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Special Olympics gives people with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to train and compete in Olympic sports.

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In every corner of the earth, Special Olympics is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. These stories come from all around the world

Inclusion Works We celebrate our most inclusive games in Special Olympics history by profiling global athletes competing in the Abu Dhabi World Games in March.

50 Game Changers ESPN and Special Olympics have teamed up on a year-long storytelling initiative telling the stories of game changers and game changing moments toward inclusion. Check back each week for a new story of inclusion.

Pledge to Include

Stories of Inclusion Special Olympics and over 5 Million of our athletes are leading the charge for full inclusion of people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). The movement is rooted in the spirit of our founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who took a rebellious stand against the injustices faced by people with Intellectual Disabilities in 1968. Today, the fight for inclusion is more relevant than ever. People of all ages, races, genders, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities continue to face discrimination, ignorance, and disparagement. Just as Eunice Kennedy Shriver did 50 years ago, Special Olympics is setting a stake in the ground to create change and, this time, our athletes are leading the way.

See inspiring stories, photos and videos in our Special Olympics monthly newsletter.

Special Olympics offers many ways to take part. There are short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities, the option of playing Unified Sports and to become a Special Olympics athlete.

Please donate and help us get one more athlete onto the playing field.

Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Our athletes inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.

Mission The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

History From a backyard summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities to a global movement, Special Olympics has been changing lives and attitudes since 1968.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, was a pioneer in the worldwide struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities.

Leadership Teams Special Olympics is led by a senior management team with broad corporate and nonprofit experience. Seven regional offices around the world are headed up by managing directors who support the ongoing growth and development of programs in their regions. In addition, Special Olympics has a Global Athlete Leadership Council which features an Athlete Leader from each of the seven regions and provides feedback, guidance, and ideas to the Special Olympics International Board of Directors and Leadership Team.

About Intellectual Disabilities Children and adults with intellectual disabilities inspire us every day at Special Olympics events around the world. But what are intellectual disabilities?

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In every corner of the earth, Special Olympics is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. These stories come from all around the world Inclusion Works We celebrate our most inclusive games in Special Olympics history by profiling global athletes competing in the Abu Dhabi World Games in March.

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Center for Parent Information & Resources

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Center for Parent Information & Resources

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CPIR is a website designed for parents who is searching for information and resources to support their child with a disability.

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Has a child's disability recently touched your life? Are you visiting our website today looking for information about that disability? Would you like to find organizations and people that can help address the disability-related questions and concerns you may have?

We're very pleased you're here, because the CPIR has a great deal of information about disabilities to share. We hope this page will:

give you a quick roadmap to the disability world of help that's available in the United States; and

point you to disability resources on this website and beyond that may come in handy, now and as time goes by.

To speed you to information most relevant to you and your situation, we've divided the discussion below into two main parts. Click on the section that seems most relevant to your quest for information today, or just read straight through!

For Parents and Family Members

The Parent Center network is honored to welcome you to the disability community of those who are raising a child with disabilities. There is a lot of help, understanding, and assistance available, you'll be glad to know.

First, A Home Truth About Disability
There are many home truths about disability, but perhaps the most visible one is that "disability is a natural part of the human experience..."

We've quoted here from Congress. This was the first finding of Congress when it wrote the nation's special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. You'll find many disability laws in the United States. They are all part of a national policy "to ensure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities." Not surprisingly, there are many systems in place to address disabilities. These exist at the national, state, and local levels. We'll describe how to connect with these systems in a moment.

Other Home Truths
Given that disability is a natural part of the human experience, you may also appreciate several related home truths. These come from people who have disabilities or those who are involved with someone who does.

Your child is a person first, always.
Disability does not define your child's selfhood, any more than the color of his or her eyes does. Individuality grows from the rich soil of personality, experience, health, education, upbringing, and more. Know this for fact, and see it unfold in real time, as your child grows and matures. Having a disability is part of the mix, but so are your child's strengths, humor, talents, and interests.

Don't let the labels get you down.
We humans like to have a name for things-and that includes disabilities. We use terms like "learning disabilities" or "AD/HD" or "autism." These can seem like labels sometimes, limiting and impersonal. It's not uncommon for parents to resist having a label hung on their son or daughter. Some parents even resist accepting special help for their child because of labeling. Yet--labels are just terms used for a particular purpose. They're a convenient way of referring to something. And in the case of children with disabilities, schools are required to report the number of students they've helped according to specific categories. They have to use labels.

All this is to say: Try not to get too bugged by the label issue. Use the label when it's convenient or helpful, like when you're looking for information on your child's disability. Forget the label the rest of the time. Your child's the same person, either way. He or she hasn't changed one bit, label or no label.

Disability does not mean that your child cannot learn or be educated with peers without disabilities.
Parent Centers talk to many parents who've just learned that their child has a disability. Many wonder and worry that the disability means their child cannot learn or must now be educated in a separate classroom, away from friends and peers without disabilities. Not true. As you learn more about the special education system and how it works, you'll find that IDEA actually prefers students being educated together in the regular classroom.

Also, keep in mind that everyone learns differently. We all have our own personal style of learning, and so does your child. This includes our strengths and weaknesses, preferences and interests, talents and motivation. All of these factors go into how we, as individuals, learn and grow. Your child can learn, will learn. It's the job of special education to adapt instruction to fit your child's learning needs.

Learn as much as you can about your child's disability.
They say knowledge is power, and they're right. It's essential to learn more about your child's disability. How does the disability affect learning, movement, memory, behavior, and so on? What kind of special services help? What type of instruction is effective? These are the kinds of questions to ask. Share relevant information with the professionals working with your child. Also share your insights about your child's learning styles and preferences that only a parent can have.

You know your child best. Does what you're learning "fit" your knowledge of your son or daughter?
So you're reading scads of information about this disability. Keep in mind that not all of it may actually fit your child. He or she is unique, after all. Take the info that fits your child, sounds like your child, or might be helpful to your child, and use it. Leave the rest aside.

You're not alone.
Disability being part of the human experience, it's safe to say that many parents are where you are today, or have been where you are--searching for answers. It really helps sometimes to read what other parents have to say about raising a child with a disability. We recommend reading the short essay You Are Not Alone, written many years ago by parent Patty McGill Smith.

Finding the Information and Help You Need
OK, friend, let's get down to different business-connecting you with resources of help out there. In this section, we're not going to explain anything in detail (the page would never end!). We ARE going to suggest that you visit certain pages on this website. That's where you'll find things explained.

Here's a handy list of topics you can investigate. We've organized them in roughly the same order in which a parent might move forward, gathering information from the ground up. But feel free to jump around, if you'd like.

Each of the choices below will open in a new window, so this page stays open. That way, you can keep coming back to it and finding another corner to poke around in.
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What information are you looking for today? Re: Babies and toddlers, birth to the 3rd birthday:
The baby next door can do so many things that mine can't, and they're both 11 months old! Should I be concerned?
Read our Developmental Milestones page.

Where can I have my little one evaluated to see why she isn't....(sitting up, babbling, talking, walking...) yet?
Evaluations of babies and toddlers are conducted free of charge by the state, when there's a concern that the little one has a disability or a developmental delay. Find out where you can have your wee one evaluated by reading Services in Your State for Infants and Toddlers.

Tell me about the help available for babies and toddlers with disabilities.
We're pleased to! Read about early intervention.

Where do I find help in my state?
You'll want to get in touch with the Parent Training and Information (PTI) center that serves your State. Your State may also have a Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) that, too, helps parents and family members to connect with vital information and needed assistance in their State and beyond. Visit Find Your Parent Center.

Are there parent groups I can join?
Yes, indeed. Many different kinds, in fact.
Read Parent Groups.

I don't even know what to ask! It's all too new.
Understood. The first steps into the disability world can be overwhelming. But go step by step. There's a lot to learn and know. We humbly suggest that you poke around this website, especially the Repository of Resources, and see what you find. We also strongly suggest that you visit the website of the PTI or CPRC that serves your State.
Re: School-aged children, ages 3-21 I want to read about my daughter's disability.Oh, we have just the place for you to start.

Head over to Categories of Disability and connect with fact sheets on disabilities.
My child is not doing well in school. What should I do?
Ask the school to evaluate your child under IDEA. The evaluation is free. Results are then used by you and the school: (a) to determine if your child has a disability that's affecting his or her schoolwork; (b) to determine whether your child needs special services in school (called special education); and (c) if so, to help you and the school plan what type of help and support your child will receive.
Please read Evaluating Children for Disability.

I don't know much about special education. Tell me the basics.
Sure, can do.
Read 10 Basic Steps in Special Education.

Are there parent groups I can join?
Yes, indeed. Many different kinds, in fact.
Read Parent Groups.

Who can help in my State?
The Parent Training Information (PTI) center and the Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) in your State. Not all States have CPRCs, but all have at least one PTI. Connecting with your PTI or CPRC can plug you into who's-who and what's-what where you live.

What are my rights as a parent?
That's a great question. The answer is: You have many rights. Hustle over to the Parental Rights section and dive in.

I don't even know what to ask! It's all too new.
Understood. The first steps into the disability world can be overwhelming. But go step by step. There's a lot to learn and know. We humbly suggest that you poke around this website, especially the Repository of Resources, and see what you find. We also strongly suggest that you visit the website of the PTI or CPRC that serves your State.

We hope this brief introduction to the disability network has gotten you started in your search for information and connection. As your child grows and your experience evolves, your questions will change. The Parent Center network stands ready as an ongoing source of answers and connections.
As a parent new to the disability community, you may also find these last few resources on target: The Unplanned Journey: When You Learn Your Child Has a Disability
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/journey/
Parent Participation in Early Intervention (Children birth to the 3rd birthday)
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/parent-participation-ei/

Parent Participation in Special Education (Children 3-21)
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/participation/

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Has a child's disability recently touched your life? Are you visiting our website today looking for information about that disability? Would you like to find organizations and people that can help address the disability-related questions and concerns you may have? We're very pleased you're here, because the CPIR has a great deal of information about disabilities to share.

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Firefly is a website where parents can buy products to help support their child with a disability. There is also a blog section where parents can share their stories with each other.

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Family Freedom

The Firefly range of products are inspired by 'special needs family participation'. That simply means they are practical, fun products that help children with special needs take part in daily family life.

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Firefly | Special Needs Adaptive Equipment

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The Firefly range of products are inspired by 'special needs family participation'. That simply means they are practical, fun products that help children with special needs take part in daily family life.

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Autism Speaks is a an autism advocacy organization. The link will lead parts to a guide that can help them with finding resources and support for their newly diagnosed child.

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back

A Parent's Guide to Autism

If your child has recently been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, you have come to the right place.

A Parent's Guide to Autism was developed as part of Autism Speaks' series of Family Support Tool Kits to support you and promote a positive future for your child and family during an often challenging time.

You are not alone in this journey and this guide is a step toward finding the help you need to travel the road to optimal outcomes for you, your child and your family.
Sections include:

Response to the Diagnosis

Your Role as a Parent

Ten Things a Parent Can Do to Help their Child with Autism

Building a Support Network

Taking Care of Yourself

Personal Story: How I Let Go of My Expectations and Learned Unconditional Love

Frequently Asked Questions

Haga clic aquí para acceder este recurso en español.

Complete the form below to access the Tool Kit
By submitting this form you will receive periodic communications from Autism Speaks. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Our Autism Response Team (ART) is specially trained to connect people with autism, their families, and caretakers to information, tools, and resources.
Get in Touch with ART

Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

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A Parent's Guide to Autism | Autism Speaks

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Click here to download the Autism Speaks Parent's Guide to Autism - a tool to support parents after a new autism diagnosis.

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PBS is one of the leading TV network that is providing parents with different resources for children on the spectrum. In this article from Reading Rocket, they list all the PBS programs that celebrate autism.

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PBS Kids has been a leader in autism awareness, developing original programming for television, web, and mobile platforms. Learn about the children's program and find links to games for kids and companion resources for parents and educators.

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Children on the spectrum can have sensory overload. Meaning that their sense can be over stimulated from loud noises, a strong smell, lights, or the temperature. The Spectrum provides parents with different strategies on how to support their child with sensory sensitivity.

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What is sensory processing?

We use our senses all the time, usually without consciously realising it. The senses we normally use as part of daily life include sight (visual), auditory (hearing), tactile (touch), olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste).
In addition to these five external senses, there are three internal senses, including:

Vestibular - a sense of a centre of gravity.

Proprioception - the body's position in space and strength of physical responses.

Interoception - internal body awareness.

Normally, our brain processes these senses automatically and we might only become aware of them when one of them is heightened. For example, if we have a really tasty meal or we're not coping in extremely hot weather.

The way we experience sensory input - like the weather or feeling pain - is experienced differently by everyone, and for many on the spectrum, it can be significantly different.

For some people they can be oversensitive (sometimes called hypersensitive) to certain stimuli, like noise, light, clothing or temperature. Or they can be undersensitive and not notice cold or taste, but they can be oversensitive to noise. A person may be both oversensitive and undersensitive to different stimuli.

Other people on the spectrum have no major issues with sensory processing.

These reactions are all part of individuality - everyone with autism is different. If you have a child with autism you may notice which senses are over or under sensitive, then you can learn how to help your child manage their feelings or reactions.

People with autism can also find it hard to filter out less important sensory information, this is referred to as sensory modulation. They can feel overwhelmed by too much information. 'Sensory overload' can even include eye contact, which is why some people on the spectrum don't like to make or hold eye contact with others.

How autism can impact our senses

Just like autism itself, the ways that our senses are affected or experienced is complicated. There is no single way that people, with or without autism experience any sense.

Sensory aspects of life for a person with autism can affect those around them, like their family or loved one.

For example, if a child is oversensitive to noise, it can limit where their family can go or the kinds of activities they can do. And commonly, hypersensitivity around food can have a big impact on the diet of a person with autism.
People on the spectrum may have differences in sensory function with:

regulating sensory information

hyposensitivity - being undersensitive

hypersensitivity - being oversensitive

inconsistencies - their levels of hyposensitivity or hypersensitivity can fluctuate.

Signs of sensory differences

Auditory (hearing): noise sensitivities eg, a person will cover their ears in a noisy environment.

Tactile (touch): a person might enjoy the feel of sand running through their fingers, or dislike the feel of a clothing tag on their back.

Visual (sight): a person might like to spend a lot of time watching a spinning object or one that flashes colour.

Visual/auditory: a person might seek out dark, quieter places or prefer bright colours.

Olfactory (taste): a person might avoid or refuse some foods and seek out other foods.

Vestibular: a person might like spinning or swinging at the playground, or climbing.

Proprioception (physical responses): a person might like heavy blankets on their bed or just prefer a sheet regardless of the weather.

Interoception (body awareness): a person may not notice if they need to go to the toilet, that their heart is racing, or that they are hungry. Or they may notice these things very intensely.

Differences in sensory processing can create anxiety in some people with autism, which may lead to unexpected behaviours or behaviours of concern.

Keep in mind that if you don't have autism, you may not notice sensory features that are upsetting to children or adults with autism.

Sounds that create little or no discomfort for you might seem painfully loud to someone on the spectrum. Bright or flickering lights might cause agitation or anxiety. Even a gentle touch might feel unpleasant, causing the person to flinch.

Some well known people on the spectrum have shared their experiences about sensory difficulties, like Dr Temple Grandin. This helps others learn more about sensory sensitivities and the impact it has on their lives. It also helps people support those on the spectrum in useful ways. You can watch a video of Temple Grandin here.

What is interoception?

Interoception, or body awareness, is sometimes described as the eighth sense.

Examples of everyday experiences of body awareness are noticing things like needing to go to the toilet, that your mouth is dry or that your heart is racing, or noticing that your muscles are aching or that you have hunger pains. Some people on the spectrum don't notice some or many of these sensations. Others may notice them very intensely.

Body awareness can also give us clues about our emotions, like whether we feel anxious, upset or frightened.

Difficulties with interoception can affect many aspects of life, like toileting, sleep, identifying or explaining symptoms when sick, healthy eating, experiencing pain, staying focused or dealing with stress or emotions.

What is synaesthesia?

Another condition experienced by some people on the spectrum is synaesthesia. This means an experience goes in through one sensory channel and out through another, so a person might hear a sound but experience it as a colour. In other words, they will 'hear' the colour yellow. The experience of having synaesthesia is different for everyone.

Research conducted by the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University lead by Simon Baron Cohen, identified that adults with autism experienced synaesthesia almost three times greater than in the general population.

Many people that experience synaesthesia may not be aware that they their experiences of processing sensory information is so different then a person who does not until later in life.

For some people it can contribute to making everyday life feeling confusing or frightening. Others state that it provides great beauty, and can contribute their heightened skills in memory to synaesthesia. Daniel Tennent has the extraordinary ability to remember and recall 22,514 decimals of pi.

"What my brain was doing was inventing a meaning, like a story," Tammet said. "What I did was make a poem or a novel out of pi, and took those colours and those emotions and used them to perceive patterns, or at least to perceive patterns in my mind that were memorable, that were meaningful to me."

Strategies for living with sensory differences

If you or your loved one is living with autism, gather information first - observe and try to identify patterns of sensory differences. Once we understand a person's sensory processing differences there are a range of tools and strategies that we can use to support their needs including things like happy books or stimulation toys, or earplugs/sunglasses.

It is important to remember that everyone's sensory needs will be different. Working with an Occupational Therapist can help to identify a person's sensory differences and can then make recommendations on tools, techniques and therapy that can support.
If you or your child easily become overwhelmed by sensory stimulation (eg. loud noises, bright lights, crowds), you can try the following:

create a 'quiet space' to go to for calming down

allow extra time to process instructions or conversation

visit new places at quiet times, gradually increasing the length of time spent in the new environment

try ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones to help with sound sensitivities

arrange 'calm' days to counteract busy days to reduce social or sensory anxiety.

If you or your loved one needs more stimulation from the environment, try these ideas:

arrange for extra time outside or keep busy doing physical activities you enjoy

use toys that are extra-stimulating, like playdough, a squishy ball or a spinning gadget

listen to music, bounce on the trampoline or go for a walk at a certain time of day

if your loved one on the spectrum tends to ignore sounds, speak loudly in an exaggerated way or stay close by.

People with difficulties experiencing or noticing bodily awareness may be able to learn more interoception skills.

Specific activities can help people to notice a change in some aspect of their internal self, like their bladder/bowel feeling, muscular system, breathing, temperature, pulse or touch.

Not noticing pain is one aspect of sensory processing. A person on the spectrum might not notice when objects are too hot, or when they have a cut or blister - or they may not be able to explain a discomfort.
If your child has autism, here are some ways to help them develop a sense of pain:

Tell them which objects are hot and cold, try labelling objects in your house as 'hot' or 'cold', using either words or symbols, like fire and ice.

Make sure dangerous objects are out of reach or covered (like a hot stovetop after use).

Talk with your health professional - they follow cues like facial expressions or actions to know whether a child is experiencing pain, so it's important for them to know if a child expresses pain in an unusual way.

Ways to help with sensory issues

Occupational therapists (OTs) can help people on the spectrum to better manage their environments. This might include coping with sensory sensitivities, learning continence training (how to use the bathroom), staying on task, and developing motor coordination and balance.

Other professionals including dietitians and speech therapists can also assist to help people on the spectrum who have taste, textural and smell sensitivities that affect eating or swallowing.

Get a sight test to make sure there is not an underlying visual problem. If your child with autism ignores sounds and/or people talking, you could get their hearing checked. Many optometrists conduct hearing tests during a vision test appointment.

If you or your loved one on the spectrum is experiencing difficulties managing aggressive or concerning behaviours, a good first step is talking with a paediatrician, behaviour practitioner or psychologist. Unexpected or concerning behaviour, such as kicking, hitting, biting, throwing objects or hurting themselves, can sometimes be caused by sensory processing difficulties (eg. overload).

To find out more about these behaviours and how to live with them visit our autism behavioural strategies page.

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Everything you need to know about sensory aspects and strategies for living with sensory sensitivities for people with autism.

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Parents can sometimes question if their child is developing normally. This video gives great information on what to look out for as early signs of autism

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Tips for Recreation, Leisure, and Play Activities - Real Life Tips for Kids With Autism

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This video helps parents learn how to engage their child in recreation activity at home.

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Catching early signs of autism in infants

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Children love playing games on their tablets, this is the same for children on the spectrum. Listed on this website are fun apps that parents can download for their child.

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Find tools to help kids build important social and communication skills. Explore this Best Apps for Kids with Autism Top Picks list of 19 tools curated by Common Sense Education editors to find relevant and engaging edtech solutions for your classroom.

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Maxim Healthcare is a healthcare service that provides home services for children with special needs. Some of their services ABA, private nursing, and family caregiver.

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Caring for our community | Maxim Healthcare Services

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At Maxim, our priority is providing exemplary care for our patients and their families. Our team of nurses, therapists, and home health aids help patients of all ages maintain their quality of life.

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Autism Dad is a blog ran by Rob Groski, a single father of three boys who are on the autism spectrum. He shares his journey with his boys and provides support for the autism community.

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My goal with The Autism Dad blog is to educate people and help them better understand what life can be like for families with a special needs child (or in my case, three children). I share this story from the perspective of a Dad, in a very honest and transparent way, even if it doesn’t paint me in

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Busy Bee Speech is a blog ran by Lauren a school speech therapist. Lauren offers products, app reviews, and free printouts to support your child in developing their speech.