PLUK News feed

Web Resource For Wounded, Ill, and Injured Military

Link: NRD  The National Resource Directory (NRD) is an online tool for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families, and those who support them. The NRD provides access to more than 11,000 services and resources at the national and state level that support recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. Maintained by the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs, the NRD links to federal, state and government agencies; Veterans service and benefit organizations; non-profit and community-based organizations; academic institutions; and professional associations who provide assistance to wounded warriors and their families.

Web Resource For Hearing Impaired (Provides Health Information in ASL)

Link: DeafMD.org  DeafMD is an innovative website providing accurate, concise, and valuable health information in American Sign Language to the Deaf & Hard of Hearing population. Using health information created by two trustworthy and unbiased government sources—the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, our team of healthcare providers, linguists, and educators translates this complex information into ASL.

Autism Web Resource

Link: Neurodiversity.com   My name is Kathleen, and I live in northern New England. I've been married to my companion Dave for almost twenty-four years now; we're the parents of two teenagers, one with an autistic spectrum diagnosis, and also have other family members on the spectrum. My goal in developing this website is to increase goodwill and compassion in the world, and to help reduce suffering. I [also] seek to help increase the capability of educators and service providers to provide effective, respectful support for those on the autistic spectrum.

Neurodiversity's resource pages index material from a vast number of websites on autism, reflecting a wide range of information and perspectives. Visitors will also find links to many one-off articles with interesting and innovative content that you only find if you do deep searches.

Website Promotes Accessible Technology For Everyone

Link: AccessibleTech.org  Advances in technology are changing the nature of business, from job performance and work productivity to commercial interactions such as buying, selling and advertising. Smart companies understand that many of their customers and employees have evident and hidden sensory, learning, and physical impairments. And these numbers will grow as our population ages. Just as street curb-cuts, originally designed for people using wheelchairs, have been embraced by all pedestrians, information technology (IT) that is designed to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, also provides improved access and usability for all individuals.

The purpose of AccessibleTech.org is to build a partnership between the disability and business communities and to promote full and unrestricted participation in society for persons with disabilities through the promotion of technology that is accessible to all. National Hotline: 800-949-4232

Free Software For Children Who Can't Use a Mouse

Link: Free Software  My name is Sara. I have 2 boys who both showed an interest in the computer, but didn't know how to use the mouse or keyboard. Since there was nothing on the market to meet their needs, I developed a series of educational computer software programs that they could operate on their own by simply pressing the spacebar. I am making these programs available at no charge to any parent or teacher who thinks they may be able to use them.

The programs are based on high interest subjects, such as nursery rhymes, holidays, and birthday themes. The software keeps children engaged and actively learning. And for children with limited language skills, my programs can help give meaning to words and concepts. Holidays, birthdays, going to the doctor, dentist, or getting a haircut, are all broken down into sequential steps to thoroughly explain the event.

This educational software is made for children 18 months to 4 years of age (or higher for children struggling with language delays due to autism or other causes).

Early Childhood Reading Web Resource

Link: GRTR!  Get Ready to Read! (GRTR!) is a national program to build the early literacy skills of preschool-age children. The program  brings research-based strategies to parents, early education professionals, and child care providers to help prepare children to learn to read and write. Our goal is to ensure that all children have opportunities to become successful readers. Get Ready to Read! is an initiative of the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

GRTR!'s program vision is that all preschool children will have the skills they need to learn to read when they enter school. This Web site is a part of NCLD's initiative to provide parents, educators, health-care professional and advocated with information to help build early literacy skills by integrating emergent literacy screening and learning activities into routine early childhood education, child-care and parenting practices.

Expert Advice Regarding Diagnosis and Options for Managing Learning Disabilities

Link: Ask Dr. Silver Dr. Larry Silver answers selected questions from LD OnLine users regarding diagnosis and options for managing learning disabilities. Do you have a question about diagnosis and options for managing learning disabilities? Submit it now!

Multilingual Web Resource

Link: Multilingual This website lists links to websites in a variety of languages, to provide information regarding developmental conditions, as well as local, national, and international resources for families. It is our hope that this tool will provide some means for clinicians to provide "take-home" information to the families we serve.

MCH Library Releases New Edition of Knowledge Path About Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Library has released a new edition of its knowledge path on autism spectrum disorders (ASD), an electronic guide to resources about screening for ASD, diagnosis, treatment and intervention, communication, education, vocational challenges, and impact on family life. It contains separate sections on early identification, early intervention and education, concerns about vaccines, and environmental health research. It will be updated periodically and is available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_autism.html

How to Handle Disagreements at IEP Meetings

Link: IEP Meeting Advice Parents often say that when they go to IEP meetings, the school staff won't answer their questions or listen to their requests. This article provides a good approach that parents can use when caught up in an IEP meeting quagmire.