Family, Parent & Caregiver Resources
Special Education Instructional Activities for Maintenance of Skills for Home
The Special Education Instructional Activities for Maintenance of Skills for Home document is a resource to assist our families and students during any closure or break, and serves as a wealth of resources when school is in session. These sources of ideas and inspiration feature technological and non-technological ideas and resources to help foster and continue learning opportunities.
Aspire of WNY
Aspire’s mission is to help children and adults with developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, and conditions with similar personal and family effects live their lives to the fullest in keeping with their informed choices.
Parent Network of WNY
Parent Network of WNY is a community resource for families of individuals with special needs and for professionals who work with these families. Parent Network’s goal is to empower families to successfully advocate for their children with special needs and to see that they receive proper care and education by offering seminars, workshops, conferences, information and referral services and resources.
Person Centered Services
We’re here to help! Person Centered Services is dedicated to connecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to opportunities in their communities. Find useful information and resources for individuals, families, and providers.
Special Education in New York State for Preschool and School-Age Students with Disabilities: A Parent’s Guide
The Special Education in New York State for Preschool and School-Age Students with Disabilities: A Parent’s Guide (the Guide) may be accessed on the Office of Special Education’s A Parent’s Guide to Special Education webpage. Parents or persons in parental relations may obtain information in the Guide located on the New York State Education Department’s website. This guide outlines your rights regarding referral and evaluation of their child for the purposes of special education services or programs upon their child’s enrollment or attendance in a public school. For more information, contact the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Merrie Maxon, in the Pupil Personnel Services Office at 716-992-3645.
Sensory Processing Disorder Resources
Websites
www.sensory-processing-disorder.com
Publications
Biel, L. , Peske, N. (2009) Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Dawson, P., Guare, R. (2012). Coaching students with executive skills deficit. New York: The Guilford Press.
Dawson, P., Guare, R. (2009). Smart but scattered. New York: The Guilford Press.
Doidge, N. (2007). The brain that changes itself, New York: Viking Penguin.
Greenspan, S., Weider, S. (1998) The Child with special needs: Encouraging Intellectual and emotional growth. Boston, MA: Perseus Books.
Kranowitz, C.S. (1998). The out of sync child: Recognizing and coping with sensory integrative dysfunction. New York: Perigee.
Mahler, K. (2017). Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System. Kansas: AAPC Publishing.
Miller, L. (2006). Sensational kids: Hope and help for children with sensory processing disorder (SPD). New York: Putnam’s Sons.
Williams, M.S., & Shellenberger, S. (2001). “Take five! Staying alert at home and school. Albuquerque, NM: TherapyWorks.
Williams, M.S., & Shellenberger, S. (1994). “How does your engine run?” A learner’s guide to the Alert Program for Self-regulation. Albuquerque, NM: TherapyWorks.
Yack, E., Sutton, S., & Aquilla, P. (1998). Building bridges through sensory integration. Weston, Ontario: Print Three.
Gigi's Playhouse
GiGi's Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center, opened its doors in July 2020.
They shared:
"Our programs are free. Our space is massive and we have stringent guidelines in place to ensure the safety of our participants during these strange times.
Specifically for Birth-3 we have a program called LMNOP. This addresses early communication and gross/fine motor skills in children with Down syndrome. Destination Discovery is an all ages class, based on themes, that incorporate fine/gross motor skills, language, and social interactions. Literacy will be offered to children with Down syndrome, ages 3 and up."
