Sunday 21 June 2015




Updated December 22
Welcome to our handy list of links to resources. Parents, teachers and support workers might find these useful when looking for ideas or resources for all children, but especially those that support children with special needs. 

The links go to sites that offer ideas, resources or to material that can be used in an educational or home or other setting and include social and behavioural skills, literacy, numeracy, other curriculum, learning through play, emotional development, life skills and home and work environments.

*Left-handedness: scroll down to section*



Ableize
http://www.ableize.com/
Disability and mobility directory. Follow the links to find information relevant to children.

Activity Village
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/
Free online activities such as printables. Curriculum and craft ideas.

Autism - sites, articles with useful strategies for life with a child or young adult with autism 
15 Behaviour strategies for Children on the spectrum
Helping AS teens to survive and thrive
Students with autism
Sleep
Autism Resource Center
Autism friendly homeAutism Support Network
Moving home with children with autism
Autism Awareness Month
Travelling with kids with autism
Learning to Drive with Autism by Carmen Adams
Autism and Fine Arts
Approaching adulthood/for young adults: Getting a job
Verywell Health and Wellness site
Designing play space for children with autism
A Guide for Families of Children with Autism : "Teaches parents how to navigate life with autistic children, including common behavior traits, how to help and how the impact it might have on the entire family. There's also additional support information and resources to help their child adjust and succeed in their day to day life"
Babysitting - when your child has ASD
https://www.aane.org/banishing-babysitting-blues/
Useful advice


Calculators.org
A free maths resource of use in teaching older students.
https://www.calculators.org/

CAT Kit
A method to teach and explore feelings, communication skills, behaviour and social skills for children (especially those with autism). Devised with the help of Tony Attwood. Can be used by parents, counsellors or teachers etc.
http://www.cat-kit.com/?lan=en&area=front&page=front

Children's Books Heal
http://childrensbooksheal.com/
Books that help children through tough times


Do2Learn
http://www.do2learn.com/
Educational resources for special needs

Down Syndrome Education International
 http://www.dseinternational.org/en-us/
Support, early intervention, education

Dyscalculia
Understanding what dyscalculia is and how to help a child or young person who has it
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia/understanding-dyscalculia

Dyslexia friendly books
http://www.oakabooks.co.uk/

Eating - overcoming picky eating problems
https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/how-to-help-your-asd-child-overcome-picky-eating-now/

Empowering Parents
http://www.empoweringparents.com/
Ideas, articles etc on parenting, especially parenting children who have behavioural problem


I Can
https://ican.org.uk/
The speech and communication charity

Imagination Tree, The
http://theimaginationtree.com/
Creative Play and Learning

Kids Play and Create
http://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/fun-facts-for-kids/
Activities and ideas and self-esteem building ideas.

Little Parachute Books
http://www.littleparachutes.com/about.php
Website where you can find books (and reviews) that help children deal with the ups and downs of life.


*Left-Handedness:


Left-Handed Children
Advice and information for parents of left-handed children from nursery to college age.
http://www.lefthandedchildren.org/

Left-Handers Handbook
https://www.robinswood.co.uk/series/professional-series/left-handers-handbook
A brilliant resource for parents, teachers helping a child who is left-handed. Written by author Diane Paul.

Resources from Robinswood Press
https://www.robinswood.co.uk/series/left-hand-writing-skills

Article on supporting a left-handed child from FamilieOnLine magazine:
https://www.familiesonline.co.uk/LOCATIONS/National/Education-Childcare/Education-and-schools/Support-your-LEFT-HANDED-child

Handedness Research Institute
http://handedness.org/action/leftwrite.html

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Living Paintings
Tactile and audio books for blind and partially sighted. Library of wonderful resources for adults and children.
https://www.livingpaintings.org/


Maths Chase
 "We have found that our simple game really helps children learn their times tables. Our games help children learn by repetition and increase their speed gradually as they become more skilled. Maths Chase allows you to increase the speed you need to answer questions as you become more confident in a fun and engaging way."  Maths Chase
Maths Chase

Meditation audios for young children

Mindfulness/Meditation
Useful links to sites/activities/resources that offer mindfulness or relaxation techniques etc for children from preschool to teens. Check out the links below:
A mindfulness practice for preschoolers

Mindfulness Activities for Children And Teens: 25 Fun Exercises For Kids

Mindfulness For Kids
http://www.mindfulnessforkidsinternationalblog.com/
Free resources and activities, downloads and audios to use with children - helping them develop the skills of relaxing, de-stressing/meditating.

Need2Know Series
A series of books dealing with various health, life or other issues. Many useful for parents or teachers or young people themselves. Aimed at UK market/readership.
https://www.need2knowbooks.co.uk/


Neurotherapy, The Association for Comprehensive Neurotherapy
Complimentary and alternative therapies for ADHD, Tourette's and other learning disabilities.
www.latitudes.org

Padlet.com
Useful resources for picture book enthusiasts!
http://padlet.com/marygtroche/usefulresources


Parenting Resources
Guide to Parenting Resources
A US site with informative resources for parents of children from birth to 18.
http://www.reviewlab.com/parenting-guide/

Pigly, a free guide which helps teach kids about maths and finance.
https://pigly.com/calculators/for-kids/

Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters (PLAY)
A therapy intervention to show parents how to help children with autism become more socially interactive through play.
http://www.playproject.org/


RainydayMum
Crafts, activities, links, family life and parenting for all families
http://rainydaymum.co.uk/#sthash.66J4RZfu.dpbs

Reading is Fundamental
https://www.rif.org/
US non-profit promoting literacy and reading. Website has useful literacy ideas and articles

SEN Teaching Ideas
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/more/specialneeds/contents.htm
Thousands of free lesson ideas for the classroom

Sibs
This is a support organisation and charity for brothers and sisters of siblings with disabilities of any type. There is a branch of the charity for adult siblings too. Adult siblings guides
https://www.sibs.org.uk/

Sleep problems and autism
https://harkla.co/blogs/special-needs/improve-sleep-autism

Social Stories TM
Invented by Carol Gray in the 1990's. Stories to help the learning and development of those with ASDs. Stories and how to write your own for your own child.
https://carolgraysocialstories.com/social-stories/

Son-Rise
Treatments and interventions for autism.
www.autismtreatmentcenter.org

Sparklebox
Free printables for young children.
www.sparklebox.co.uk

Special Needs Jungle
Parent-led information, resources and informed opinion about children and young people with SEN
http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/

Storyberries
Lovely site with free online stories for children of all ages.
http://storyberries.com/

Story Therapy 
https://www.pinterest.com/strawberryjambo/story-therapy/
New Pinterest Board from Strawberry Jam Books. Children's books that nurture, inspire or heal.

Temple Grandin...
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/?pageId=601
Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism

The Play Doctors
http://www.theplaydoctors.co.uk/
Autism Visual Aids and Communication Resources
All sorts of wonderful resources for use at home and school, Also training programmes etc

Therapy Shoppe
Therapeutic merchandise, speciality toys and equipment.
www.therapyshoppe.com

Upsanddownsmum
A blog written by parent Emma Clarke sharing her life and insights as mum to Joshua who has brain damage. Useful advice and encouragement for other parents in similar situations.
https://upsanddownsmum.com/

Wheelchair accessibility in the home 
Advice, suggestions (and links for US)
Creating a Wheelchair-Friendly Home: A Complete Guide