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- Federal, State, and Local Education
- US Department of Education
- Maryland State Department of Education
- Maryland Learning Links – Information, guidance, and resources related to Special Education and Early Intervention in Maryland. For administrators, teachers, providers and parents – the site was created to enable every child to learn and achieve both inside and outside the classroom.
- MSDE – Special Education
- COMAR – Code of Maryland – Title 13A – State Board of Education – The laws of the State of Maryland governing education.
- The Thornton Commission Report – 2002 – This links directly to a 350-page report in which the commission found that an additional $1.8 billion would be needed to be phased in between fiscal years 2002 and 2007 to provide a constitutionally adequate education in every Maryland public school.
- The latest version of the following documents are all linked to from this page.
- Facilitated IEP Meetings To help special education planning teams reach agreements, the Maryland State Department of Education provides the option of a facilitated Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. This guide provides an introduction to IEP facilitation for parents and other family members to help orient them to this emerging practice.
- School Improvement in Maryland . This website is a comprehensive guide to how our schools are evaluated, including descriptions of the assessments (HSA, MSA, alt-MSA, and definitions of AYP), how the results are analyzed, and descriptions of the curriculum.
- The Common Core Curriculum defines what students should know and be able to do at each grade level in these content areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics, History/Social Studies, Science & Technical Subjects, and Braille. These can be used to develop IEP goals.
- Prince George’s County Public Schools – Note that the PGCPS web site is full of all sorts of resources, but it requires frequent checking as things change. The links below may change, so if a link doesn’t work, do a search on the link title on the main PGCPS website.
- Advocacy
- Parents Place of Maryland – A Maryland nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and parent center that helps families of children with disabilities and special health care needs throughout Maryland. The PPMD is the IDEA-mandated Parent Training and Information Center for the state of Maryland.
- Disability Rights Maryland (formerly the Maryland Disability Law Center) – Advocates for the rights of people with disabilities.
- Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council – The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council advocates for public policy and supportive practices and opportunities that promote the full inclusion of all people with developmental disabilities in community life.
- The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the inclusion of students with disabilities in their neighborhood schools. They work for meaningful and successful participation of all students in their neighborhood schools, through partnerships, advocacy, professional development, and public education.
- MANSEF (The Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities) is a not-for-profit organization of nonpublic special education facilities approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. These facilities, throughout Maryland, promote quality services for children and youth with disabilities. They serve more than 4,500 students between 3 – 21 years of age.
- National Disability Rights Network is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP). Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
- Wrightslaw Website – Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.
- The Arc of the United States advocates for individuals with mental retardation and their families, in addition to providing services.
- The Arc of Maryland.
- The Arc of Prince George’s County.
- People First Language challenges us all to think about the language we use when describing people who are different from the norm.
- Identity First Language challenges us to honor who we are, without feeling shame for our differently wired brains.
- PGTAG – Parents of Talented and Gifted kids in PGCPS. Especially helpful for twice exceptional kids (kids who are both gifted and learning disabled.)
- Services
- Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) of Maryland – Part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Helps families pay for services related to the disabilities of family members, including respite, therapy, equipment, etc.
- Division of Rehabilitative Services – DORS helps people with physical, emotional, intellectual, developmental, sensory and learning disabilities go to work and keep their jobs by providing services such as career assessment and counseling, assistive technology, job training, higher education and job placement.
- Prince George’s County Department of Social Services – The Prince George’s County Department of Social Services is in the business of providing opportunities for residents of the County to become independent, responsible and stable members of the community. We do this by providing intervention services that strengthen families, protect children and vulnerable adults, encourage self-sufficiency and promote personal responsibility. We assist people through such programs as Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Supplement Program, Medical Assistance, Emergency Assistance, and Foster Care and Adoption Service.
- Maryland Interagency Transition Council – Transition is the move from school to adulthood. This site provides resources to aid families in their preparation for this move. Transition planning is a partnership involving students, their families, school staff, local community service providers, and state agency representatives. Its purpose is to help students to make choices and set goals they can meet when they finish school.
- The Arc of the United States advocates for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families, in addition to providing services.
- The Arc of Maryland.
- The Arc of Prince George’s County.
- Connections Beyond Sight and Sound – Serves children with vision and hearing impairments, birth through age 21. Provides resources, technical assistance and consulting for families, care providers, school systems and agencies; College Park, 301-405-7915 (Voice and TTY)
- Kennedy Krieger Institute – Provides diagnosis, evaluation, education and treatment resources; 888-554-2080
- Guiding Exceptional Parents, LLC – Helping parents of children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and other diagnosed and undiagnosed challenges that make it hard to function at school or at home through Special Needs Care Navigation services. Also provides RDI services. RDI is a program that shows parents how to teach their children the essential social skills that make relationships work.
- Quality of Life Pharmacy – A compounding pharmacy for children who need to take special medication preparations that are different than you can get at a regular pharmacy. 8900 Edgeworth Dr, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. Phone: (301) 324-3715
- Maryland Community Connections – Provides emotional support, training, employment opportunities and access to resources on a case-by-case basis to individuals with disabilities who want to achieve greater social and economic independence, and to be fully integrated into the community. Also the Low Intensity Support Services provider for Prince George’s County.
- MTRC, Inc. – Helps families establish a trust fund to provide for the care of a loved one with a disability. Provides extensive case management services and aids in planning for a child’s future through estate planning workshops and educational articles. Families can also contract for private consulting services with the MTRC professional to develop care plans.
- Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission – Therapeutic Recreation Programs and Inclusion Services for residents of Prince George’s County with disabilities who want to participate in fun extracurricular activities and camps. Therapeutic Recreation Programs provide activities in small groups with a high staff to participant ratio, run by trained staff using adapted equipment when appropriate. Inclusion Services allow residents to participate in general recreation programs by providing reasonable accommodations and modifications.
- Resource Connections – Partners with people who are authorized for services by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to provide eligibility assistance, waiting list support, and resource coordination to help people live life on their terms and in pursuit of their dreams.
- Speech and Hearing Sciences Clinical Services at the University of Maryland – Provides speech, language, and hearing services for individuals with communication disorders.
- Social Security Administration – provides assistance to people with disabilities. Only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits.
- Support
- Maryland Family Network – Website that can help you find Family Support Centers and Child Care Resource Centers, find child care providers via LOCATE: Child Care, and advocacy resources for children ages 0-5.
- First Call for Help – Statewide telephone referral to sources of crisis intervention, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week; United Way of Central Maryland, 800-492-0618; Baltimore, 410-685-0525, 410-685-2159 (TTY).
- NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness – 800-950-NAMI
- One World Center for Autism – a support group for parents of children with autism in Prince George’s County.
- Special Education Guide – resource for mastering the terminology, procedures and best practices in special education.
- College
- Transition
- Social Security Administration – provides assistance to people with disabilities. Only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits.
- Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) of Maryland – Part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Helps families pay for services related to the disabilities of family members, including respite, therapy, equipment, etc.
- Division of Rehabilitative Services – DORS helps people with physical, emotional, intellectual, developmental, sensory and learning disabilities go to work and keep their jobs by providing services such as career assessment and counseling, assistive technology, job training, higher education and job placement.
- Maryland Interagency Transition Council – Transition is the move from school to adulthood. This site provides resources to aid families in their preparation for this move. Transition planning is a partnership involving students, their families, school staff, local community service providers, and state agency representatives. Its purpose is to help students to make choices and set goals they can meet when they finish school.
- Prince George’s County Department of Social Services – The Prince George’s County Department of Social Services is in the business of providing opportunities for residents of the County to become independent, responsible and stable members of the community. We do this by providing intervention services that strengthen families, protect children and vulnerable adults, encourage self-sufficiency and promote personal responsibility. We assist people through such programs as Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Supplement Program, Medical Assistance, Emergency Assistance, and Foster Care and Adoption Service.
- The Arc of Prince George’s County – One of the most comprehensive support providers for people with developmental/intellectual disabilities and their families. We provide supports for people from birth to seniors including community inclusion, employment training, residential services and advocacy. We have a variety of programs and services that match each person or family’s individual needs.
- Resource Connections – Partners with people who are authorized for services by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to provide eligibility assistance, waiting list support, and resource coordination to help people live life on their terms and in pursuit of their dreams.
- Maryland Community Connections – Provides emotional support, training, employment opportunities and access to resources on a case-by-case basis to individuals with disabilities who want to achieve greater social and economic independence, and to be fully integrated into the community. Also the Low Intensity Support Services provider for Prince George’s County.
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) – Metrobus and Metrorail customers with disabilities may be eligible to ride at a discounted rate. Those customers who qualify will be issued a Reduced Fare SmarTrip® photo ID card.
- Organization Supporting Individuals with Various Conditions
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- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebral Palsy Guide – Provides information to families and caregivers on the various types, treatments available and support groups for cerebral palsy.
- Cerebral Palsy Guidance – Information on cerebral palsy symptoms, financial assistance, and daily living.
- Cerebral Palsy Group Provides educational information and support to those who have been affected by cerebral palsy.
- Deafness/Blindness
- Dyslexia
- Mental Health
- Autism
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network – Public policy advocacy, development of autistic cultural activities, and leadership trainings for autistic self-advocates. Providing information about autism, disability rights, and systems change to the public.
- Autism / Asperger Network – AANE works with individuals, families, and professionals to help people with Asperger Syndrome or similar autism spectrum profiles build meaningful, connected lives. Provides information, education, community, support, and advocacy.
- Autism Society of America – Information and support; 800-3AUTISM; 301-657-0881.
- Autism Speaks
- Learning Disabilities
- National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) – Provides information, resources and educational programs; 888-575-7373, 212-545-7510
- Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) – Resources for families with learning disabilities; 888-300-6710
- LDOnline – Resources for families with learning disabilities
- Managing ADHD – Symptoms, causes, and really nice set of links to treatment options.
- CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder)
- ADD/ADHD Learning Center at Healthline.com
- Understood – With the right support, parents can help their children with learning and attention issues unlock their strengths and reach their full potential. With state-of-the-art technology, personalized resources, free daily access to experts, a secure online community, practical tips and more, Understood aims to be that support.
- Other conditions
- Pregnant or Ill Students
- BrainInjury Association of Maryland Information about public benefits, rehabilitation services and support group; 410-448-2924; 800-221-6443
- The HIE Help Center seeks to support and inform the families and loved ones of children with disabilities stemming from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE often causes disabilities including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and learning disabilities.
- Chesapeake-Potomac Spina Bifida Association Information and referral, publications, public awareness and support
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Provides research information, referral and support for families of children with cystic fibrosis.
- Maryland Fragile X Resource Group – Support, education and participation in activities to raise awareness about Fragile X; 301-926-0576
- Maryland Fragile X Resource Group – Support, education and participation in activities to raise awareness about Fragile X; 301-926-0576
- Families Affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FAFASD) – FAFASD seeks to spread information, awareness, and hope for caregivers of people with FASD.
- National Down Syndrome Society – Provides information, referral and advocacy.
- National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – Information, support and referrals for affected individuals, their families and others
- Genetic and Rare Conditions – University of Kansas Medical Center website with a list of Internet links to advocacy, support groups, organizations and information.
- NORD: National Organization of Rare Disorders – Information and resources on rare disorders.
- Birth Injury Guide is a comprehensive informational website on all types of birth injuries.
- Tuck has a comprehensive site devoted to educating people about sleep disorders and how to help.
