Links
World-Wide
Many international countries, for various reasons, do not segregate children in the early years before school, or do not provide services. For example in the UK, early childhood services tend to be inclusive although they may be targeted geographically e.g. Sure Start Program.
Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE) is an independent centre working in the UK and overseas to promote inclusion and end segregation. It is funded by donations from trusts, foundations and grants. http://inclusion.uwe.ac.uk/csie/about.htm
Inclusion International (II) is a global federation of family-based organizations advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. II represents over 200 member federations in 115 countries throughout five regions Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. II has acted as a vehicle for the voices of people with disabilities and their families to be heard for over 40 years. The inclusion of people with disabilities into their communities, as valued neighbors and citizens, is a priority for Inclusion International and its membership. http://www.inclusion-international.org/en/index.html
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice. http://www.cec.sped.org/
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm The United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance. This link leads to the document of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) participates in new human rights convention for persons with disabilities. This convention, once ratified, will be an important tool towards reaching Education for All, particularly in Africa where 90 per cent of children with disabilities are excluded from school. http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=7939&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
There are a number of sites that provide good information about all children, including those with disabilities. To reach information about children with disabilities the sites should be searched using this key word.
Children in Scotland http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/ is a national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families in Scotland.
Children in Wales This is the national umbrella children's organization in Wales. http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/ It works in partnership with the National Children's Bureau and Children in Scotland.
Department for Education and Skills (DfES). http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ This is a web-site of government funded research in England & Wales. Publications are worth searching using disability and looking also at the findings from Sure Start which is a major early childhood initiative in the UK.
Images of Disabilty. http://www.imagesofdisability.gov.uk/ is a UK government sponsored site dedicated to accurately promote the diversity of UK society through the fair, honest and create representation of disability. initiative in the UK.
National Children's Bureau (NCB) http://www.ncb.org.uk/ promotes the voices, interests and well-being of children and young people across every aspect of their lives. It is an umbrella body for the children's sector in England and Northern Ireland, providing information on policy, research and best practice for members and other partners.
Research into Practice An electronic journal on evidence-based social policy and social work practice. A relevant link is available on the transcript from an audio conference entitled Children First: Disabled children and their families. http://www.rip.org.uk/publications/documents/audioseries/tape8script.asp
Stirling Council provides a guide fot parents and young people on Additional Support for Learning http://www.aslstirling.smallmajority.co.uk/. This site was developed by a parent of a child with disabilities to share information about changes to the Law in Scotland concerning omclusion and related services and the responsibilities of the Education Authority to provide adequate support services.
National
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Data provides public access to the most recent data about children with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These data are collected annually by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in accordance with Section 618 of IDEA. They are provided in the form of tables produced for the Annual Reports to Congress. https://www.ideadata.org/index.html
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization. http://www.naeyc.org/default.asp
National Center for the Dissemination for Disability Research (NCDDR) performs research, technical assistance and demonstration activities focusing on the dissemination and utilization of disability research funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. http://www.ncddr.org/
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhances the potential for full, productive living. Their work includes identifying the causes of birth defects, developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/default.htm
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) supports the national implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Their mission is to strengthen systems at all levels to ensure that children (birth through five) with disabilities and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate and family centered supports and services. It is a program of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.nectas.unc.edu
National Inclusive Schools Week highlights and celebrates the progress of our nation's schools in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population. The Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children. http://www.inclusiveschools.org/
National State Policy Data-Base (NSPD) provides state and national Special Education Regulations and special education regulations for the Department of Defense as well as links to all state education department web-sites http://128.146.206.233/Resources/NSPD.cfm
The Circle of Inclusion Web Site is for early childhood service providers and families of young children. This web site offers demonstrations of and information about the effective practices of inclusive educational programs for children from birth through age eight. http://www.circleofinclusion.org/
The Division for Early Childhood is one of 17 divisions of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and promotes polices and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. www.dec-sped.org
The Early Childhood Research Institute on Inclusion (ECRII) is a good resource for information on this topic. This was a five year national research project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education to study the inclusion of preschool children with disabilities in typical preschool, day care and community settings. The project ended in 2000 but there remain available on-line some excellent resource materials including a bibliography, briefs, an administrators guide to inclusion etc. http://www.fpg.unc.edu/%7Eecrii/
The Inclusion Network is an umbrella group based in Cincinnati. It is a not-for-profit group which aims to help raise awareness of inclusion, recognize exemplary inclusive efforts, provide technical assistance and link individuals with and without disabilities in their locality. It also has some good on-line resources. www.inclusion.org
US Department of Education: the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html?src=mr
Michigan
Bridges4Kids! A non-profit parent organization providing a comprehensive system of information and referral for parents of children from birth through transition to adult life. www.bridges4kids.org
Citizens Alliance to Uphold Special Education (CAUSE). A statewide non-profit coalition providing free information, referral, support, advocacy and workshops to parents and professionals working with disabilities and special needs. National and local contact through www.causeonline.org and by phone at 1-800-221-9105 and TTY 1-888-814-4013
Early On Michigan is a supplemental source of information for parents, professionals and providers for ordering publications, making a referral, locating their local Early On Coordinator, finding out more about early childhood, parenting concerns, special needs, disabilities and how to help/identify children who are at-risk http://earlychildhoodmichigan.org/What.htm
Everyone Togetherwww.everyonetogether.org is a coalition of parent networks across Michigan. We are wonderfully diverse in location, ethnicity, race, culture, socio-economics and ability/disability. We are enthusiastically united in our mission to achieve an educational system that embraces Universal Education: a Michigan model for educating All Children, All Together, All the Time.
Michigan's Children: An advocacy organization for influencing legislation and services which meet and promote the interests and rights of children. http://www.michiganschildren.org
Michigan Department of Education has official information and links on early intervention (Early On) and for parents and families of students with disabilities. It also has a section on Early Childhood and Parenting Programs. http://www.michigan.gov/mde/
Project PERFORM aims to provide information and support to enable families, professionals and advocates to enhance outcomes for children with special needs in Michigan. It can be accessed on-line at http://www.wash.k12.mi.us/perform/AboutUs.asp
The Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC) promotes quality education and the well-being of young children through professional development and advocacy. http://www.miaeyc.com/
The West Michigan Inclusion Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It was formed by parents of students with disabilities to provide education and support to other parents, educators, and other interested people. The board of directors is currently comprised of parents, general and special educators, people with disabilities, and an education student. www.wmin.org
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