Resources
We have identified several helpful resources for families that we believe will be useful to you. If you have additional questions or other resources that you have found helpful, please let us know by contacting Michele Ryan, Lead Speech-Language Pathologist at 859-525-1128, ext. 406 or by e-mailing her at michele.ryan@cfnky.org.
General Resources
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Consumer Site: http://www.aota.org/Consumers.aspx
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. This section of the AOTA site includes many resources on healthy living for families and patients.
Kids Health: http://kidshealth.org
Kids Health is the #1 most visited site for kids’ health and development. The site has areas for parents, for kids and for teens.
American Speech-Language Hearing Association: www.asha.org
From the website: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively. Here you will find resources to help you understand communication and communication disorders.
Our Special Kids: www.ourspecialkids.com
The site describes itself as “a virtual community for parents of children with special needs.” It includes a parents’ forum, personal stories and blog.
Autism
The Autism Society: www.autism-society.org
From the website: The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. They do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.
Autism Speaks: www.cureautismnow.org
From the website: Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Their longtime friend Bernie Marcus donated $25 million to help financially launch the organization. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy: www.ucp.org
From the website: United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. UCP and its nearly 100 affiliates have a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with a spectrum of disabilities by providing services and support to more than 176,000 children and adults every day.
Down Syndrome
National Down Syndrome Society: www.ndss.org
From the website: The mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The National Down Syndrome Society envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities.
Learning Disabilities/Special Needs
National Center for Learning Disabilities: www.ncld.org
From the website: The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) works to ensure that the nation's 15 million children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities have every opportunity to succeed in school, work, and life.
Council for Exceptional Children: www.cec.sped.org
From the website: The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
Speech & Hearing
The Stuttering Foundation: www.stutteringhelp.org
From the website: Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, established and endowed the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947. The Stuttering Foundation provides a toll-free helpline, 800-992-9392, and free online resources on its website, including services, referrals and support to people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.
SpeechEasy: www.speecheasy.com
SpeechEasy represents the latest in technology to help stutterers, and is prescribed by Speech and Hearing of Northern Kentucky. SpeechEasy is an inconspicuous device, fitting in the ear canal much like a hearing aid, and using delayed auditory feedback. SpeechEasy is similar in appearance to a hearing aid. However, rather than amplifying sound, SpeechEasy alters sounds that go through the device so that you hear your voice at a slight time delay and at a different pitch.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America: www.apraxia-kids.org
From the website: The national nonprofit organization representing the needs and interests of children and families affected by apraxia. The mission of the organization is to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia, so that each child has the best opportunity to develop speech.
Recommended Reading
The Parent's Guide to Speech and Language Problems –Debbie Feit
Publisher’s description: Your definitive guide for helping your speech-impaired child--cowritten by two in-the-trenches
experts.
When a child has communication problems – diagnosed or not – parents are first looking for a place to go for help. The Parent’s Guide to Speech and Language Problems is a one-stop resource, offering not just the most up-to-date medical information but also advice and encouragement from a mom who’s been there. Author Debbie Feit has two children with speech problems and knows what it takes to survive and thrive day-to-day as a family. No other book on the market can match this one for its combination of clinical research and real-world, hands-on parenting solutions.
The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorders – Carol Kranowitz
and Lucy Jane Miller
Publisher’s description: The Out-of-Sync Child broke new ground by identifying Sensory Processing Disorder, a common but frequently misdiagnosed problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses. This newly revised edition features additional information from recent research on vision and hearing deficits, motor skill problems, nutrition and picky eaters, ADHA, autism and other related disorders.