Ohio Family Corner

On-Line Resource Guides:
Special Needs Resource Directory of Southwest Ohio:
www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/prog/special-needs/resources/default.htm
The directory includes information on issues related to advocacy, assistive technology, community services, dental care, education, employment, estate and future planning, financial assistance, guardianship, home health care, mental health, MR/DD services, nutrition resources, summer programming, therapies, transition issues, transportation, and wish-granting organizations. The printed and online versions of the Resource Directory were made possible through funding from the William Nutt Fund and BCMH.

Developed by the Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The goal of the Resource Directory is to provide comprehensive web-based information in one convenient location for both parents and professionals. Their hope is that the Resource Directory will be beneficial in the coordination of medical and psychosocial care of children with specialized chronic health care needs.

Family Support Collaborative: olrs.ohio.gov/ASP/olrs_FSCHomePage.asp
Providing Information about Supports and Services for Ohio Families Who have Children with Disabilities

Family Village: www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/index.htmlx
A global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support. This site offers informational resources on specific diagnoses, communication connections, adaptive products and technology,adaptive recreational activities, education, worship, health issues, disability-related media and literature, and much, much more!

Estate and Future Planning Guide: A handbook for Ohioans with Disabilities and Their Families
Published by Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council - David A. Zwyer, Esq. www.ddc.ohio.gov/Pub/Guard.htm

Guardianship Law You Can Use: This booklet offers a brief but comprehensive, non-legalistic overview of guardianship in Ohio especially for families who have a child with mental retardation. Much of the information is also relevant concerning someone with mental illness, or concerning someone who has lost competence as the result of an injury or the effects of aging. Developed by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council - David A. Zwyer, Esq. Booklet

Programs
Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Contact and Program Information

Healthy Ready to Work: Project Abstract | Summary
Helping youth with special health care needs receive the services necessary to transition to all aspects of adulthood, including adult health care, employment and independence in Ohio.

Help Me Grow: www.ohiohelpmegrow.org/
A program through the department of health for Ohio's expectant parents, newborns, infants, and toddlers that provides health and developmental services so that children start school healthy and ready to learn.

Transportation for Children with Disabilities:olrs.ohio.gov/fsc/asp/Transportation.asp
Information on Accessible Vehicles, Disability Parking Permits, Medical Considerations, Public Transportation, and Special Education.

Advocacy and Support Organizations
Family Voices: www.familyvoices.org/st/OH.html
Partnering with professionals and families to advocate for health care services that are family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, coordinated and culturally competent.

NAMI of Ohio (National Voice on Mental Health): www.namiohio.org
Education, advocacy and support for persons with brain disorders (mental illnesses) and their families.

Special Education Regional Resource Center (SERRC) Network System
"This statewide mechanism was designed to develop and implement services and priorities in keeping with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). SERRCs fulfill a critical role in providing timely and specialized assistance to parents and school personnel. The SERRC system assists the Division of Special Education, playing an essential role in statewide networking activities, advocacy on behalf of students with disabilities, and state and national outreach and information dissemination." www.ode.state.oh.us/exceptional_children/serrc/

Find the SERRC in Your Area
There are 16 SERRCs throughout the state. The Ohio Dept. of Education provides a listing of centers and contact information at: www.ode.state.oh.us/exceptional_children/serrc/SERRC.asp

The Association for Retarded Citizen (Arc) Family Resource Guide www.thearc.org/familyguide/ohio.doc
This guide is written for families raising children with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. It tells families about benefits, supports and services in their state that might help their child.

Note: The information provided on the state pages was submitted by the state medical home teams.As this is not an exhaustive list, please let us know if you have additions for your state resource page. You can contact us at: medical home@aap.org.

Last Updated August 15, 2006