Links

On this page you will find links to various local, state and national special education and special needs resources.

Merrimack School Board Meetings on Demand

Asperger’s Association of New England
The Asperger’s Association of New England (AANE)'s mission is to
foster awareness, respect, acceptance, and support for individuals
with AS and related conditions and their families.
Comments: This is a great website. It contains lot’s of information regarding Asperger’s as well as up to date information on workshops and seminars in the area.

Autism Society of America
ASA is dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by individuals with autism, their families and the professionals with whom they interact. The Society and its chapters share a common mission of providing information and education, and supporting research and advocating for programs and services for the autism.
Comments: This organization has a very active local chapter. See their website at : http://www.autism-society-nh.org.

Bureau of Special Education
The Bureau of Special Education is charged with providing oversight and implementation of federal and state laws that ensure a free appropriate education for all children and youth with disabilities in New Hampshire.
Comments: This site contains up to date information on what’s going on in the world of special education in NH. It contains updated information and regulations that affect our children. Check it out for upcoming training and workshops.

CHADD Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), is a national non-profit, tax-exempt (Section 501 (c) (3) ) organization providing education, advocacy and support for individuals with AD/HD.
Comments: This website has lots of pertinent information, links and up-to-date legistative information. It can also connect you to local CHADD chapters. See their website at: www.chadd.net/905

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation

The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation educates families, professionals, and the public about pediatric bipolar disorder; connects families with resources and support; advocates for and empowers affected families; and supports research on pediatric bipolar disorder and its cure.

Comments: You might know this website as bpkids.org It is a very good website. Lots' of good information in a very user friendly way.

Gateways Community Services

Gateways Community Services is a private non-profit corporation created in 1981 to establish and maintain programs and services which promote growth and independence for individuals with developmental disabilities. Gateways delivers services for 2,200 individuals with disabilities, families coping with autism, and elders in need of care. We bring high quality services to residents in Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Wilton, and Nashua.

Comments: Gateways is the local Area Agency for our region.

Ten regional Area Agencies throught the state, under the direction of the Bureau of Developmental Services, provide services for individuals with developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorders. Eligibility for services provided by the Bureau of Developmental Services is based on many factors in addition to income related criteria, including type of developmental disability, residency and in some cases meeting skilled nursing care requirements. Each BDS service has different eligibility criteria.

International Dyslexia Association

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with dyslexia, their families and the communities that support them. IDA is the oldest learning disabilities organization in the nation -- founded in 1949 in memory of Dr. Samuel T. Orton, a distinguished neurologist. Throughout our rich history, our goal has been to provide the most comprehensive forum for parents, educators, and researchers to share their experiences, methods, and knowledge.

Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation

The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation is the first charitable organization dedicated to the support of research for the study of early-onset bipolar disorder.

Learning Disabilities

LD OnLine seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD.
Comments: This is a website that has lots for everyone. Whether your child is diagnosed with LD or not, there are lots of useful tips and ideas. It also has a free email newletter.

MADI (Mood&Anxiety Disorders Institute) Resource Center

The MADI Resource Center provides opportunities for individuals, families, professionals, and the general public to learn about the latest research and clinical advances for many mental health conditions. The Resource Center also runs support groups for family members and compiles a guide to mental health resources.
Comments: Sponsored by Mass. General Hospital, this website is good if you are looking for a place to begin. Lots of good information on a variety of topics. They often sponsor seminars which are very good.

Merrimack School District

Merrimack School District, SAU#26, 36 McElwain Street Merrimack, NH 03054 (603) 424-6200.
Comments: This is a link to the school district website. From here you can access each of the schools websites, school administration, school board, powerschool, etc.

NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education.
Comments: This connects you to the national website. It contains lots of great information and resources. It can also connect you to local NAMI groups. See their website at: www.naminh.org

NCLD National Center for Learning Disabilities

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) works to ensure that the nation's 15 million children, adolescents and adults with learning disabilities have every opportunity to succeed in school, work and life. NCLD provides essential information to parents, professionals and individuals with learning disabilities, promotes research and programs to foster effective learning and advocates for policies to protect and strengthen educational rights and opportunities.

NH Connections

The mission of NH Connections is to develop collaborative regional support networks to improve educational outcomes for all children while meeting the unique needs of children and youth with disabilities and to facilitate access to supports and services statewide.

Comments: This group has been very helpful in promoting parent/school collaboration in a variety of districts, including Merrimack.

NH Department of Education

The Department of Education offers a wide variety of programs and services in support of New Hampshire's students, teachers, educators, administrators, families, and community members.

Comment: Lot's of information and links to other websites and resources. Subject areas can be accessed through the A-Z buttons at the top of the page

NH Family Voices

Through our national network, we provide families with tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, and serve as a trusted resource on health care.

Comments: This website has a lot of useful information. It has a wonderful lending library. Materials are sent via mail with a postage paid enevelope for returning.

NH Special Education State Advisory Committee on the Education of Students/Children with Disabilities (SAC)

This committee advises the Commissioner of Education on issues related to special education, and promotes communication and cooperation among individuals involved with students with disabilities. In addition, the committee is charged with reviewing the federal financial participation and the level of state funding to determine their impact on the programs and delivery of services to children/students with disabilities throughout the state.

Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Northeast Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services is dedicated to serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in an environment that is communicatively unrestricted and "natural" to them. Northeast Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services is committed to the provision of services in a culturally sensitive environment, which promote independence and productivity. Northeast Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services seeks to empower, educate and advocate for equal access and opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of New Hampshire

Parent Information Center on Special Education
The Parent Information Center (PIC) is a recognized leader in building strong family/school partnerships. PIC provides information, support, and educational programs for parents, family members, educators, and the community. PIC is a pioneer in promoting effective parent involvement in the special education process.
Comments: If you have never been to this website before, you need to. This organization is a wealth of information and support for parents struggling to get services for their children. If you need help in understanding what should be included in a 504 plan or an IEP, they can help. If you need to know what your childs' basic educational rights are, they can help. If you need assistance with how to handle disputes with the school district, they can help. They also provide numerous workshops throughout the state for parents and educators. See our calendar page for a up-to-date link to their workshop calendar.

Special Needs Parent Coach
It's our mission to help you simplify your life and make time for your priorities, so you can focus on what matters to you most. We offer programs and products in a variety of price ranges, reflecting our belief that every parent of a child with special needs should have access to the far-reaching benefits of low-stress, balanced living.
Comments: This is a wonderful website. Joan is a great speaker. She provides effective and proven techiques to help special needs parents manage the everyday demands in their life's.

Tourette Syndrome Association
The national Tourette Syndrome Association is the only national voluntary non-profit membership organization in this field. Our mission is to identify the cause of, find the cure for and control the effects of Tourette Syndrome. We offer resources and referrals to help people and their families cope with the problems that occur with TS. We raise public awareness and counter media stereotypes about TS.

Wrightslaw
Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities. Begin your search for information in the Advocacy libraries and Law Libraries. You will find thousands of articles, cases, and resources about dozens of topics:
Comments: This website is wonderful if you have any questions at all regarding special ed law, your rights, the differences between a 504/IEP, etc. It is important to know what your child is entitled to for services as well as how to go about getting them. This group holds many seminars through out the country.

Let us know if there are any web sites that you would like to see listed here and we'll consider including them on this page!

PO Box 1184
Merrimack, NH 03054
www.merrimackpact.com