Resources For Parents
We believe compassion and caring can make a difference.
How do I plan for my child’s transition into adulthood? How can I get my church to pay attention to people with disabilities? Resources abound to help you, your school or church, or your business or organization reach out to, include, and assist people who live with disabilities. The resources below align with our vision of helping people with disabilities grow, learn and thrive.
All Belong
All Belong Center for Inclusive Education is the leading catalyst for creating and maintaining inclusive communities for persons of all abilities.
Autism Certification Series
An online video-based learning solution that provides everyone in your family with practical information, real-life examples, and skills they can use to care for and support loved ones with autism spectrum disorder from early childhood through young adulthood.
Autism Internet Modules
AIM is designed to provide high-quality information and professional development for anyone who supports, instructs, works with, or lives with someone with autism. Each module guides you thorough case studies, instructional videos, pre- and post-assessments, a glossary, and much more. AIM modules are available at no cost. If you would like to receive credit for your time on AIM, certificate and credit options are available for a fee.
Council of Exceptional Children (CEC)
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.
Council of Exceptional Children
Disability Employment
The Federal Government is actively recruiting and hiring persons with disabilities. We offer a variety of exciting jobs, competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for career advancement.
Interacting with Autism
A short video which gives the viewer a glimse into sensory overload (which is a common experience of someone who has autism).
Sensory Overload (Interacting with Autism Project) from Miguel Jiron on Vimeo.
IRIS Center
The IRIS Center is a national center, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, to create resources about evidence-based practices for use in preservice preparation and professional development programs. IRIS then disseminates and offers trainings on those resources. The IRIS Center is dedicated to improving education outcomes for all children, especially those with disabilities birth through age twenty-one, through the use of effective evidence-based practices and interventions.
Joni and Friends
The namesake of founder and president, Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends has grown into an international ministry that includes a “Wheels for the World” outreach, as well as regional offices that promote the inclusion and support of people with disabilities. Their website includes blog posts, articles, a research and best practices journal, and ideas and suggestions useful for people who have or know someone who lives with a disability.
Key Ministry
Key Ministry promotes meaningful connection between churches and families of kids with disabilities for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Since 2002, Key Ministry has provided knowledge, innovation and experience to the worldwide church as it ministers to and with families of kids with disabilities. Key Ministry is also helping families become connected with local churches where parents and children can worship and grow in faith alongside other Christ-followers.
LetterCase
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation’s Understanding a Down Syndrome Diagnosis is an accurate, balanced, and up-to-date booklet for use when delivering a diagnosis of Down syndrome and is part of the National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI). The booklet is the only prenatal resource to have been reviewed by representatives of the national medical and Down syndrome organizations and is available in both print and digital formats. You can request a printed copy through your medical provider or download an ePub for your smartphone, tablet, or desktop.
Learning Disabilities Association of America
LDAA is a national association that provides access to resources; advocacy for awareness, inclusion, and policies; professional development opportunities. Since 1963, LDA has provided support to people with learning disabilities, their parents, teachers and other professionals with cutting edge information on learning disabilities, practical solutions, and a comprehensive network of resources. These services make LDA the leading resource for information on learning disabilities.
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Down Syndrome Society
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.
National Down Syndrome Society
Parables Church Disability Ministry
Parables is an interactive, hands-on, “special-needs friendly” weekly worship service led by Rev. Leslie Neugent, open to anyone and everyone. Parables is designed for “the little red fish in all of us”—embracing all people, those with special needs and those without. All are welcome!
Parables Church Disability Ministry
PTA
PTA is comprised of millions parents, teachers, grandparents, caregivers, foster parents and other caring adults who share a commitment to improving the education, health and safety of all children. The special education toolkit has an assortment of tools that assist families of children with disabilities.
RTI Action Network
The National Center for Learning Disabilities identified seven essential, evidence-based components to whole system reform to benefit all students. Discover how these components contribute to the effective implementation of a Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Response to Intervention (RTI). Site developed by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, providing access to implementation tools, resources for schools and families, and online professional development.
The 5 Stages
The 5 Stages is a tool designed to help you, your family, your church, and your community identify where you are on the journey of “disability attitudes.” It starts conversations and is focused on change at the heart-level. Doing so means we focus less on demanding rights and defining our value as people with disabilities, and help other people see the Kingdom God is building, and our place in that Kingdom alongside our fellow believers.
Non-discrimination Policy:
It is the Standard of Elim Christian Services to admit children and adults to agency services regardless of race, color, national and ethnic origin, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to agency service recipients. Elim Christian Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered policies. Read Full Disclosure.