The term special needs can apply to a wide array of circumstances that cause individuals to require assistance or non-standard accommodations. Cognitive delays and learning disabilities are commonly referred to as special needs, but visual and hearing impairment, physical disabilities that affect mobility, and even congenital conditions of the major organs and body systems can all be considered special needs. The websites below, listed in no particular order, are the best resources on the Internet for learning about a wide variety of special needs. Some of the sites simply chronicle an individual’s or family’s journey with Down Syndrome or another condition, and some of the sites offer advice or links to other resources for those doing research about special education or a specific type of special need.

Special Education

Education systems that are based on standardized testing and built to cater to high numbers of average students do not serve those with special needs well. Developmental delays, learning disabilities, and issues with sight, hearing, and cognition can all make it nearly impossible to make use of public education systems. The sites below cover special education both inside and outside public systems, and offer new perspectives and insights on what education should be like for those with special needs.

    1. Liz Beck’s Art Therapy Blog

    2. Special Education Law Blog

    3. Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities

    4. The Shut Down Learner by Dr. Richard Selznick

    5. I Speak of Dreams

    6. Assistive Technology

    7. I Love Special Education

    8. The Life that Chose Me

    9. Apace of Change

    10. Ms. Rachel’s Room

    11. Teacher Sol

    12. Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs

    13. Barto’s World

    14. ABC Therapeutics Blog

    15. Cooke Center Special Education Blog

    16. Learning Ally

    17. Special Education Advisor

    18. Reality 101

      To Top ↑

      Down Syndrome

      Down (or Down’s) Syndrome, also known by the name trisomy 21, occurs when an extra copy of chromosome 21 is present in a person’s genome. Down syndrome is diagnosed at birth, and can be tested for very early in pregnancy. Those with the condition usually have low IQs and unusually broad, flat, and round faces, as well as large tongues, which may cause their speech to be impeded. Since trisomy 21 is the most common known chromosomal disorder, special education programs are often well equipped to serve people with Down Syndrome. Additionally, a strong support community of bloggers and others willing to share their stories about Down’s Syndrome has evolved. The sites below are some of the best sources for info on parenting, education, and other aspects of raising a child with Down’s.

    19. The Bates Motel

    20. Got Down Syndrome

    21. Blessed By Beau

    22. Braska Bear

    23. Life is simple. It’s just not easy.

    24. Results Not Typical

    25. Our Cora Bean

    26. Prayers for Mason

    27. Snippets

    28. Runnin’ Down a Dream

    29. Our Version of Normal

    30. Down Syndrome: Up, Up, and Away

    31. A Brighter Sunshine

    32. Big Blueberry Eyes

    33. Zoromski Chronicles

    34. Down Syndrome New Mama

    35. Ella Grace with the Pretty Face

    36. Daily Smiles

    37. Just a Little Muchier Muchness

    38. Noah’s Dad

    39. Ben’s Blessings

    40. Garden of Eagan

    41. Down Wit Dat

    42. Life With My Girls

      To Top ↑

      Autism Spectrum

      The Autism Spectrum includes a range of disorders characterized by obsessive behavior, delayed social development, and difficulty with non-verbal communication. Asperger syndrome, Heller’s syndrome, and other “pervasive developmental disorders” are often said to be “on the autism spectrum,” though people with these conditions show a wide range of cognitive ability and learning aptitude. Someone with Asperger’s may experience all of the social difficulties associated with the syndrome while having an average or above average IQ, but autism spectrum disorders are often associated with learning delays as well. The following websites contain reliable information as well as personal stories of people with autism spectrum disorders.

    43. The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism

    44. Aspie from Maine

    45. Adventures in Aspergers

    46. Amy’s Tiny Corner of Existence

    47. Drive Mom Crazy

    48. No Stereotypes Here

    49. Big Daddy Autism

    50. Austintistic

    51. We Go With Him

    52. Uncharted Territory: My Journey With Mommyhood and Autism

    53. Adventures in Extreme Parenthood

    54. Try Defying Gravity

    55. Diary of a Mom

    56. Joy’s Autism Blog

      To Top ↑

      Batten Disease

      Batten Disease is an autosomal recessive degenerative disorder that drastically reduces life expectancy, though the number of years varies depending on the variant of the disease. Onset of symptoms comes around four years of age at earliest, and the disease eventually leads to degradation of vision, speech, and motor skills, and is usually accompanied by increasingly severe seizures. The sites included below range from charities that are raising awareness about the disease, to personal accounts of raising a child with this tragic, always fatal disease.

    57. Bee for Battens

    58. Kaitlin’s Journey

    59. I Am Especially Fond of You

    60. Tatyanna’s Hope

    61. Raising Redheads

    62. Betz Family Columbus

      To Top ↑

      Parenting

      The parents of children with learning disabilities or other special needs have a different set of challenges than most parents, and many have taken to the web to share their stories and find other parents of special-needs children to learn from and communicate with.

    63. Souls Never Wrinkle

    64. Different Dream

    65. Taking it Day by Day with Developmental Delays

    66. Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid

    67. Four Sea Stars

    68. Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords

    69. Love That Max

    70. Special Needs Mom

    71. Raygen’s Hope

    72. Faith’s Mom’s Blog

    73. Feeding Raya

    74. Special Needs Reads

    75. Logan’s Story

    76. Hopeful Parents

    77. Terra Talking

    78. Support for Special Needs

    79. Special Moms

To Top ↑

Miscellaneous

Finding stories about uncommon special needs can be harder and more frustrating than learning about the most common disorders. The sites below have information about an assortment of special needs not covered above, from attention deficit disorder to Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Additionally, some of the sites offer services tailored for those with special needs, from financial planning to religious inclusion and assistance finding employment.

  1. Primarily Inattentive ADD

    specialmompreneursze-full wp-image-152″ title=”Primarily Inattentive ADD” alt=”" src=”http://phdinspecialeducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Primarily-Inattentive-ADD.jpg” width=”500″ height=”125″ />

  2. 18 Channels

  3. Positive Thinking and ADHD

  4. A Splintered Mind

  5. ADD Sherpa

  6. My ADD/ADHD Blog

  7. Aidan with EOS

  8. Taste Life – Living with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE)

  9. Living While Living Without

  10. Eos Mom

  11. The Far Side of Complexity

  12. The Inclusive Church

  13. Children with Special Needs

  14. Special Needs Financial Planning

  15. Employment Horizons

  16. Thomas Marshall Does it All

  17. Visually Impaired Children

  18. Feeding Raya

  19. Beautifully Blind

  20. Blind Spot

  21. Eye on the Cure

  22. The Independent Little Bee

To Top ↑