Resources

Opening a World of Learning Opportunities
for Students with Special Needs

Autism Society of Colorado
Our mission is to promote the quality of life for people with autism spectrum disorders and their families

Autism Society of America
Improving the lives of all affected by autism

Autism Speaks
Read about their awareness, fundraising, science, advocacy efforts, and other exciting initiatives

Autism Link
Linking Parents Together for over a decade

Autism Collaboration
Parents deserve a voice in determining
the direction of autism research

Autism Collaboration
Parents deserve a voice in determining

Autism Awareness Centre, Inc.
The Autism Awareness Centre believes that education is the key to success in assisting individuals who have autism.

Anchor Center for Blind Children
A leading provider of innovative education and therapeutic services for visually impaired infants, toddlers, young children and their families.

Colorado Center for the Blind
The Colorado Center for the Blind is a world-renowned training center located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Littleton, Colorado.

Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
Prepares students to succeed in an ever-changing world. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

American Foundation for the Blind
Expanding possibilities for people with vision loss

National Federation of the Blind
Voice of the Nation's Blind

National Braille Press
A nonprofit braille printer and publisher offering braille books, magazines, textbooks, tests, and customized embossing services

Angelman Syndrome Foundation
A national organization of families, caregivers and professionals who care about those with Angelman Syndrome.

Mile High Down Syndrome Association
Our mission is to assure inclusion and enhance independence of people with Down syndrome. We will achieve this by providing education, resources and support in partnership with individuals, families, professionals, and the community.

Association for Children with Down Syndrome
Dedicated to providing lifetime resources of exceptional quality, innovation and inclusion for individuals with Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities and their families.

National Down Syndrome Society
Education, Research, Advocacy

United Cerebral Palsy
The leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with any disability

Special Olympics of Colorado
Let Me Win, But If I Cannot Win, Let Me Be Brave In The Attempt - Special Olympics Oath.

Parent to Parent of Colorado
We are a non-profit organization committed to quality Parent to Parent support across Colorado.

KidsHealth
Lots of great information from the health experts of Nemours

Early Childhood Connections
Early Intervention Supports and Services
for Infants, Toddlers and Their Family

Parent to Parent of Colorado
Connecting families of sons and daughters with disabilities or special healthcare needs in communities across Colorado

Peak Parent Center
Helping families helping children

Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (Lakewood, CO)
Helping PEOPLE with Intellectual and Development Disabilities

The Arc of Colorado
Advocating for people with developmental disabilities for over 50 years

Alliance of Colorado
Colorado Communities United for People with Developmental Disabilities

Denver Options (Denver, CO)
Valuing Choices, Providing Resources

Developmental Pathways (Englewood, CO)
Dedicated to Individuals with Disabilities

Envision (Evans, CO)
Creative Support for People with Developmental Disabilities

Imagine! (Lafayette, CO)
Innovative Resources for Cognitive and Physical Challenges

North Metro Community Services (Westminster, CO)
Quality Services ... Quality Relationships

Easter Seals Disability Services
Easter Seals provides exceptional services to ensure that people living with autism and other disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play.

Focus Families
ONH/SOD Information, Education and Support

Foundation Fighting Blindness
Driving research to save and restore sight

The Magic Foundation
Major Aspects of Growth In Children

Birth Defect Research for Children
Resource for free birth defect information, parent networking and birth defect research through the National Birth Defect Registry.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Our mission is to reduce the burden of neurological disease - a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of society, by people all over the world.

NORD
National Organization for Rare Disorders

Social Security Administation
Benefits for people with disabilities

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Apply for Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) or Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP)

Colorado Department of Human Services
Division for Developmental Disabilities

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD)

Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council
Advocacy, Inclusion, Systems Change

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
A Guide to Disability Rights Laws

National Center for Learning Disabilities
The power to hope, to learn and to succeed

Autism (aw-tih-zum) is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.

Septo Optic Dysplasia (SOD also known as DeMorsier Syndrome) is a disorder that results from incomplete development of the forebrain and pituitary gland. This condition is characterized by underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of the optic nerves that transmit impulses from the nerve-rich membranes lining the retina of the eye to the brain; abnormalities of midline structures of the brain such as the septum pellucidum and corpus callosum; and diminished activity of the pituitary gland, the hormone-producing gland at the base of the brain. Most people with septooptic dysplasia have abnormal eye movements (nystagmus) and some affected individuals have partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes. Some affected children have normal intelligence and others have learning disabilities and mental retardation. Deficiencies of certain hormones result in growth retardation and short stature.

Angelman Syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by developmental delay; absence or near absence of speech; unprovoked, prolonged episodes (paroxysms) of inappropriate laughter; characteristic facial abnormalities; and episodes of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain (seizures). Abnormalities of the head and facial (craniofacial) area may include a small head (microcephaly); deeply set eyes; a large, wide mouth (macrostomia) and a protruding tongue; an underdeveloped upper jaw (maxillary hypoplasia) and protruding lower jaw (mandibular prognathism); and widely spaced teeth. During infancy, feeding difficulties and abnormal sleep patterns are typically present. In addition, by early childhood, individuals with Angelman Syndrome have severe developmental delays; impaired control of voluntary movements (ataxia), resulting in a stiff manner of walking (ataxic gait) with jerky arm movements; and characteristic positioning of the arms with flexion of the elbows and wrists. Although affected individuals may be unable to speak, many gradually learn to communicate through other means, such as sign language. In addition, some may have enough receptive language development to understand simple commands.

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological movement disorder characterized by the lack of muscle control and impairment in the coordination of movements. This disorder is usually a result of injury to the brain during early development in the uterus, at birth, or in the first two years of life. Cerebral Palsy is not progressive.

Kabuki Make-Up Syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by mental retardation, short stature, unusual facial features, abnormalities of the skeleton and unusual skin ridge patterns on the fingers, toes, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder in which all or a portion of chromosome 21 appears three times (trisomy) rather than twice in cells of the body. In many affected individuals, abnormalities may include low muscle tone (hypotonia); a tendency to keep the mouth open with protrusion of the tongue; and distinctive malformations of the head and facial (craniofacial) area, such as a short, small head (microbrachycephaly), upwardly slanting eyelid folds (palpebral fissures), a depressed nasal bridge, a small nose, and a relatively flat facial profile. Individuals with Down Syndrome may also have unusually small, misshapen (dysplastic) ears; a narrow roof of the mouth (palate); vertical skin folds covering the inner corners of the eyes (epicanthal folds); dental abnormalities; and excessive skin on the back of the neck. Abnormalities of the extremities are also often present, such as unusually short arms and legs; short fingers; and unusual skin ridge patterns (dermatoglyphics) on the fingers, palms, and toes. Affected individuals may also have short stature, poor coordination, mild to severe mental retardation, and hearing impairment.

Laurence-Moon Syndrome is a rare inherited disorder characterized by diminished hormone production by the testes or ovaries (hypogonadism), progressive loss of vision (retinitis pigmentosa), mental retardation, and paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body accompanied by involuntary muscle contractions (spastic paraplegia). Confusion exists in the medical literature regarding the difference between Laurence-Moon Syndrome and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. Some researchers believe that Bardet-Biedl Syndrome is a subdivision of Laurence-Moon Syndrome which they term "Laurence-Moon-Biedl Syndrome."