are arranged alphabetically.

It is also important to know how to look for information, so this page also contains links to some search engines, directories and subject gateway sites, as well as to sites that provide information about searching for information on the internet.

General disability sites

disABILITY Information and Resources
http://www.makoa.org/

This site contains a long, long list of links, covering practically every disability-related subject imaginable. Quite comprehensive and well worth a visit, it does require some patience to sift through its vast holdings.

Disability Resources on the Internet
http://www.disabilityresources.org/

Disability Resources, Inc. is a non-profit organization that organizes and publishes this website and a monthly newsletter, as well. The site is comprehensive and easy to navigate. The DRM Webwatcher is an index to hundreds of disability-related subjects. The "Just for Parents (or Service Providers)" page is especially fine as a starting point. Don't be put off by the "updated 3/2000" note on the top of the page: the site is current.

Exceptional Parent Magazine
http://www.eparent.com/

This is the web version of Exceptional Parent Magazine, which has been an ongoing resource for families with children with any disability for many years. Although it is commercial, there is always an abundance of resources and timely articles.

Family Village
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/

Family Village is an excellent place to begin a search for information. There is a vast library, arranged alphabetically by disability, that provides links to basic information, web sites, list-servs and organizations. Sections such as Community Center, School or Hospital contain links to subject-related information. It is simple to use and is kept current. There is also a Bulletin Board page to facilitate communication among parents.

NICHCY (National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)
http://www.nichcy.org/

NICHY is a national information and referral organization and its site contains many valuable publications, as well as a database to enable the searcher to find national organizations that provide information to families of children with disabilities. Its State Resource Sheets, with their lists of governmental and non-profit organizations that provide services to families of children with disabilities, are invaluable.

Information about searching and the internet

It can be difficult and frustrating when looking for information across the vast reaches of the internet. Which search engine is best to use? And for what? There are some excellent sites that evaluate search engines, and other that offer tutorials in how to make your searches work well.

Bright Planet
http://www.brightplanet.com/deepcontent/tutorials/Search/index.asp

Bright Planet, a search engine that offers access to the "deep web," has an extensive tutorial on web searching.

The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/div/websearching/

The IPL's "Web Searching" page provides brief overviews of some of the most popular search engines.

The Librarian's Index to the Internet
http://lii.org/search/file/search

The Librarian's Index to the Internet is good place to begin a search for information of any kind. Its "Searching the Internet" page is especially rich in annotated links and resources.

Search Engine Watch
http://searchenginewatch.com/

Long famous for its evaluation of search engines, this site provides a wealth of information: listings, ratings, searching tips and more.

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 July 18, 2008 .