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Children's Medical Services - Special services for children with special needs
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National Resources and Experts


AbleNet, Assistive Technology/Devices - educational and technical solutions to help children and adults with disabilities lead productive and fulfilled lives.
Website: www.ablenetinc.com
Email: customerservice@ablenetinc.com
Phone: (800) 322-0956

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) - provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for support services. APD also maintains a resource directory as an informational service to help individuals with disabilities learn about available resources and organizations in their local communities.
Website: http://apd.myflorida.com
Community Resource Directory: https://resourcedirectory.apd.myflorida.com/
Phone: 1 (866) 273-2273

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) - the national professional association established to represent the interests and concerns of occupational therapy practitioners and students of occupational therapy and to improve the quality of occupational therapy services.
Website: www.aota.org/
Phone: 301-652-6611

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) - an individual membership professional organization representing member physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy.
Website: https://www.apta.org/
Phone:(800) 999-APTA (2782)

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) -the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students.
Website: www.asha.org/
Phone: Members (800) 498-2071 or non-members (800) 638-8255

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information - information and technical assistance about the Americans with Disabilities Act
Website: www.ada.gov
Phone: (800) 514-0301 (voice)
Phone: (800) 514-0383 (TTY)

Autism Speaks - funding for 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
Website: www.autismspeaks.org
Phone: (888) 288-4762
En Espanol (888) 772-9050

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive - is a coordinated federal effort that will help families and providers to encourage healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for children, and support for the families and providers who care for them..
Website: www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/child-health-development/watch-me-thrive/families

Center for Parent Information and Resources - resources and products related to children with disabilities
Website: www.parentcenterhub.org
Phone: (973) 642-8100

Division for Early Childhood (DEC) - promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities.
Website: http://www.dec-sped.org/

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) - help families understand their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), connect with other families, and find high-quality resources
Website: http://ectacenter.org/families.asp
Phone: (919) 962-2001
Email: ectacenter@unc.edu

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - promotes high-quality early learning for children birth through age 8
Website: www.naeyc.org/
Phone: (800) 424-2460

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities - provides information about unique abilities, including descriptions, risk factors, signs and symptoms; screenings, diagnosis; data and statistics; research and related articles. The information is easily accessible and organized in searchable categories.
Website: https://cdc.gov/ncbddd/index.html
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)

National Down Syndrome Society - advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
Website: www.ndss.org/
Phone: (800) 221-4602

Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Education - focus on interventions associated with the healthy mental, behavioral, communication, pre-literacy, social-emotional, and interpersonal development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with or at risk for developmental disabilities.
Website: www.puckett.org/researchtrainingcenter.php
Phone: (800) 824-1182

Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) - creates products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and service providers apply best practices to improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children
Website: www.challengingbehavior.org/
Phone: (813) 974-6100

What Works Clearinghouse - review of research on the different programs, products, practices, and policies in education
Website: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/default.aspx
Phone: (866) 503-6114

Wrightslaw - information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities
Website: www.wrightslaw.com/info/ei.index.htm

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families - a national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.
Website: www.zerotothree.org/
Phone: (202) 638-1144



We hope the information provided is helpful to you. Send any questions or requests to be added to the directory to: EarlyStepsDirectory

Also available is a Print Version of the Early Steps Directory.

For more information call (800) 218-0001