Reference Desk
- Is My Child On Track?
- Kindergarten Readiness
- Learning To Read
- Types of Schools
- Learning Personalities
- Standards and Testing
- Gifted Children
- The Early Years (3-5)
- The Middle Years (6-12)
- The Teen Years (13-18)
- Parent-School Connection
- Your Parenting Style
- Keeping Your Kids Healthy
- Extracurricular Activities
- Life Skills
- Thinking About College
- Special Needs
special needs
When it comes to children’s special needs, labels reign supreme. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the terms. Here you can master the jumble of terminology and learn a myriad of methods to support your child. You might also visit Community and join or start a group with other mom’s raising children with learning disabilities, autism, or ADHD.
Visit Our Special Needs Information Centers
- Special Education
- Dyslexia
- ADHD
- Autism
- Depression and Sadness
- Eating Disorders
- Behavior Problems
- Hearing Health and Disorders
- Speech and Language Development and Disorders
What you need to know
- Pervasive Development Disorder
- AD/HD: An Overview
- Learning Disabilities
- What Is Dyslexia?
- Not ADHD? Think Dyslexia
- What Is ADHD?
- Asperger Syndrome
- Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders
What you can do
- Talking With Your Elementary School Child About Learning Difficulties
- Talking With Your Teenager About Learning Difficulties
- Supporting Students with Asthma
- The ABCs of Advocacy for Children With Special Needs
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Your Child's Rights
- Autism: Treatment and Therapy
A Camp for Every Child — The Perfect Fit
Understanding the strengths in camp focus may help you make your choice. Traditional Means Wide variety of activities Chance for campers to try new activities Exposure to more campers and staff at varying activities Specialty Means One or two specialized activities ...
Reference | American Camp Association
Asperger Disorder
Asperger's Disorder was first described in the 1940s by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger who observed autistic-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills in boys who had normal intelligence and language development. Many professionals felt Asperger's ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
Autism: Learning Approaches
The behaviors exhibited by children with autism are frequently the most troubling to parents and caregivers. These behaviors may be inappropriate, repetitive, aggressive and/or dangerous, and may include: Hand-flapping Finger-snapping Rocking Placing objects in one's mouth ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
Living With Autism: Life After High School
One of the most challenging times for individuals with autism and their families is when they must transition from the security of federally-mandated services through the public school to the uncertainty of adult services. Questions about post-secondary education, vocational training and employment ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
Autism Treatment
The Autism Society of America's Panel of Professional Advisors has developed Guidelines to evaluate theories and practices related to autism. Listed here are a few of the things to consider as you evaluate treatment options: Will the treatment result in harm to the child? How will ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Your Child's Rights
To understand your child's rights in America's public schools, it helps to start with one of the primary laws governing the education of children with disabilities: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 101-476). IDEA is a federal law that guarantees a free and ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
Educating Students on the Autism Spectrum: Individuals With Disabilities Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that all children with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, tailored to each child’s individual needs. This law guarantees all children, regardless of their abilities, the ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
Educating Students on the Autism Spectrum: Approaches to Education
The determination of an appropriate educational approach for students with autism must be based on the needs of each individual child. Careful assessment by a team of professionals in consultation with parents or guardians will help determine an appropriate educational program for each student. ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
How Students With Autism Learn
To understand how children with autism learn, one must be cognizant of the core deficits that define autism and impede the development of the fundamental prerequisite skills essential for learning. Some unique learning characteristics of students with autism may include, but are not limited to: ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
Supporting Appropriate Behavior in Students With Asperger Syndrome
Challenging behaviors are frequently the primary obstacle in supporting students with Asperger’s (AS ). While there are few published studies to direct educators towards the most effective behavioral approaches for these students, it appears most evident (given the heterogeneity among these ...
Reference | Autism Society of America
