Below are various resources that may be helpful for families as they navigate raising a child with a special need. We also invite you to visit the National Center for Learning Disabilities and Understood.org. 
 

Autism New Jersey (formerly COSAC): Autism New Jersey is a nonprofit agency providing information and advocacy, services, family and professional education, and consultation. Autism New Jersey encourages responsible basic and applied research that may lessen the effects of, and potentially prevent, autism. Autism New Jersey is dedicated to ensuring that all people with autism receive appropriate, effective services to maximize their growth potential and to enhancing the general public's overall awareness of autism.

Autism Society: The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding 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.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Autism Spectrum Disorders: CDC is working to find out how many children have ASDs, discover the risk factors, and raise awareness of the signs. 

Autism Research Institute:  The mission of the Autism Research Institute is to improve the health and well-being of people on the autism spectrum through research and the education of professionals, those who are affected, and their families.

The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation: The mission of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, an all-volunteer run, 501(c)(3) organization, is to develop and award grants to programs that enrich the lives of adolescents and adults with Autism. Our expertise encompasses developing, identifying, supporting and supervising exemplary programs throughout the United States. 

Parents of Autistic Children (POAC): Founded in 1999, POAC's mission is to provide scientifically-based training to parents, teachers, and related personnel who provide direct services to children with Autism. In order to fulfill its mission, POAC offers targeted and sustained training to parents, professionals and paraprofessionals. This training focuses on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the only research-based treatment recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General for children with autism, and specifically B.F. Skinner’s analysis of Verbal Behavior (VB).

 

American Council of the Blind:  The American Council of the Blind is the nation's leading membership organization of blind and visually impaired people. The Council strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.

 

American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB):  AADB is a national consumer organization of, by, and for deaf-blind Americans and their supporters. “Deaf-blind” includes all types and degrees of dual vision and hearing loss.

 

American Foundation for the Blind: AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. 

 

Blind Childrens Center: The Blind Childrens Center is a Private School which serves young children with visual impairments. The center-based and home-based programs and services help the children acquire skills and build their independence. The Center utilizes its expertise and experience to serve families and professionals worldwide through support services, education, and research.

 

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)-NJ: The National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind.

 

The Blind Children’s Resource Center: The Blind Children's Resource Center is dedicated to the idea that blind/visually impaired children can grow up to become productive, fully functioning, independent members of society. To do this, they need normal expectations for their development, high quality training in the skills of blindness, and exposure to healthy, positive attitudes about blindness and the abilities of blind/visually impaired people. We are also dedicated to providing ideas, assistance, and information that will help blind/VI children with developmental delays and additional disabilities reach their potential.

 

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey: The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey is a non-profit organization that brings together people with brain injury, their families and friends, and concerned allied health professionals to improve the quality of life people experience after brain injury.

 

Advancing Opportunities: a non-profit agency that provides a wide variety of services to children and adults with all types of disabilities. We believe people with disabilities have the right to participate fully in society. For nearly 60 years, we have provided services, support, education and advocacy to individuals with disabilities and their families to help them lead fuller lives at home, at school, at work and at play.
 

Epilepsy Services of New Jersey: The Epilepsy Services of New Jersey, will ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and will prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research. We provide comprehensive support, personalized services and advocacy for individuals and their families in order to maximize their participation in society.

The Arc of New Jersey: The Arc of New Jersey is committed to enhancing the quality of life of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, through advocacy, empowerment, education and prevention.

Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey (LDANJ):   LDANJ is a community of parents, educators and researchers whose common goal is to advance helping children with learning disabilities.

Mental Health Association in NJ:The Mental Health Association in New Jersey strives for mental health for children and adults through advocacy, education, training, and services.

National Alliance on Mental Health - NJ (NAMINJ): NAMI NEW JERSEY provides education, support and systems advocacy to empower families and  persons with mental illness. Affiliate self-help and grassroots advocacy groups located in each county  offer emotional support, information and advice about treatment and community resources.

 

National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH): The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. 

 

American Psychological Association (APA): The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.

 

(Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) 

American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB):  AADB is a national consumer organization of, by, and for deaf-blind Americans and their supporters. “Deaf-blind” includes all types and degrees of dual vision and hearing loss. 

 

Gallaudet University: Gallaudet University is the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard of hearing undergraduate students. In addition, the University's Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center serves deaf and hard of hearing children at its two demonstration schools and throughout the nation by developing, implementing, and disseminating innovative educational strategies.

 

Central Institute for the Deaf (CID): CID's  mission is to teach children who are deaf and hard of hearing to listen, talk, read and succeed. We partner with families and collaborate with professionals worldwide.

 

New Jersey Speech - Language - Hearing Association (NJSHA): The mission of the New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NJSHA) is to serve audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language or hearing scientists by providing resources, information, programs, and services that meet members' needs; promoting public awareness; and advocating for professional standards, legislation, and regulation necessary to provide the highest quality of care for the individuals they serve.
 

Spina Bifida Resource Network: Current project initiatives include the Family Support Program of in-home nursing coordination and social services, innovative telegroups and webinars providing support and information in a format easily accessible from home, educational conferences for families and professionals, social development and recreational programs, and an educational campaign on the prevention of spina bifida.
 

New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome: The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome is a not-for-profit organization committed to the advocacy of children and families with Tourette Syndrome and its associated disorders. Dedicated to delivering high quality services to these individuals, the Center recognizes the importance of educating the public, medical professionals, and teachers about this disorder through programs and affiliations with public schools, health centers, and universities.

 

 

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