Resources are need by us all.....
Posted by Tonni Brende on Tuesday, December 1, 2009
When I 1st moved here to the Kansas CIty area, Johnathan was only 9 months old; this "special needs world" was all new to me. I never grew up with anyone in, or around, my family that had special needs of any kind.. However, since Johnathan's diagnosis, my mother has had a stroke, my sister-in-law has been diagnosed with MS, and I have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C; so family has truly needed the resources I have learned over the years. Sadly, almost every day, I meet parents in similar situations not knowing what resources are out there.
No one tells you what is available except other parents; not doctors, not schools, no one that could truly help a parent along. So here you all go; here is what I have learned in my 10 years. I hope it helps.
EFECT@yahoogroups.com - a group of parents of kids with all disabilities; you have a problem, question, concern, need to vent, want to hear 1st hand from another parent or child, meet up with other parents regularily...this is your group. I have gotten more from this group than anywhere else (and they have put up with more of me than anywhere else, maybe, I can be hard when I am working for my son)
MODDRC (Missouri Developmental Disability Resource Center) -816-235-5450 - need info on anything, the research that takes hours and sometimes days already done for you..these individuals will mail you what you need with just one phone
call
UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) - 816-983-2207 - if you have a cerebral palsy diagnosis and you financial qualify there is a yearly alloted monies to help obtain necessary items your child may need..and they also have workers that will step up and help you go above and beyond to get extra funding if need be
Coalition for Independence - 913-321-5140 - so many different options with this group...they do communication evaluations for your child, you can donate your old equipment or request donated equipment at a very, very low cost, they have a toy lending library, you name it...you have an equipment or communication need, give them a call
TAP-I - 816-655-6703 - this organization is based on the fact that all should be able to access the internet, no matter what their need; they will come to you and assess your childs needs for communication, order what they see needed, have it UPSed to your door and it is yours to keep..they do not give computers, but everything to go with them
ArtzTech - 816-461-0201 - is an organization that refurbishes donated computers and laptops; after recieving a letter from a teacher, therapist, etc, on a persons behalf, stating need for and specks looking for, a computer can be pout together and purchased at a low fee (other organizations will help with that fee if need be)
No one tells you what is available except other parents; not doctors, not schools, no one that could truly help a parent along. So here you all go; here is what I have learned in my 10 years. I hope it helps.
EFECT@yahoogroups.com - a group of parents of kids with all disabilities; you have a problem, question, concern, need to vent, want to hear 1st hand from another parent or child, meet up with other parents regularily...this is your group. I have gotten more from this group than anywhere else (and they have put up with more of me than anywhere else, maybe, I can be hard when I am working for my son)
MODDRC (Missouri Developmental Disability Resource Center) -816-235-5450 - need info on anything, the research that takes hours and sometimes days already done for you..these individuals will mail you what you need with just one phone
call
UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) - 816-983-2207 - if you have a cerebral palsy diagnosis and you financial qualify there is a yearly alloted monies to help obtain necessary items your child may need..and they also have workers that will step up and help you go above and beyond to get extra funding if need be
Coalition for Independence - 913-321-5140 - so many different options with this group...they do communication evaluations for your child, you can donate your old equipment or request donated equipment at a very, very low cost, they have a toy lending library, you name it...you have an equipment or communication need, give them a call
TAP-I - 816-655-6703 - this organization is based on the fact that all should be able to access the internet, no matter what their need; they will come to you and assess your childs needs for communication, order what they see needed, have it UPSed to your door and it is yours to keep..they do not give computers, but everything to go with them
ArtzTech - 816-461-0201 - is an organization that refurbishes donated computers and laptops; after recieving a letter from a teacher, therapist, etc, on a persons behalf, stating need for and specks looking for, a computer can be pout together and purchased at a low fee (other organizations will help with that fee if need be)
