Resources
for
Adoption & Foster Parenting
Special Needs Children ADD ADHD
LD SPINA BIFIDA
The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities - Ages 0-22 - NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals.
![]()
Celebrate Adoption, Inc. is a nonprofit organization of adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, adoption professionals and others who have united to remind the public that adoption works for birth families, for adoptive families and most importantly, for children.
The National Adoption Center , founded in 1972, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to expand adoption opportunities throughout the United States for children with special needs and those from minority cultures. The Center works with social workers and other adoption professionals to bring children and families together.
The NAC Online Adoption Preparation Course is the first online course. If your agency agrees, you can substitute this for the class requirement in the home-study process. For more information, just click to http://www.adoptnet.org/course/ or http://www.adopt.org/datacenter/bin/AN_coursefaq.htm
NPIN - National Parent Information Network - Resources for Parents: Newsletters, Books, Full Text Materials
Adopt: Assistance Information Support - Before You Adopt - An extensive site covering the areas of Infertility, Assistance To Adoption, FAQ about Adoption, Waiting Parents, Waiting Children, Surrogacy, Support, Books for Adults, The Adoptee, Birth Parent, Reading Room and more.
Adoption Law Library - the legal side of adoption
PLAN - Plan Loving Adoptions Now -In 1973, several adoptive families in McMinnville, Oregon banded together for support and to help others drawn to the joys and trials of adoptions. Two years later they expanded their efforts to provide complete adoption services which now serve hundreds of families throughout the United States and Europe. PLAN is fully licensed by the State of Oregon as a private, non-profit adoption agency - the second largest in Oregon. PLAN is licensed to place children in every state in the United States of America and works cooperatively with adoption agencies all across the United States, working within the guidelines of an agreement called the Interstate Compact. PLAN also works with US families living in Europe.
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CLINIC -Screening Tests Used for International Adoptees. What Physician Can Do to Help the Child Who is a Hepatitis B Carrier A Few Facts About Cytomegalovirus
ADOPTION: A FAMILY CHOICE - This family has chosen to grow through adoption. Children come in all shapes, sizes, abilities, and colors, and just about any combination could discribe a child in this home. This site hopes to offer inspiration, and encouragement for others who hope to love a child, a child who may not look or act just like you, but who can learn to love you, accept your love and in the process be able to love others. There are stories of this large family, also links to other sites dealing with disabilities, relative adoption, children's legislation, homeschooling, etc.
Special thanks to my dear friend, Kara for her research of several hundred adoption sites and scores of children's books on adoption. Her viewpoint and insight as an adopted child was my best resource.
FOSTER PARENTING - Extensive resource for those interested in becoming a Foster Parent. Subjects include: Becoming a Foster Parent, Child and Youth Issues, Foster Parenting Organizations/Support, Fostering Resources, Preparing to Welcome Your Child, Therapeutic Foster Care & Group Homes, publications and articles.
National
Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc.
ADD Resources: A new national nonprofit organization for ADD. Their website features over 50 free articles by national ADHD authorities as well as adults with ADD, a free monthly eNews, and the National ADHD Directory with over 550 service providers listed. Membership is available for $45 for the first year and includes the 138 page ADDult ADD Reader, our 8 page quarterly newsletter, ADDult ADDvice, and free use of our lending library with over 450 titles in books, audiotapes and videos on ADD in adults, adolescents and children.
NLDline
(Nonverbal Learning Disorder) has been developed specifically for the
purpose of increasing the awareness among parents and professionals concerning
Nonverbal Learning Disorder. Because many individuals with NLD, and related
neurocognitive learning disorders, develop secondary psychological problems,
it is understandable that early intervention yields the best prognosis
and treatment. Certainly, it is imperative to know about this syndrome
in order to intervene at an early age. Educating the caregivers and associates
of individuals with NLD is the prime goal of NLDline; equally important
is the intention to network those interested in NLD. With these goals comes
the opportunity to gain recognition, understanding and accommodations for
this often misunderstood learning disability.
The
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
- National information and referral center that provides information on
disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and
other professionals. Special focus is children and youth (birth to age
22).
Parents
and Educators Resource Center
Internet
Resources for Special Children (IRSC) - extensive list of "disABILITY"
Links
Born
To Explore! The Other Side of ADD -
ADD
LINKS at ABOUT.com has hundred of links to online ADD resources across
the Net. The Guide himself has ADD, and has written a lot of original material
about living with Attention Deficit. The site includes Chat and a very
active Bulletin Board.
Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Understanding Help Hope - Excellent
LD
RESOURCES - This site contains a variety of resources for the learning
disabilities community. Subscribe to The LD Reader for notification of
site updates.
Children
and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)– the
national non-profit organization representing children and adults
with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).
Recommended
Book for Ages 10 and Up
JOEY
PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY
The National Center for Learning Disabilities is a national, non-profit organization that supports children and adults with learning disabilities, as well as parents and educators dealing with LD. NCLD’s website, www.ld.org, provides extensive information and resources on learning disabilities including a glossary of basic LD terminology, comprehensive resources listed by state, and a section specifically for adults and teens actively dealing with learning disabilities.
Information and
guidance for parents of children with learning differences.
Site devoted
entirely to exploring positive and alternative views of attention deficit
disorder (ADD/ADHD)
AUTISM
National
Alliance for Autism Research - The National Alliance
for Autism Research (NAAR)
is a national
nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to finding the causes, prevention,
effective treatment and, ultimately, cure of the autism spectrum disorders.
![]()
AVKO Educational Research Foundation - To find out what poor readers (particularly those with dyslexia) need to be taught and what techniques and materials will help teachers and parents do a better job of teaching.
![]()
ABUSE
- There is only one link for this category. "What
Words Cannot Say" is "devoted to battered and abused women and children,
the survivors of abuse, and all others that are in an environment of domestic
violence. This page is about love, hate, anger, fear, illness, frustration,
pain, and freedom."
![]()
DIVORCE
Smart
Divorce.com - Divorce Learning Center for Practical Solutions for the
challenge of divorce. (extensive)
![]()
GROWW
- Grief Recovery Online (founded by) Widows & Widowers. This is a lovely
site dedicated to Grief Recovery for ALL Bereaved, including the loss of
a child. This is a wealth of resources on one site, which includes a newsletter,
chat room on site and online posting.
There are also several books on this site in the "Special Book
Collection", in particular, THE NEXT
PLACE, by Warren Hanson, which is highly recommend and MENDING
PETER'S HEART by Maureen Wittbold. In addition, a book you may find
helpful, STORYBOOKS
FOR TOUGH TIMES, a collection of recommended storybooks for children grades K-6 broken into chapters dealing with different issues.
More Recommended books for grief:
TEAR SOUP - An illustrated children's book for adults about how we individually grieve loss in our lives.
GHOST WINGS - While celebrating the Days of the Dead, a young Mexican girl remembers her wonderful grandmother who sang songs, made tortillas, chased monsters away, and loved butterflies. Ages 5-8
SPINA BIFIDA ASSOCIATION Spina Bifida is the most frequently occurring permanently disabling birth defect in the U.S. Find out how you, your loved ones, and friends can reduce your risk of spina bifida.