Looking for free resources to help you feel informed and supported as you navigate life as the parent of a special-needs child? We’ve gathered a list of some of the top organizations, published resources, and downloadables to help you on your journey.
PACER
Through more than 30 projects, PACER provides individual assistance, workshops, publications, and other resources to help families make decisions about education and other services for their child or young adult with disabilities. In addition, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides resources designed to benefit all students, including those with disabilities.
Understood
This free online resource provides families with practical tools and advice for their child’s academic, social and emotional journey. As the leading organization dedicated to providing solutions and support for the one in five children in the U.S. who have learning and thinking differences, such as dyslexia and ADHD. Working with 70+ experts representing a wide range of fields, the nonprofit offers more than 3,000 articles, printables, and other resources in English and Spanish.
Child Mind Institute
The leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health, the Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. It’s three mission areas—care, education, and science—work together for greater impact.
Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism
This one-stop source of carefully curated, evidence-based information offers autism news and resources from autism people, professionals, and parents. The evolving resource page offers an extensive list of links to everything from education and healthcare to communities and advocacy.
Federation for Children with Special Needs
As one of the largest parent centers in the country, the Federation provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities. This well-organized website offers parents access to information on early intervention, special education, health insurance, family engagement, trainings and workshops, healthcare, and more.
Unlock the Einstein Inside
www.unlocktheeinsteininside.com
In addition to offering a free downloadable book on learning struggles and brain training, this site also provides parents with free samples of powerful procedures that can help kids and teens work on logic & reasoning, processing speed, working memory, and sound manipulation. There’s also a free downloadable chart of common store-bought games and the cognitive skills they help boost.
Parenting Special Needs Magazine
This free, interactive online publication serving the special needs community offers practical tips, real-life stories, caregiver care, developmental articles, and a “Knowing Your Rights” piece. The website itself is also chock full of useful information for parents of special-needs children.
Learning Disabilities Worldwide
Established in 1965, this organization is dedicated to improving the educational, professional, and personal outcomes for individuals with learning disabilities and other related disorders. Among the many offerings, parents can download free organizational helpers for their children or teens, such as an after-school daily planner, a materials checklist to keep school papers organized, and an assignment organizer.
Parents Helping Parents
Providing parent support for children and adults with disabilities, this website offers a free downloadable Family Care Notebook to manage all the paperwork involved for an individual with a disability: IEPs, assessments, therapist and doctor notes, schedules, person-centered plans, and more. There’s even a free video explaining how the Family Care Notebook works.
Relevant Episodes for Parents of Special-Needs Children:
- Advocating for your neurodiverse student in a school system designed for the neurotypical with guest Dr. Bibi Pirayesh
- Parenting a Differently Wired Kid on Your Own Terms with guest Debbie Reber, MA
- How to choose an intervention AFTER your child’s learning disability diagnosis