ABOARD 

Advisory Board on Autism & Related Disorders provides information and guidance relating to diagnosis, treatment, educational and vocational needs, medical assistance and family support.  ABOARD’s Family Support Services provide administrative and financial support to 66 family support groups in 36 Pennsylvania counties, including a “parent-to-parent” network linking experienced families with those whose family members have been recently diagnosed.  ABOARD’s Information Services disseminates free, comprehensive information packets to families of newly diagnosed children with autism, staffs a toll-free guidance and information hotline, and maintains a website and informational e-mail system. With a lending library of over 700 titles and a quarterly newsletter, families can keep abreast of the latest news and treatments of the day.
412.781.4116    -  800.827.9385 —  http://www.aboard.org/ 412.781.4117      

Achieva

Celebrating Abilities. Exceeding Expectations.

Achieva commits to excellence in lifelong services for people with disabilities and their families.

Achieva envisions the day when people with disabilities fully participate in their communities.

Here is a list of all of the services that Achieva offers.

ADHDNews.com

Support group for ADHD children and adults

ADHDNews.com has hundreds of pages of helpful information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The best places to get help are our message or discussion boards. They are visited from people all over the world. Our 8000 members are friendly and helpful. It's easy and free to sign up on our ADHD Message boards. In a short minute you can post a question or comment and chances are one of our members may be able to help you. Stop by our forum and read through some of the posts.

The Advocacy Institute

The Advocacy Institute is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the development of products and services that work to improve the lives of people with disabilities, particularly learning disabilities.

Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd)

The Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) supports state and local education agencies in developing systems that effectively integrate instructional technology so that all students achieve high educational standards. CITEd provides this support through innovative professional development, technical assistance, communities of practice, and web-based resources.

Autism Link

Information and Support for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Link's mission is to provide opportunities for inclusion, information, and support; to keep parents, family members of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and autistic individuals apprised of news and information, help them in their quest for services, and also in their quest for camaraderie with others in the autism community. We seek to directly help parents by providing opportunities for support, diagnosis, therapeutic services, inclusion and information, free of charge.
(412) 377-8778
support@autismlink.com
Fax: (724) 934-2040
www.autismlink.com

Children & Adults with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)is the nation's leading non-profit organization serving individuals with AD/HD and their families. CHADD has over 16,000 members in 200 local chapters throughout the U.S. Chapters offer support for individuals, parents, teachers, professionals, and others.

Countless individuals and families dealing with AD/HD turn to CHADD for information, public advocacy, and support. The lifeblood of CHADD is its dedicated volunteers throughout the country who play an integral part in the organization's success.

Whether you are seeking the most recent research about AD/HD ... looking for help for yourself, your child, or your family ... or seeking to make a difference in public policy ... CHADD can make a difference!

Colorin Colorado!

Colorin Colorado is a free, web-based, service that provides information, activities, and advice for educators, and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners (ELLs).

The name of the service, Colorin Colorado!, comes from a playful phrase that is said at the end of many stories in Spanish-speaking countries. There's no literal translation, but the phrase is similar to ...and that's the end of the story! or ...and they lived happily every after.

Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE)

CADRE, the National Center on Dispute Resolution, encourages the use of mediation and other collaborative strategies to resolve disagreements about special education and early intervention programs.

Connect Information Service 

Operates a referral hotline, which provides information about services for children with disabilities birth to 21.  Provides list of free literature.  800-692-7288 or (717) 657-5899

 

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

Services Provided:

  • Professional development opportunities and resources
  • 17 divisions for specialized information
  • Journals and newsletters with information on new research findings, classroom practices that work, federal legislation, and policies
  • Conventions and conferences
  • Special education publications

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates and parents. Our primary mission is to secure high quality educational services for children with disabilities.

COPAA is premised on the belief that the key to effective educational programs for children with disabilities is collaboration -as equals- by parents and educators. This is the premise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the federal statutes that guarantee children with disabilities a free, appropriate public education.

Education Law Center of Pennsylvania (ELC-PA)

For thirty years, the Education Law Center (ELC) has worked to make good public education a reality for Pennsylvania's most vulnerable students - poor children, children of color, kids with disabilities, English language learners, children in foster homes and institutions, and others.

ELC began as - and still is - a legal advocacy organization. Through our Help Line, we offer free assistance to thousands of families each year. Our staff provides information on the legal rights of public school students, help with problem-solving, written materials, and contacts. In some cases involving large numbers of children, we provide legal representation (though we are, of course, able to do this in only a relatively small number of cases). Our achievements include significant legal victories for public school families.

But ELC is more than a law office. Over time, our strategies have come to include not just legal work, but also training and information-sharing; advocating for children in Harrisburg and Washington; and working with media. We're especially proud of our growing number of collaborations with citizen groups around the state, with whom we are seeking change both locally and at the state level.

EPILEPSY FOUNDATION Western/Central PA (EFWCP) 

is a private, non-profit service organization providing public education and supportive services to individuals and families affected by epilepsy/seizure disorders.  Pgh-412-261-5880    (800) 361-5885Erie- (814) 451-1135     Johnstown- (814) 262-7494 www.efwp.org

The Family Advocacy Network (FAN) 

provides information, resources and referrals to individuals with disabilities.  FAN gives families the opportunity to network and exchange ideas on how to become effective advocates.  FAN also assists families, caregivers and professionals to make effective decisions regarding technology, medical intervention, education, community inclusion and other related issues pertaining to children and families.  For further information or to sign up for the Family Advocacy Network email,  contact Connie Campbell at 412-683-7100ext. 303 or Mary Ann McGuirk at 412-697-7434ext. 111.

The Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)

The FAPE project is a partnership that aims to improve the educational outcomes for children with disabilities. It links families, advocates, and self-advocates to information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The project is designed to address the information needs of the 6 million families throughout the Country whose children with disabilities receive special education services.


Heart to Heart 

"Affecting Children Through Empowering Parents" A Network of support and empowerment. Helping families of children experiencing severe behavior and mental health disabilities" - Heart 2 Heart is an alliance of parents and professionals in Western Pennsylvania intent on affecting their communities for the benefit of families and cildrent experiencing the effects of behaviorial and mental health disabilities.  They work to bring healing through education, advocacy, support, resources and training with a specialization in the adoptive and foster family dynamic.  Heart to Heart offers parent support meetings on a monthly basis as well as one on one mentoring and peer trainings.  Heart 2 Heart is able to work independently within the community by forming relationships with those already working hard for families by offering them a "parents voice" to help guide policy and decision making within local services.
Contact Carol Alden at 1-814-758-1681 or  admin@heart2heartpa.org.   Website:  www.heart2heartpa.org

Learning Disability Association of Pennsylvania (LDAP)

LDAP is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advance the education and general well-being of persons with normal or potentially normal or above intelligence who have learning disablities. Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Pennsylvania is a parent-driven organization offering advocacy and support to children and adults with learning disabilities and other related neurological disorders. 610-458-8193  http://www.ldapa.org/          

Learning Disability Association of America (LDAA)

In March of 1963, parents of children with learning disabilities representing local support groups from around the country gathered in Chicago for a national conference. These concerned families organized into a national organization which was incorporated in 1964 as the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (ACLD). From those beginnings, the Learning Disabilities Association of America has grown to serve tens of thousands of members with learning disabilities, their families and the professionals who work with them.

LDA's mission is to create opportunities for success for all individuals affected by learning disabilities and to reduce the incidence of learning disabilities in future generations.

LDA visualizes a world in which:

  • All individuals with learning disabilities are empowered to thrive and participate fully in society
  • The incidence of learning disabilities is reduced
  • Learning disabilities are universally understood and effectively addressed

Learning Disabilities OnLine

The world's leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD.

LD OnLine.org is the world's leading web site on learning disabilities and ADHD, serving more than 220,000 parents, teachers, and other professionals each month.

LD OnLine seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD. The site features hundreds of helpful articles, monthly columns by noted experts, first person essays, children's writing and artwork, a comprehensive resource guide, a set of very active bulletin boards, and a Yellow Pages referral directory of professionals, schools, and products.

Local Task Force on the Right to Education 

is a group of parents, school administrators and agencies working to improve special education services in the public schools. To find your Local Task Force, call the State Task Force Office at 1-800-692-7275 , 717-234-7132

MENTAL HEALTH ASSOC. (MHA) of Allegheny County

works on behalf of mental health through advocacy, education and public policy. 412-391-3820, Toll-Free: 877-391-3820 mha@mhaac.net   

MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION of Pennsylvania 

For information about other Mental Health Assoc. locations in PA, visit  http://www.mhapa.org or email info@mhapa.org.

National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCRESt)

The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCRESt), a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, provides technical assistance and professional development to close the achievement gap between students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and their peers, and reduce inappropriate referrals to special education. The project targets improvements in culturally responsive practices, early intervention, literacy, and positive behavioral supports.

The mission of NCCRESt is to support state and local school systems to assure a quality, culturally responsive education for all students.

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)

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.

NCLD provides essential information to parents, professionals and individuals with learning disabilities, promotes research and programs to foster effective learning and advocates for policies to protect and strengthen educational rights and opportunities.

National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI)

The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI), funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), advances learning opportunities for individuals with disabilities by fostering technology innovation. We seek to broaden and enrich the field by providing resources and promoting partnerships for the development of tools and applications by developers, manufacturers, producers, publishers and researchers.

NCTI seeks to broaden and enrich the field through the following objectives:

  • To cultivate a collaborative network
  • To promote innovative technology-related products that reach the marketplace
  • To analyze needs, issues, trends, and promising technology innovation and transfer approaches

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)

NICHCY serves the nation as a central source of information on:

  • Disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth
  • IDEA, the law authorizing special education
  • No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities)
  • Research-based information on effective educational practices

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC)

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Our mission is to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities (birth through five) and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate, and family-centered supports and services.

National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD)

Founded in 1975, the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD) is a national committee of representatives of organizations committed to the education and welfare of individuals with learning disabilities. Over 350,000 individuals constitute the membership of the organizations represented by the NJCLD.

The National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities meets twice a year to consider and discuss contemporary issues in learning disabilities, and to develop and disseminate reports and statements related to these issues. The major purposes of the NJCLD are:

  1. To facilitate communication and cooperation among the member organizations.
  2. To provide an interdisciplinary forum for the review of issues for educational and governmental agencies, and act as a resource committee for those agencies and other interested groups.
  3. To provide a response to national issues in the area of learning disabilities when and as the need arises.
  4. To seek agreement on major issues/problems pertinent to the area of learning disabilities.
  5. To prepare and disseminate statements to various publics so as to clarify issues in the area of learning disabilities.
  6. To identify research and service delivery needs in learning disabilities.

Native American Families Together Parent Center

Nation-wide resource for Native American families, tribes, communities, parent centers, and others.

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers.

Office of Special Eduaction and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is committed to improving results and outcomes for people with disabilities of all ages. In supporting President Bush's No Child Left Behind agenda and the New Freedom Initiative, OSERS provides a wide array of supports to parents and individuals, school districts and states in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation and research.

By providing funding to programs that serve infants, toddlers, children and adults with disabilities, OSERS works to ensure that these individuals are not left behind ... in school, in employment, in life. OSERS also provides funds to programs that offer information and technical assistance to parents of infants, toddlers and children with disabilities, as well as members of the learning community who serve these individuals.

Online Asperger Syndrome Information & Support

As parents of children who are diagnosed with AS, we understand how essential is it that families of children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, educators who teach children with AS, professionals working with individuals diagnosed with AS, and individuals with AS who are seeking support, have access to information. Although recently reminded that there is no oasis or paradise for those with Asperger Syndrome, we sincerely hope that they, along with parents and professionals, will find a bit of shade and support via the information presented and links available at this site.

PA Families, Inc. (PFI) 

is Statewide Family Network is funded by the Substance Abuse/Mental Health Services Administration. The goal is to network support groups, advocates, parent mentors and organizations that assist  families who are raising children with emotional or behavioral disorders. We identify issues that are common to families and raise awareness about supports and unmet need. We provide lists of supports for parents and providers available in county/region/state.  For further information, call 1-800-947-4941or email http://www.pafamiliesinc.com/index.cfm.

Parents Involved Network of PA (PIN of PA)

Parents Involved Network of Pennsylvania (PIN) is an organization that assists parents or caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. PIN provides information, helps parents find services and will advocate on their behalf with any of the public systems that serve children. These include the mental health system, education, and other state and local child-serving agencies.

PIN is here to assist parents of children who:

  • Have emotional or behavioral disorders
  • Are receiving mental health system services
  • Are receiving special education services
  • Are in the juvenile justice system

Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania

Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania is a network created by families for families of children and adults with special needs. We connect families in similar situations with one another so that they may share experiences, offer practical information and/or support.

Partners in Policy Making

Partners in Policymaking was created in Minnesota by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities in 1987. Partners is an innovative, competency based leadership training program for adults with disabilities and parents of young children with developmental disabilities.

The purpose of the program is twofold: To teach best practices in disability, and the competencies of influencing public officials.

Parent Education Network (PEN) 

is a coalition of parents of children representing a range of disabilities and ages. PEN is the Parent and Training Information Center serving  Eastern Pennsylvania. PEN believes strongly that knowledgeable, skillful parents impact effectively on early intervention, special education, and adult services for their child with disabilities. PEN's Parent Training Projects promote mutual respect between parents and professionals for the knowledge, skills, and abilities each contributes to develop appropriate educational and service delivery outcomes for the child and adult with disabilities. PEN's services are available to parents and professionals.  www.parentednet.org

Parent Education Network, 2107 Industrial Highway, York, PA 17402
717-600-0100V/TTY or 1-800-522-5827V/TTY or 1-800-441-5028 (Spanish), 717-600-8101 fax

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)

The mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Education is to lead and serve the educational community to enable each individual to grow into an inspired, productive, fulfilled lifelong learner.

Pennsylvania Parents and Caregivers Resource Network (PPCRN)

is a fourteen year old statewide cross-disability, grassroots network that supports parents' and caregivers' efforts to help their children and adult family members with developmental disabilities.  PPCRN and its POWER Network help families to form local groups and to network with other parents and family caregivers in their regions and across the state. They promote inclusionary practices in all areas of life among families of children and adults with developmental disabilities.  Visit www.ppcrn.org or call 1-888-572-7368for information about developmental disabilities, special education concerns, consultation for developing parent groups or information about workshops.

Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PASILC)

The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council is a statewide council established by federal mandate and a Pennsylvania Statute. It consists of 15 voting members, who are appointed by the Governor. Other members include ex-officio representatives of the Division of Voc Rehab and Blind Services and the Pennsylvania Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center. In compliance with state law, a majority of the voting members are persons with disabilities. Additional representatives are from Centers for Independent Living, Advocacy, other consumer or independent living organizations and various state agencies that are impacted by Title VII of The Rehabilitation Act.

The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council exists to use its collective power and legal mandate to develop and secure public policies that ensure civil rights and expand options for all people with disabilities in all aspects of life.

Pennsylvania Training & Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)

A Professional Development Network

The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education. PaTTAN supports the Department of Education's efforts to lead and serve the educational community by offering professional development that builds the capacity of local educational agencies to meet students' needs. PaTTAN's primary focus is special education. However, services are also provided to support Early Intervention, student assessment, tutoring and other partnership efforts, all designed to help students succeed. www.pattan.k12.pa.us/

Reading Rockets

Launching Young Readers

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.

The Reading Rockets project is comprised of PBS television programs, available on videotape and DVD; online services, including the web sites ReadingRockets.org and ColorinColorado.org; and professional development opportunities. Reading Rockets is an educational initiative of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital, and is funded by a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

Regional Resource & Federal Centers Network (RRFC)

The Regional Resource and Federal Centers (RRFC) Network is made up of the six Regional Resource Centers for Special Education (RRC) and the Federal Resource Center (FRC).

The six RRCs and the FRC are funded by the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to assist state education agencies in the systemic improvement of education programs, practices, and policies that affect children and youth with disabilities. These centers offer consultation, information services, technical assistance, training, and product development.

STOMP

The Parent and Information Center for Military Families
http://www.stompproject.org/

UPKIDS of Lawrence County 

Community organization in New Castle, PA, that provides support and education to families who have a member with Down syndrome. (724) 658-4250

U.S. Department of Education

Promoting educational excellence for all Americans.

The U.S. Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education.

Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities 

is a Wright’s Law website with lots of information.  Find educational consultants, psychologists, educational diagnosticians, health care providers, academic therapists, tutors, speech language therapists, occupational therapists, coaches, advocates, and attorneys for children with disabilities on the Yellow Pages for Kids for your state. You will also find special education schools, learning centers, treatment  programs,  parent groups, respite care, community centers, grassroots organizations, and government programs for children with disabilities.   www.yellowpagesforkids.com

 Please contact us with any questions or concerns at info@pealcenter.org.