Autism
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects language, social development, cognitive and sensory processing.

Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT): http://www.autismnsw.com.au/

Diet and Nutrition FAQ: http://depts.washington.edu/nutrpeds/faq/diagnosis/autism.htm

A4 - Autism and Aspergers Advocacy Australia: http://autism.anu.edu.au/A4_Home.html

A wide number of articles about Autism: http://www.hunter.apana.org.au/~cas/

Families for Early Autism Treatment: http://www.feat.org/

Wendy Lawson’s homepage: http://www.mugsy.org/wendy/index2.htm

Cure Autism Now - research into autism: http://www.canfoundation.org/aboutcan/aboutcan.cfm

Angelman Syndrome
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare neuro-genetic disorder occurring in about one on 20,000 births.

Australian Angelman Syndrome Association: http://www.angelmansyndrome.org/

Achondroplasia (short stature)
Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that results in very short stature.

Short Statured People of Australia: http://www.sspa.org.au/sspa.htm

Little People America: http://www.lpaonline.org/index.html

Asperger Syndrome
Asperger Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder affecting speech, social development and cognitive and sensory processing.

OASIS: Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support: http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/

Asthma
People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs, which can make it hard for them to breathe.

http://www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/

ADHD
Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder have difficulty concentrating and attending to task.

A listing of Australian support groups for ADD/ADHD: http://www.adders.org/ausmap.htm

Articles, resources, and chat about ADHD/ADD http://www.understandingadhd.com/

Behaviour Support
Here are some websites focusing on helping families with effective behaviour strategies.

Using Specific Praise: http://www.chp.edu/parents/08c_behaving.php

Positive Behavioural Support (PBS):
http://www.ukc.ac.uk

Brain Injury
Brain injuries are the result of sustained trauma where the brain does not get enough blood or oxygen.

Brain Injury Association of NSW: http://www.biansw.org.au/

Communication
Here are some websites focusing on different ways to communicate. ISAAC: International Society for Augmentative and Alternative

Communication: http://www.isaac-online.org/

PECS: Using the Picture Exchange system: http://www.pecs.com/

Boardmaker: http://www.mayer-johnson.com/software/Boardmkr.html

Using Visual Supports: http://www.angelfire.com/ky/touristinfo/index5.html

Using Signs with children with Down syndrome: http://www.altonweb.com

Using signs with babies with and without disabilities: http://www.babysigns.com/

Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a disorder of movement control, which results from damage to part of the brain.

The Spastic Centre: http://www.thespasticcentre.org.au/

Cystic Fibrosis
In Cystic Fibrosis there is a problem with the protein that controls the movement of salt in and out of the cells, affecting the lungs and digestive systems.

http://www.cysticfibrosis.org.au/

Dads
Here are some websites focusing on supporting fathers.

The Father’s Network, supporting fathers of children with a disability: http://www.fathersnetwork.org/554.html

Mens Line Australia - supporting fathers through phone counselling (1300789978), information and advocacy: http://www.menslineaus.org.au/

Disability/Special Education
Here are some websites about disability and/or special education.

Women with Disabilities Australia: www.wwda.org.au

ERIC website: an enormous storehouse of articles on a wide range of issues and interests. http://www.askeric.org

E-BILITY (Directory of Disability Links) http://www.ebility.com.au/

Ideas for teachers especially directed towards Autism: http://www.tinsnips.org/

Ideas for special education pre/primary: http://www.do2learn.com/

Ideas for speech activities. http://www.speechteach.co.uk/

Disability resources on the net http://www.disabilityresources.org/

Disability Online (an international site) http://www.disabilityonline.com/

Council for Exceptional Children: a large storehouse of articles about Special Education. http://www.cec.sped.org

Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21
Down syndrome occurs when there are 3 copies of the 21st chromosome instead of 2.

Down Syndrome NSW: http://www.dsansw.org.au/

A fun site (with cool t-shirts): http://www.unomas21.com/

A positive site for new families of a child with Down Syndrome: http://www.downsyn.com/

Early Childhood Intervention
Here are some websites about or offering Early Childhood Intervention Services.

Learning Links offers a family-centred ECI program for kids with disabilities or learning difficulties: http://www.learninglinks.org.au/

Family Support
Here are some websites focusing on support for the family or carers of people with a disability.

Carers Australia: http://www.carersaustralia.com.au/

The Family Village: links and resources for families of children with a disability: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu

Eparent.com; an online magazine for parents of children with a disability: http://www.eparent.com/

Fragile X
Fragile X is a developmental disorder caused by a mutation in the X chromosome.

Fragile X association of Australia: http://www.fragilex.org.au

Genetic Disorders
Here are a few websites covering very rare genetic disorders.

Trisomy 13, 18 and related disorders: http://www.trisomy.org/

Rare genetic disorders in children homepage: http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/

Grandparents
Here are some web pages supporting grandparents of children with special needs.

A UK webpage about Grandparents: http://www.cafamily.org.uk/grandparents.html

Hearing Impairment
Here are some Australian sites focused on hearing impairments in children.

The Shepherd Centre: http://www.shepherdcentre.com.au/

The Deaf Society of NSW: http://www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/

Discussion group for parents of children with hearing impairments: http://www.aussiedeafkids.com/

Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Delay
These websites focus generally on intellectual disability.

The ARC - providing information and advocacy: http://www.thearc.org/

NSW council for intellectual disability: http://www.nswcid.org.au/

Inclusion International: http://www.inclusion-international.org/

Learning Difficulties
These sites focus on helping children who have specific difficulty with numeracy and literacy.

A huge site with a range of links and articles relating to Learning Difficulties: http://www.ldonline.org

SPELD: Specific Learning Difficulties association of NSW: http://www.speldnsw.org.au

CIERA: Centre for Improvement of Early Reading: http://www.ciera.org/

Nutrition
These websites discuss issues in nutrition for children with disabilities.

For all disabilities: http://www.pediatricpt.com/articles/eating.htm

Diet in children with Autism: http://depts.washington.edu/nutrpeds/faq/diagnosis/autism.htm

Prader-Willi Syndrome
Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting learning, behaviour, and eating.

Prader Willi Syndrome Association: http://www.pwsausa.org/

Siblings
These websites support siblings of children with a disability.

Siblings Australia: http://www.siblingsaustralia.org.au

Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect which occurs in utero.

The Northcott Society: http://www.northcott.org.au/

Special Olympics
The Special Olympics trains athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete internationally.

The main Special Olympics website: http://www.specialolympics.org/

Visual Impairments
These websites focus on the needs of children with visual impairments.

The Royal Blind Society: http://www.rbs.org.au/