National Organizations
Division for Early Childhood, Council for Exceptional Children
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is a nonprofit organization advocating
for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs,
birth through age eight, and their families.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: Autism Site
The NICHD, part of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), is one of the primary Institutes doing research into
various aspects of autism. This site provides access to current information
about NICHD research projects, publications, news releases, and other
activities related to autism and similar disorders.
The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
NICHCY is a national information center that provides
information on disabilities and disability-related issues, with a special
focus on children and youth (birth to age 22).
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance
Center supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Their mission
is to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities
(birth through five) and their families receive and benefit from high
quality, culturally appropriate, and family-centered supports and services.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
(ASHA) is the national organization that oversees all licensed professionals
within the fields of speech pathology and audiology. ASHA provides information
on communication disorders from infancy through adulthood to professionals,
students, and the general public. The site also has a referral service
so that individuals can gain access to qualified speech language pathologists
and audiologists.
American Occupational Therapy Association
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
is the nationally recognized professional association for occupational
therapists and occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapists
work with individuals with a variety of conditions and disorders in a
wide range of practice settings. The American Occupational Therapy Association
advances the quality, availability, use, and support of occupational
therapy through standard-setting, advocacy, education, and research on
behalf of its members and the public.
American Physical Therapy Association
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
is the national professional organization representing physical therapists.
APTA’s goal is to further the profession's role in the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of movement dysfunctions and the enhancement
of the physical health and functional abilities of members of the public.
Autism
Autism Society of America
The Autism Society of America is the largest
organization on autism in the United States. This site provides general
information on autism along with information on resources, events, advocacy
and research throughout the US.
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
(CARD) provides services to individuals with autism and their families
throughout the state of Florida. This site provides information on CARD
services at Florida State University, as well as at five other locations
throughout the state.
Autism Society of Florida
The Autism Society of Florida, an affiliate
of the Autism Society of America, gives up-to-date information on issues
and activities pertinent to autism throughout Florida.
National Academy of Sciences Publication: Educating Children with Autism
(2001)
The National Academies Press
website allows you to read thousands of books online free of charge. This
site takes you to the book entitled Educating Children with Autism.
Treatment and Education of Autistic & Related
Communication Handicapped Children
This site provides information on the TEACCH program
located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The philosophy
of this program is one where the focus is placed on the person with autism
and the development of a program is created around this person's skills,
interests, and needs.
Early Intervention
First Words Project
The First Words Project, a model early identification
and intervention program based in the Department of Communication Disorders
at Florida State University, is funded to evaluate the communication
development of children from 6 to 24 months of age in Leon County. First
Words also develops educational materials for training of healthcare
and childcare providers to build their capacities for earlier detection
of communication problems in young children.
Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
Zero to Three is a national organization
that provides information to families and professionals on various aspects
of typical development in infants and toddlers.
First Signs: Early Identification and Intervention
First Signs, Inc. is a national non-profit organization
dedicated to educating parents and physicians about the early warning
signs of autism and other developmental disorders.
Positive Beginnings: Supporting Young Children with Challenging Behavior
This site describes the Positive Beginnings
Project at Florida State University. In this project, instructional modules
are being developed, evaluated and disseminated to educators who support
young children with challenging behavior.
Therapists as Collaborative Team members for Infant/Toddler Community
Services
Therapists as Collaborative Team members for Infant/Toddler
Community Services (TaCTICS) is an outreach training project funded by
a U.S. Department of Education Grant. TaCTICS shares tools that have been
found helpful in skillfully navigating the path toward provision of Part
C Services using the child/family's daily routines, activities, and events
as a context for assessment and intervention.