Learning Disabilities Resources at HCL

Portal Sites

These sites are valuable for their links to other sites having to do with disabilities.

The Boulevard
http://www.blvd.com/
"A Disability Resource Directory of Products and Services for the Physically Challenged, Elderly, Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals." Products and services are listed in twenty different categories ­ "Accessible Housing" to "Wheelchairs and accessories."

The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/index.htm
"The Boggs Center is part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pediatrics."
Their list of links to New Jersey organizations serving persons with disabilities is at this site:
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/resources/nj_resources.htm
Some of the sites are disability-specific,e.g. cerebral palsy, and others are state agencies or state-wide organizations.

Emerson Dickman, Esq.
http://www.emersondickman.org/
"The purpose of this web site is to provide understanding about disabilities in a way that maximizes the potential of parents, educators, and advocates to better meet the needs of children so that all individuals with disabilities can be happy and productive in their adult lives."
The "Favorite Links" section of this site leads to a large collection of sites relevant to learning disabilities, education law, and the connections between them.

The Family Support Center of New Jersey
http://www.fscnj.org/
The Family Support Center is a "One-Stop Shop" clearinghouse, offering you the most up-to-date information on all types of disabilities as well as national, state and local support programs and services for individuals and families seeking such information.

The Arc of Hunterdon County
http://www.archunterdon.org/
"The Arc of Hunterdon County is a not-for-profit organization providing services and supports to children and adults with mental retardation and related disabilities. Governed by a membership elected board, The Arc of Hunterdon works to ensure that every person with mental retardation enjoys the right to live, learn, work, play, and worship in safe, healthy, and self-chosen communities. The Arc assists each person it serves to achieve independence and productivity and become contributing, responsible, and proud participants."

Hunterdon Helpline
http://www.helplinehc.org/
"Hunterdon Helpline is here to help persons of all ages in a time of crisis, but we are here for the small stuff, too. If you need a compassionate listener anytime, or just want to talk, call Helpline. Ask any question - we will do research find the answer and call you back ASAP! We believe that after you get to know us you will call us for almost everything.."

Books and Libraries

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (from the Library of Congress)
http://www.loc.gov/nls/index.html
You can search this site to see what books and magazines are available in Braille or audio editions. You then get the materials through the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped (next listing).

New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped
http://www.njlbh.org/
"The services of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped are available without charge to anyone living in New Jersey who for any physical reason cannot read regular printed books. Readers served by the Library include people with a physical disability that prevents them from holding a book or turning its pages. Any one who is legally blind to those totally blind are also eligible. Individuals with a learning disability that is certified by a medical doctor may also use the Library's services.
The Library for the Blind and Handicapped provides informational and recreational books in Braille,cassette, and large print.
The Library's collection has more than 60,000 book titles and 76 periodicals available. Books by authors such as Danelle Steel, Nora Roberts and Dick Francis, to name a few, are available. Machines for playing the recorded materials are available on loan from the Library. Audiovision, the Library's radio reading service, is available to registered residents in New Jersey."

"Read ´Em and Speak!: Books and Reading from a Blind Perspective"
http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/books/
"Electronic text offers blind and visually impaired individuals an unprecedented level of intellectual independence and autonomy. Therefore, these pages are devoted to books, as read by the blind and visually impaired. All of the sites and resources to which Read 'Em and Speak is linked are either intrinsically speech and braille-friendly, or have been extensively re-indexed locally so as to ensure easy and immediate access by the blind/VI cybernaut."
Listservs about books, e-books, and Braille.

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
http://www.rfbd.org/
"We changed our name in 1995 to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, to serve all people with ´print disabilities´ — those who can't effectively read standard print because of a disability. Today, we serve 137,025 members worldwide, distributing 241,281 titles in 2004. Even more remarkable, more than 70 percent of our membership — which includes students in kindergarten through graduate school, as well as working professionals — are recognized with learning disabilities."

Children and Education

ASAH, The Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped
http://www.asah.org/
"ASAH...serving the private special education community since 1974 is a professional organization of private schools and agencies in New Jersey which provides highly specialized services to more than 10,000 children and adults with special needs."

Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.ideapractices.org/
"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."

EP [Exceptional Parent] Magazine
http://www.eparent.com/default.cfm
This site is the online equivalent of EP Magazine, "Continuing 35 award-winning years of providing information, support, ideas, encouragement & outreach for parents and families of children with disabilities, and the professionalswho work with them."

Statewide Parent Advocacy Center, Inc.
http://www.spannj.org/
"The Mission of the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network is to empower families and inform and involve professionals and other individuals interested in the healthy development and educational rights of children. Through this collaboration, all children will become fully participating and contributing members of our communities and society. SPAN´s foremost commitment is to children with the greatest need due to disability; poverty; discrimination based on race, sex, or language; geographic location; or other special circumstances."

Equipment and Technology

Computers – Ability Hub
http://www.abilityhub.com/
"Assistive Technology for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible. This web site will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers."

Family Support Center of New Jersey
http://www.fscnj.org/
"The Family Support Center is a "One-Stop Shop" clearinghouse, offering you the most up-to-date information on all types of disabilities as well as national, state and local support programs and services for individuals and families seeking such information."

Medicine and Research

The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/index.htm
"The Boggs Center is part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pediatrics. The Boggs Center, since its inception in 1983, has emphasized a community based, life span approach to the needs of individuals with the full range of developmental disabilities and their families."
Their list of links to New Jersey organizations serving persons with disabilities is at this site:
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/resources/nj_resources.htm

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Dept. of Education
http://www.state.nj.us/njded/code/current/title6a/chap14.pdf
"(NIDRR) provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. All of our programmatic efforts are aimed at improving the lives of individuals with disabilities from birth through adulthood."

Law and Legal Services

Americans with Disabilities Act home page, U.S. Dept. of Justice
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
"Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act." Official publications about ADA are available online or by fax. There are also sources for businesses looking for guidance in complying with ADA, and links to other Federal agencies that can be relevant to ADA.

New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
http://www.njpanda.org/ New Jersey
Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (NJP&A) is the consumer-directed, nonprofit organization that serves as New Jersey's designated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in the state. This website is speech-enabled with Browsealoud - software that reads our website aloud to you. This is particularly helpful for people with reading difficulties and visual impairments. Browsealoud is free and easy to download.
Once you have installed it, all you need to do is move your mouse over the text and Browsealoud will begin speaking. It also works on the website's menu and links, so you can navigate your way around easily.
The source law for special education is the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 20 U.S.C.A §1400, et seq.,(IDEA). In New Jersey IDEA is implemented through the New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.1, et seq.
Federal Law (IDEA´97 – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
http://www.cec.sped.org/law_res/doc/law/index.php
This site gives full text, indexing, and explanations of the "IDEA Act" as 20 U.S.C.A. 1400 is known.

Special Education, New Jersey law. The NJ Administrative Code, NJAC Title 6A, Chapter 14.
http://www.state.nj.us/njded/code/current/title6a/chap14.pdf

New Jersey ADA Lawyers
http://www.lawyers.com/lawyers/C~P~New%20Jersey~Employment~Americans%20with%20Disabilities%20Act~LDS~City.html
"New Jersey Americans with Disabilities Act lawyers, attorneys and law firms from Lawyers.com" – None listed in Hunterdon County.

[Some specific lawyers with a practice in disability law.]

Emerson Dickman, Esq.
http://www.emersondickman.org/
"The purpose of this web site is to provide understanding about disabilities in a way that maximizes the potential of parents, educators, and advocates to better meet the needs of children so that all individuals with disabilities can be happy and productive in their adult lives." The "Favorite Links" section of this site leads to a large collection of sites relevant to learning disabilities, education law, and the connections between them.

Sussan & Greenwalds, Esqs.
http://www.special-ed-law.com/
"The Firm´s practice is limited to the representation of disabled children and their parents in matters involving disputes with New Jersey school districts. Legal services commence with the initial interview, and where necessary continue on with mediation and due process. Our staff is committed to resolving disputes at the earliest practical time, but also prepares for litigation."

Travel

Access-Able
http://www.access-able.com/
"We have information and resources about: Travel with a special need, Disability magazines, Access guides for cities, resorts and attraction, Wheelchair or scooter rentals, Accessible transportation and more!"

Disability Travel and Recreation Resources
http://www.makoa.org/travel.htm
This site is a portal to many other websites, organized into the following categories: Travel Planning, Travel Companions, Destinations (subdivided geographically), Transportation, Air Travel, Especially for Children, Books to Buy, and Other.

Restaurant Accessibility

Wired on Wheels
http://www.wiredonwheels.org/index.asp
Wired on Wheels is "a not-for-profit internet organization dedicated to accessibility. Our mission is to empower people with disabilities so we can all can make better decisions about the places we visit. Restaurants are our first frontier. Whether you're a person with a disability or just someone who cares, we ask you to participate as we rate America for accessibility. WOW! provides an open forum where you can read restaurant accessibility reviews and contribute reviews of your own." –It looks like a good idea; unfortunately, only a few New Jersey restaurants have been reviewed yet.