Virtual & Video Library

Technology Resources for Families and Professionals who Support Young Children with Disabilities

Technology can be a great tool to help young children with disabilities be successful, and PACER's TIKES Project (Technology to Improve Kids' Educational Success) has excellent resources for parents and professionals. The website offers training videos, tip sheets, and other helpful information for families, teachers, and administrators who work with young children with disabilities or developmental delays. Learn more about this project and explore resources at PACER.org

Quick, Easy Videos Offer Assistive Technology Tips & Tricks

Looking for information on Assistive Technology (AT) in a quick and easy format? AT Minute is an innovative, practical series of videos that was created by PACER's Simon Technology Center. Viewers will learn tips and tricks on how to get the most out of tablet computers, text to speech software, word prediction software, and other assistive technology.
Watch the AT Minute videos on PACER's YouTube channel 

Bookshare

Visit: bookshare.org

iPad App for Those with Developmental Disabilities

It's My Future! is a new app for iPad designed to support students and adults with developmental disabilities to become more self-determined and participate in their annual planning meetings. The app provides self-paced videos to enable people with developmental disabilities to learn more about planning and leading their meetings. Eight sections cover topics such as choice making, decision making, goal setting, community living, employment, fun and leisure, and communication skills. Narration, a written outline, and colorful graphics support people to understand more about self-determination and how to become engaged in their planning meetings. Download the app from the App Store.

BEHAVIORAL

Center for Parent Information and Resources - Behavior Suite

Divided into subject areas to make it easy to understand, you will find information and resources designed to help children who have behavior challenges.
Visit: parentcenterhub.org

How to Help Children with ADHD Control their Emotions

Visit: additudemag.com

BULLYING

PACER's National Center for Bullying Prevention

Visit this is the page for parents and educators to access bullying resources, which include educational tool kits, awareness tool kits, contest ideas, promotional products and more.
Visit: pacer.org 

Is YOUR Child the Bully? Tip Sheet

This article gives information on the signs that your child is a bully and how to stop the behavior.
Visit: pacer.org

Great Schools Article - What Parents Can Do About Childhood Bullying

Visit: greatschools.org

Understood.org

Nearly 60 percent of children with learning and attention issues experience bullying. www.understood.org offers resources to help parents address this all-too-common problem. Learn 9 concrete steps to take if they suspect bullying at school, get advice on how to help children respond if they are bullied, and find out what to do if kids participate in bullying.
Visit: understood.org

Not sure how to effectively connect with your legislators?

Legislators are citizens, just like you. Have confidence that the perspective and experience of parents and/or professionals working with children with special needs are needed and welcomed by legislators. Your personal story IS powerful and may make all the difference when a final vote is taken. Click here for Electoral Advocacy Information

Connect to South Dakota Legislative Research Council

Visit: sdlegislature.gov

Family Voices

A national, nonprofit, family-led organization promoting quality health care for all children and youth, particularly those with special health care needs.
Visit: familyvoices.org

EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR

Video: SDPC Presentation - Extended School Year

Visit:youtube.com

Extended School Year Services (ESY) - Wrightslaw

Visit:wrightslaw.com/info

Extended School Year Guide, SD Dept of Education

Visit:doe.sd.gov/sped

HOMEWORK

Dealing with Homework Refusal & Failure

Article by Sue Whitney.
Visit:wrightslaw.com/homework

Homework Help for Parents

Information found on About.com
Visit:pediatrics.about.com/homework

Success At School

Homework Routines to Help Kids Score

For tips on how parents and teachers can help students with ADHD achieve better work skills, a sense of accomplishment and lots of after-school smiles.
Visit: additudemag.com

THE SCHOOL YEAR

ADHD/LD Success at School: Guide to IEPs, 504s and Accommodations

Visit:additudemag.com

Steps to Success: Communicating with Your Child's School

This brief publication offers specific communication skills that may be helpful to parents as they develop and maintain partnerships with their child's school.
Visit: cadreworks.org

What Parents & Caregivers Can Ask & Do to Help Children Thrive at School

Visit:2.ed.gov

Back to School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Visit:ldonline.org

Back to School Tips for Children with ADHD

Visit:additudemag.com

More Back to School Tips for Children with Special Needs

Visit:readingrockets.org

Back to School Series - Wrightslaw

Visit:wrightslaw.com

Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences

http://www.pacer.org/mpc/pdf/MPC-67.pdf

ADHD Study Tips for Math, Essay, and Multiple-Choice Tests

ADHD students dread the pressure and information overload of final exams. Use these specific tips to prepare wisely for all of your multiple-choice, math, and essay tests at school.
Visit: additudemag.com

A Checklist for Evaluation Requests

Developed by South Dakota Parent Connection and South Dakota Advocacy Services.
Download Evaluation Checklist

Sample Request for an Evaluation

Download Sample Request for Evaluation Letter

A Parent's Guide: Educational Interventions and Evidence-Based Practices

Download Guide
Unique Needs Revisited - Legal Pull Out Section
From our partner Disability Rights South Dakota

Preparing for an IEP - A Few Suggestions

• Prepare notes about what they want to learn/find out at a meeting.
• Bring someone along as a source of support.
• If compromising, define how and when to evaluate if compromise is working.
• Try to remain calm.
• Saying I don't know what you mean" is a demonstration of confidence and competence

Video: What's the difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan?

Visit: understood.org

Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

Visit:ed.gov

Dear Colleague Letter & Students with ADHD and Section 504: A Resource Guide

Visit: ed.gov

Protecting Students with Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities

Visit: ed.gov

IMMUNIZATIONS

Visit: healthychildren.org

MEDICINE

Autism: Medicine Decision Aid

Should My child Take Medicine for Challenging Behavior? A Decision Aid for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This new 21-page guide is available online and at NO COST from Autism Speaks. Visit: autismspeaks.org

Up and Away and Out of Sight: Safe Medicine Storage

Every year, more than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms because they got into medicines while their parent or caregiver was not looking. The Up and Away and Out of Sight educational program was created to remind families of the importance of safe medicine storage. To help keep children safe through proper medicine storage, Up and Away and Out of Sight educates parents and caregivers by reminding them about safe medicine storage; providing them with information and tools to keep their child/children safe and encouraging them to take action.  To learn more about the program and its resources and tools,

• Visit: upandaway.org
• In Spanish: upandaway.org/es

Poison Help

For more information about what you do to prevent accidental poisoning, please visit the Poison Help site. Remember to program the Poison Help number 1-800-222-1222 into your cell phones! Visit: poisonhelp.hrsa.gov

NUTRITION

Support Feeding & Oral Development in young children with Down Syndrome, Congenital Heart Disease and Feeding difficulties. Click here to download guidelines for parents.

PUBERTY & SEXUALITY

Healthy Bodies: A Parent's Guide to Puberty for Adolescents with Disabilities is available online at kc.vanderbilt.edu.  Written for a broad range of disabilities, this toolkit (one for boys, one for girls) was developed by Vanderbilt LEND Training Program and provides a wide variety of visual supports and social stories.

"Becoming a Woman. Teaching Healthy Sexuality to My Daughter." 

IMPACT Visit: ici.umn.edu

"Sexuality Education - Part 1: Foundation of Healthy Attitudes" Disability Solutions. 

Visit:downsyndromenutrition.com

"Sexuality Education - Part 2: Building on a Foundation of Health Attitudes" Disability Solutions. 

Visit: downsyndromenutrition.com

Guardianship Infographic for Parents & Students

Guardianship and Conservatorship FAQs

Guardianship - One Size Does Not Fit All
Presentation by Robert Kean, SD Advocacy Services
(Note: link takes you to survey money registration form first)

AWAARE 

Information, resources, social stories and more. Includes Family Wandering Emergency Plan, Alert Form for First Responders, Sample IEP Letter. 
Visit: awaare.nationalautismassociation.org

Autism Risk Management 

Autism training and resources for law enforcement, emergency first responders, parents, educators, care providers, and the autism community. Includes downloadable forms.
Visit: autismriskmanagement.com

Safe Kids USA 

Safety VIDEOS show how you can take precautions in the home to help prevent injuries to children with physical, developmental or cognitive disabilities. 
Visit: www.safekids.org

My Precious Kid 

Visit: www.mypreciouskid.com

Brickhouse Security Child Locator Devices. 

Tip: For families connected to Family Support 360, check to see if funding may be used for security devices needed to keep your child safe. 
Visit: brickhousesecurity.com

NetSmartz Kids 

Parents can learn how to protect their children from online dangers by accessing the tips and tools (English and Spanish) provided. 
Visit: netsmartz.org

SSI Home Page

Visit: socialsecurity.gov

SSI Benefits for Children

Social Security Benefit Information and Tips
Visit: ssa.gov

SSA Listing of Impairments

For both children and adults on left of screen.

Visit: socialsecurity.gov/disability

Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool

For both children and adults on left of screen.
Visit: ssabest.benefits.gov

Social Security and Disability Resource Center

An independent site which provides information social security benefits for individuals with disabilities.
Visit: ssdrc.com

Mike Walling's Social Security Benefits Site

For information on Social Security Benefits visit Mike Walling's independent website.

Visit: benefits-training.com

What You Need to Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18

Information from the Social Security Administration on Age 18 Redetermination.
Visit: ssa.gov

Autism 209: Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Seattle Children's Hospital

Watch:youtube.com

Potty Training Your Special Needs Child

Article provided by WonderBaby.org.

Visit:wonderbaby.org

Toilet Training a Child with Special Needs

An article about Toilet Training a Child with Special Needs.

Visit: rifton.com

Toilet Training - BBB Autism Network

An article about Toilet Training on the BBB Autism Network site.

Visit:bbbautism.com

Think College offers Post-secondary Education Resources for Youth With Intellectual Disabilities

Do you have questions about post-secondary education opportunities for your youth with an intellectual disability? Think College, a technical assistance center that works to improve access to post-secondary education for students with intellectual disabilities, offers resources for families. It has developed a series of web-based, self-paced learning modules that share information by using multimedia tools such as videos, publications, interactive learning activities, and podcasts.

Visit:thinkcollege.net

Going to College

This website provides a range of information for high school students with a disability who are, or will be attending college. The site contains video clips, activities, and resources that can help students explore more about themselves, learn what to expect from college, and examine important considerations and tasks to complete when planning for college.
Visit: going-to-college.org

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that affords parents the right to have access to their children's education records, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the education records.
Visit:ed.gov

National Center for Secondary Education and Transition 

Provides information related to secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities in order to create opportunities for youth to achieve successful futures.
Visit: ncset.org

SD Virtual School Remedial Coursework

The remedial coursework program is offered through the South Dakota Virtual School by DIAL.  Students must register for coursework through their local school district through the SD Virtual School.  Students who successfully complete the remedial coursework program while in high school are able to avoid remedial coursework at South Dakota's technical institutes and Board of Regents institutions.
Download more Information on Remedial Coursework for High School Seniors.

A Guide to College Life for Those with Autism

The guide offers tips on everything from classroom accommodations to dealing with roommates, and is written by adults with the developmental disorder.  It is geared toward individuals with autism rather than parents or professionals.
Visit: navigatingcollege.org

Educational Opportunities for Students with Bipolar and Schizophrenia Disorders

The Lilly Reintegration Scholarship Program is designed to offer financial assistance for a wide range of educational opportunities in which students work to attain a certificate or degree in high school equivalency programs, trade or vocational school program, associate, bachelor degrees and graduate degrees.  Eligible applicants must be diagnosed with bipolar, schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorder; currently receiving medical treatment; actively involved in rehabilitative or reintegrative efforts and complete the application package.
Visit: reintegration.com

VIDEO: A Transition Story 

When you have a moment to take a break in what are very busy days, check out this video from Ben Fleischman. The WI Board for People with Developmental Disabilities commissioned the video for their annual Self-Determination Conference.
Watch: youtube.com

Practical Guide for People with Disabilities Who Want to Go to College 

The document provides information for people with disabilities considering higher education.
Visit: tucollaborative.org

Scholarships

Needy Meds has a listing of scholarships that are offered for students with specific diseases. There are also some for students who have a parent or a family member with a specific disease. Most can be used at any school.  Most have some type of eligibility requirements, usually financial ones. The scholarships are sorted three ways:

• By Disease
• By Residency of Applicant
• By Scholarship Name

Additional resources available in SDPC's Family Resource Guide

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability

This website looks specifically at what youth with disabilities need to know to prepare themselves for careers or meaningful jobs, and what parents need to know to ensure that their children are getting all of the things they need to succeed. You will find a wealth of resources.
Visit: ncwd-youth.info

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

A program that provides individualized vocational rehabilitation and supportive services to assist eligible individuals with disabilities to get and keep jobs compatible with their skills and abilities.
Visit: dhs.sd.gov/rehabservices

Workplace Flexibility Toolkit

Provides employees, job seekers, employers, policymakers and researchers with information, resources and a unique approach to workplace flexibility. Searchable by type of resource, target audience, types of workplace flexibility (place, time, task).
Visit: dol.gov

PACER's National Parent Center on Transition and Employment

Provides information and resources to support families, youth, educators and employers as they help teens and young adults with disabilities or special needs reach their goals into adulthood.
Visit: pacer.org

Additional resources available in SDPC's Family Resource Guide.

Travel and recreation for people with disabilities

If you'd like to travel this summer and disability is a consideration, check out this website of useful resources for travel planning, destinations, transportation, air travel, travel books, and travel companions. Visit: makoa.org/travel