Adaptation

All of us adapt to our environment in certain ways. However, persons with special needs require special adaptations in order to function to their fullest capacity.

Most often, the nature of the disability requires supportive persons to provide those adapatations. Those who have greater abilities need to be creative in adapting to persons with special needs and providing the tools to help achieve greater skills.

General information about adaptations may be of interest to some. For most, they will want to pick an area based on the needs of the person and their stage in life.

The process begins for babies and pre-school children with early intervention services.

School-age children receive the most adapative services through special education. In addition to the formal school structures there are many special methods and systems to address specific needs.

Adaptive equipment is often associated with those who have physical disabilities. However, new technologies provide an increasing array of wonderful tools to assist those with cognitive disabilities as well.

General Information

DisabilityInfo.gov
If you want to know about U.S. Federal government programs, this is the official website on disability-related government resources. Sections include everything from employment, housing, and technology

Early Intervention

What Is Early Intervention?
An introductory article from the U.S. Department Of Education on what early intervention is and why it is necessary.

Special Education

SERI - Special Education Resources on the Internet
Special education is often a bewildering experience, especially for parents. Here is a web site designed for professionals in the field that can also be helpful for parents and caregivers.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Background on this U.S. legislation which mandates education for all children.

Adaptive Equipment

Assisted Living Store
Kimberly Carlson, an educator with a Masters degree in Gerontology, has taken her interest in helpful "gadgets" along with the help and support of her husband, and created a "one stop" source for senior "gadgets." Many of these products will be helpful to anyone with physical limitations and challenges.

Accessible Environments, Inc.
Accessible Environments, Inc. specializes in the sales of handicap accessible products and custom home and business construction for handicap access. Their catalog, which went online in September of 2001, offers hundreds of items addressing every area of handicap accessibility for the home and the rahabilitation industry.

Assisted Living Products from Allenbeys
An Internet botique of helpful products "for those special people who choose to lead an independent lifestyle despite physical challenges." A wide range of products including everything from wheelchair accessories to adaptive clocks, watches, and calculators to canes, walkers and reachers to Braille items. Interesting for browsing.

Technology

Still under construction! Check back!