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- See a description of the SELPA 1 CAC Ability Awareness Week program.
- Books for children:
- It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr
- The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola
- Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
- Knots on a Counting Rope by John Archambault
- Many others: on www.amazon.com search for kids’ books under the subject “special needs”
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See IEPs & Accommodations.
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See Extracurricular Activities.
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- ADHD Support Group (sponsored by the Palo Alto CAC) - Meets the third Thursday of the month at 25 Churchill, Room A, PAUSD Office. Call Janet Dafoe 650-617-3822 for more information.
- Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute - Information, referrals, seminars, and monthly support groups.
- Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) - Provides a wealth of information. CHADD also provides summer camp scholarships for children with AD/HD. Go to www.chadd.org/summercamp to download an application. Scholarships are for children of CHADD members only.
- Books & Magazines
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Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell & John J. Ratey, plus many other books by the same authors
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ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen Nadeau. Very practical.
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See Support & Advocacy Groups.
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- O.A.S.I.S. (Online Asperger Syndrome Info & Support)
See also NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder) section.
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Dr. Kimberly Bell, MD, Psychiatrist
885 Oak Grove Ave., Suite 209
Menlo Park
650-330-1749
Assessments & treatment, great with teens, works with eating disorders.
Dr. Cheryl Bowers, PhD, Neuro-psychologist
Offices in Santa Cruz, San Jose & Menlo Park
831-430-0100
Assessments.
Dr. Barbara Brandt, PhD, Psychologist
851 Fremont Ave.
Los Altos
650-941-1535
Assessments & treatment.
Dr. Carina Grandison, PhD, Neuro-psychologist
2340 Ward Street, Suite 204
Berkeley
510-763-9795
Neuro-psychological & psychological assessments, serves infants through adults, will talk over phone to discuss options.
Lisa Maharas, Educational Psychologist
177 Bovet Rd., Suite 540
San Mateo
650-553-0100
Assessments.
Dr. Patty Mittelstad, PhD
851 Fremont Ave.
Los Altos
650-949-1236
Assessments.
Steve Newton, Psychologist
PlusFour Solutions
425 1st St.
Los Altos
650-949-2440
Assessments & treatment, great rapport with kids, especially teens.
Dr. Ruth Serepca, PhD, Neuro-psychologist
851 Fremont Ave., Suite 105
Los Altos
650-941-1550
Neuro-psychological & psychological assessments, serves toddlers through adults, will talk over phone to discuss options.
Dr. Brendan Pratt, PhD, Psychologist & Pediatric Neuro-psychologist
4 Main Street, Suite 110
Los Altos
650-949-2997
Assessments & treatment, FREE lecture series, specializes in educational, psychological & neuropsychological evaluations of children & young adults from ages 5 to 21 years.
Saratoga Instruction & Diagnostic Center
Carol Karlson, MEd, Learning Specialist
Alice Ruzicka, PhD, Psychologist, Neuro-psychologist, Marriage/Family/Child Counselor, Educational Psychologist, Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor
19040 Cox Ave., Suite 5
Saratoga
408-255-6872
Psychoeducational & neuropsychological assessments, IEP consultation, Orton-Gillingham and other multi-sensory tutoring methods for reading & writing, math tutoring, Fast ForWard family of programs to remediate language & reading delays, counseling, speech & language therapy, and auditory integration training.
16450 Los Gatos Blvd., Suite 112
Los Gatos
408-402-0450
Private comprehensive psychiatric services clinic, provides assessments & treatment, psychopharmacology (others in office too) founded by Dr. Wendla Schwartz, MD, Psychiatrist (child & adult psychiatrist) and her husband, Dr. Mark Ritchie, MD, Psychiatrist (adult psychiatrist)
2555 Park Blvd, Suite 20
Palo Alto
650-322-5910
Dr. John Brentar, Director
Assessments & treatment for learning disabilities; great with teens.
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- PHP’s iTech Center - Hands-on experience with assistive devices & instructional software. Make an appointment to explore high/low tech options through a guided "Techsploration" in their AT Lab. They can also do on-site assessments & work with IEP teams to try out different equipment or software.
- AT Network - an information & referral service developed by the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, Inc.
- Able Project – a non-profit organization started by a disabled person to provide a network where people with disabilities and their loved ones can effortlessly research, compare, locate and obtain mobility and assistive products.
- Schwab Learning: Technology That Supports Learning www.schwablearning.org - List of resources.
- DREAMMS for Kids, Inc. - Newsletter & links to useful web sites.
- Let's Play Project - Ideas on enhancing play opportunities, including assistance with positioning, mobility, communication & toys.
- Abilities Expo - Trade show for assisted living products and services held every year in Northern California in November.
- Center for Universal Design - Guidelines for building accessible homes
- Access San Francisco – which neighborhoods are the most chair-friendly, accessible public restrooms, etc.
- California State Parks list accessibility for each of its parks (http://access.parks.ca.gov/) and you can search by feature (camping, picnicking, trails), by park, or by region.
- Open Doors Organization (http://opendoorsnfp.org) – job placement, educational seminars and diversity programs that improve the quality of life for the individual with a disability while opening doors to businesses and society.
- Service Dogs
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Discovery Dogs – Provides training for your own dog to assist people with disabilities, P.O. Box 6050, San Rafael, CA 94903, 415-479-9557
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- Equipment
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Beyond Play - Toys, books & assistive devices for young children with special needs.
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Let’s Play: A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs – published by the Toy Industry Foundation (www.toy-tia.org)
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Benton Medical (formerly Palo Alto Orthopedic) has a retail store at 2601 Garcia Avenue, Mountain View, 650-625-1000, where they sell & rent all kinds of assistive devices.
- Books & Magazines
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New Mobility - a positive, activist magazine for the mobility-impaired
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Kids on Wheels: A Young Person’s Guide to Wheelchair Lifestyle – book & magazine aimed at kids and including a volume for parents, teachers & professionals
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Raising a Child with a Neuromuscular Disorder: A Guide for Parents, Grandparents, Friends & Professionals by Charlotte E. Thompson, MD – good, practical advice.
- Travel - see separate section on Travel.
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- Dawn Ferrer, MS, Speech-Language Pathologist & Director of the Early Intervention Clinic at the Center for Speech, Language and Occupational Therapy (CSLOT), with over 15 years of experience. Call the CSLOT office in Los Altos (1577 Carob Lane, 650-948-7189) or email DawnFerrer@cslot.com.
- Judith Paton, MA
136 N. San Mateo Dr., Suite 101
San Mateo
650-340-1280
"one of the best auditory processing people in California," according to one parent
- Dimitra Loomos - excellent, thorough, kind, great with children, very clear reports that offer specific guidelines for accommodations & remediations to help a child, in Oakland but totally worth the drive; recommended the Phonic Ear FM classroom amplification system, used at the Charles Armstrong School -- “it does for the ears what a yellow highlighter pen does for the eyes” –- which brings the teacher’s voice forward so that that is what the student hears rather than just background noise. Testing site: 2961 Summit Street #2, Oakland, 510-452-1047.
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- Defeat Autism Now (DAN)
Nutrition & treatment protocol, follow very restrictive diet & supplementation protocol
Raj P. Patel, MD, FAAFP
5050 El Camino Real, Suite 110
Los Altos
650-964-6700
- The Handle Institute - Provides effective, non-drug alternative for identifying & treating most neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan including autism, AD/HD, dyslexia & tourette’s syndrome, incorporates research & techniques from medicine, rehabilitation, psychology, education & nutrition, founded on interactive, developmental model of human functioning, provides clinical services, community information, & professional training.
Judith Bluestone, President & Founder, former autistic patient, researcher & author of Fabric of Autism email: Judith@handle.org 7 Mt. Lassen Drive, Suite B-110
San Rafael
415-479-1800 Enhanced Learning & Growth Center
2940 Camino Diablo, Suite 105
Walnut Creek
925-934-3500
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- The Children’s Health Council
650 Clark Way
Palo Alto
650-326-5530
- NorCal Vocational Inc.
(mental retardation & developmentally disabled services)
1671 Dell Ave, Suite 207
Campbell
408-379-4055
- Spectrum Center & Spectrum Center Schools
(special education for students whose disabilities prevented them from attending public school, schools located in Oakland, Concord, San Pablo, Fairfield, Pittsburg & Union City)
2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite 312
Berkeley
510-845-1321
- Shelly Davis, MA, JD, Behavior Consultant & Attorney
LEAP/Language & Educational Assistance for Preschoolers
1669-2 Hollenbeck Ave., #110
Sunnyvale
650-634-9940
- Pacific Child & Family Associates, formerly Bay Area Child Development Associates (BACDA) - a group of professionals dedicated to the caring & comprehensive treatment of children with developmental disorders; highly individualized; services for children: discrete trial home programs, floor time, social skill development, peer facilitation (play groups), school preparation/transition/support, adaptation to recess, individually designed desensitization programs for haircuts, dental appointments, & other difficulties; services for parents: presentations to schools, families, & support groups, parent training (generalizing skills, positive discipline, etc.); services to schools: inclusion consultation, 1:1 “shadow” aides). Yvonne Scheier, MA, Clinical Director, 1720 S. Amphlett Blvd. #102, San Mateo, 650-655-7619 or email yscheier@aol.com.
- Relational Development Intervention (RDI) Maisie Soetantyo, Behavior Consultant & Certified RDI Consultant
C.A.T.Ch (Comprehensive Autism Treatment for Children)
150 West Iowa Ave., Suite 102
Sunnyvale
See also Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) & Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC) under Drug/Alcohol Intervention section.
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- School Wise Press - California public school information & comparison.
- Online Guide to Bay Area Private Schools - Including link to schools with special ed programs.
- California Department of Special Education
- School Psychology Resources Online - Psychology resources for psychologists, parents & educators. Research learning disabilities, ADHD, functional behavioral assessment, autism, adolescence, parenting, psychological assessment, special education, mental retardation, mental health & more.
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- Some excellent local recreation department programs:
- Palo Alto Parks & Recreation – lottery system to sign up, with priority for residents
- Redwood Grove Nature Camp, Los Altos, 650-961-0950
- Cupertino Recreation – similar to Redwood Grove
- Mountain View Recreation Center – great, as long as you give them instructions
- Peninsula Day Care – also great, as long as you give them instructions
- Community college summer programs
- Camp Galileo - art, science & the outdoors in week-long summer day camps at locations throughout the area. Very receptive, upbeat staff. Child should be able to function in an 8:1 ratio.
- Youth Science Institute (YSI) - Summer science camps with locations in San Jose, Los Gatos & Saratoga.
- Camp Costanoan - Residential camping program in the Santa Cruz mountains for children & adults (ages 5+). Also offers weekend respite programs from October-April.
- Camp Harmon - a residential, co-educational camp for children and adults with disabilities run by Easter Seals Central California, with separate sessions for children, young adults & adults.
- MDA Summer Camp - Week-long sleep-away summer camp for kids ages 6-18. Contact the MDA, 1375 Sutter St., #300, San Francisco, CA 94109, 415-673-7500.
- Junior Sports Camp – day or residential 1-2 week summer sports camp for wheelchair users ages 5-21, sponsored by Far West Wheelchair Sports, the City of San Jose Department of Parks & Recreation and San Jose State University.
- Camp Wheelchair Adventure Mountain Programs - overnight camp for physically challenged kids held in the Sierra Nevadas north of Lake Tahoe.
- SOAR (Success Oriented Achievement Realized) - adventure summer camp for ADHD kids, with several sites from southern California to Peru.
- Camp Krem - Camping for kids with Downs syndrome, autism & cerebral palsy.
- Camp Lotsafun - Summer & winter camps that provide recreational, therapeutic, and educational opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as respite care for their families. Two locations: eastern shore of Lake Tahoe or Grizzly Creek Ranch, 35 miles north of Truckee.
- Bearskin Meadow Camp - kids camps, teen camps & family camps for those affected by diabetes, located in Sequoia National Forest.
- The Diabetes Society of Santa Clara Valley offers several day & overnight camps for those affected by diabetes. Go to http://www.diabetessociety.org/Camps/index.php for more information.
- Enchanted Hills Camp - A program of the Rose Resnick Lighthouse for Blind & Visually Impaired in Napa.
- Camp Superstuff - Day camp for kids with asthma, run by Breathe California of the Bay Area, held at Hoover Middle School in San Jose.
- Christian Berets - Christian summer camps & retreats for persons with disabilities ages 5-adult.
- Mt. Cross Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Special Friends Camp - one-on-one pairings of high school students with developmentally disabled campers, held in the Santa Cruz mountains.
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See Respite & Childcare.
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- Parenting the Child with Behaviors That Are Challenging - Positive discipline techniques, classes every quarter, $150/individual or $230/couple. Register at the YWCA, 375 S. Third St., San Jose, CA 95112, 408-295-4011 People we know who have taken this class recommend it highly.
- Foothill College - Offers Special Education classes on topics such as the Psychological Aspects of Disability, Disability & the Law, and ADD for Educators and Parents.
- Professional continuing education: Northern California Neuro-Psychology Forum lists neuro-psychologists, their services, ages served & contact info. The NCNF Forum for Professional has bi-monthly meetings & presentations, an annual conference on topics pertinent to advances in neuro-psychological research & clinical practice. They are approved by the American Psychological Association to provide continuing education credits for psychologists. A great resource for searching for neuro-psychologists.
- Kidpower - nonprofit organization that seeks to empower people of all ages and abilities by helping them learn how to stay safe, act wisely and believe in themselves. Occasionally holds workshops for people with special needs to identify their strengths and then to practice ways of using those strengths to help themselves stay safe. Contact them at 800-467-6997 or safety@kidpower.org.
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- J. D. Daniels, PhD, Neuro-psychologist (teen & adult coaching)
550 Hamilton, Suite 205
Palo Alto
650-328-4442
See also Meyers Learning Center under TUTORS section.
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- Lesley Samuels, DDS
905 Middlefield
Palo Alto
650-327-2310
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Drug/Alcohol Intervention
- Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) - very effective: promotes healthy social & emotional development of adolescents, their families & their communities through counseling & education; CARAVAN HOUSE = group home for abused & neglected teenage girls ages 12 to 18, licensed by Dept. of Social Services & referrals come from all over California; ON-CAMPUS COUNSELING PROGRAM = provides on-site individual & group counseling to students @ PAUSD & Menlo/Atherton, including bilingual counseling & community outreach for Latino families; ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM = provides prevention education in the community as well as intensive outpatient treatment to teens struggling with drug and/or alcohol abuse. Philippe Rey, PsyD, Executive Director, 4000 Middlefield Road, Room FH, Palo Alto, 650-424-0852.
- Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC) - programs address variety of emotional problems that include drug & alcohol abuse, physical & psychological abuse, teen pregnancy & truancy, domestic violence, gang participation, child custody conflicts, suicide prevention, economic hardship, & any other crisis or situation that may produce destructive behavior, provides counseling to public schools in Los Altos/Los Altos Hills & Mountain View. P.O. Box 335, Mountain View, Located at: 711 Church Street, Mountain View, 650-965-2020.
- Marijuana Anonymous - Very effective: see www.marijuana-anonymous.org for meeting times in our area.
- National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (NCADD) in the Silicon Valley - very effective: Controlled Substance Education (CSE) class ordered by court, employer, parent or self, ten hours of class plus proof of attendance of four Marijuana Anonymous meetings. 1415 Koll Circle, Suite 101, San Jose, 408-292-7292.
- Camp Recovery Centers - FREE 5-week educational-lecture series for adolescents & their families, LAHS has heard good things about this program @ First United Methodist Church, 24 N. 5th Street, San Jose. To enroll: call Angie @ 408-367-2181, or call 877-557-6237.
See also Emily Harris under PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, THERAPISTS section.
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See Camps, Scouts, Sports sections.
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- For families with special needs children:
Brad Elman, CLU & parent of special needs child
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
60 South Market Street, Suite 600
San Jose
408-535-5747
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- SoundWave Center - provides AVT (Auditory-Verbal Therapy) to hearing impaired & deaf children along with those with additional disabilities (ADHD, autism, language disorders, LD, cerebral palsy, etc.). Techniques are NOT speech language techniques; rather AVT & are taught by trained & certified AVT therapist with a MEd/Special Education. Contact: Victoria Deasy, MEd, CED, Cert AVT, 650-570-6369, email: soundwavecenter@aol.com.
- Jackson Hearing Center, part of Palo Alto Unified School District, at Fairmeadow Elementary (grades Pre-K to 5) and JLS Middle School and Gunn High School. Contact Carol Zepecki, Director of Student Services, 650-856-0845.
- Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf, 3518 Jefferson Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062, 650-365-7500
- San Francisco SPCA Hearing Dog Program, 2500 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-554-3020 V; 554-3022 TDD.
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- High School
- Colleges
- Click here for a list of special education resource contacts at local colleges.
- Agencies - Click here for a list of local resources available to help those with disabilities, particularly for learning independent living skills.
- Publications
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- State Office of Education, Procedural Safeguards Hotline 1-800-926-0648 - They will help when there is a compliance or other procedural issue.
- www.specialneedsadvocate.com - Preparing a “portrait of your child”; the importance of prior written notice.
- Wrightslaw – Parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys come to this website for up-to-date, reliable information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities. Includes the following helpful articles:
- Accommodations Checklist – an extensive listing can be found at www.lovejoyschools.com/504_accomodations.htm.
- Protection & Advocacy, Inc. - Advocates on behalf of people with disabilities and provides information and many publications, most of which are online, including:
- www.iep4u.com - Wow! Tons of IEP ideas. Over 4000 free Goals and Objectives (IEP-ITP) each with changeable benchmarks. Teachers, parents & students can now input key words, phrases, or test names in the search engine to find just the correct objectives for their needs.
- Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER) - You can view the content of IDEA 1997 along with other resources.
- United Advocates for Children of California
- National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities - Great IEP reference! This center provides information on: disabilities in children & youth; programs & services for infants, children & youth with disabilities; IDEA, the nation's special education law; No Child Left Behind, the nation's general education law; and research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities.
- U.S. Department of Justice ADA Home Page - Resources, toll-free information line, regulations info, mediation program: if you’ve got any accessibility legal questions, this is a good place to start.
- Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers - An innovative project that supports a unified technical assistance system for the purpose of developing, assisting and coordinating Parent Training and Information Projects and Community Parent Resource Centers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). PHP is our local center, but this website has other interesting information.
- Council for Exceptional Children - A site designed to answer your questions about the IDEA, keep you informed about IDEAS That Work & support your efforts to help ALL children learn, progress & realize their dreams.
- Books
- From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide
- This book will teach you effective advocacy skills. You will learn to recognize pitfalls and avoid mistakes that prevent parents from successfully advocating for their children. At www.fetaweb.com, you will find articles, checklists, sample letters, charts and resources to supplement the book.
- The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child
by L. Siegel - This guide walks you step by step through the IEP process. The book provides all the instructions, suggestions, strategies, resources, and forms you need to proceed from when you first suspect a problem to when you child completes school. Order online or call 1-800-728-3555.
- California Special Education Programs: A Composite of Laws
published by the California Department of Education - This book lists the exact text of all pertinent education law. To order, call 1-800-995-4099. Parents of children with a disability are eligible to receive one complimentary copy.
The Special Education Rights and Responsibilities Manual - A book written in everyday language that covers education law; this is the main reference used by PHP in their education department. View the entire text online or call 1-800-776-5746 to order a copy.
How Well Does Your IEP Measure Up? Quality Indicators for Effective Service Delivery by Diane Twachtman-Cullen & Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly - This book focuses on the science of writing clear, understandable, and measurable objectives.
See also Support & Advocacy Groups.
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See Assistive Technology & Mobility Impairments section.
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- Books
- The Source for Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities by Sue Thompson (1997 LinguiSystems) – a GREAT place to start.
- Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities: Solving the Classroom Puzzle by Mardi Bernard (2001 Edmonton Public Schools, Special Needs Programs, Center for Education, Alberta, Canada) – GREAT accommodation ideas.
- Nonverbal Learning Disabilities at School: Educating Students with NLD, Asperger Syndrome, and Related Conditions by Pamela Tanguay (2002 Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London) – more GREAT accommodation ideas.
- Helping a Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder or Asperger Syndrome: A Parent’s Guide by Kathryn Stewart (2002 New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, CA)
- Bridging the Gap: Raising a Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder by Rondalyn Whitney.
- Michelle Winner's books, which can be found on her web site: www.socialthinking.com.
- The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome by Patricia R. Bashe & Barbara L. Kirby (Crown Publishers, New York), See also their web site: www.aspergersyndrome.org.
- Star Shaped Pegs in Square Holes by K. Allen (1998 Unicycle Press, Oakland, CA)
- Web Sites
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- To find OT clinics in CA: http://www.spdbayarea.org/OT_clinics_San_Jose.htm.
- Development Is Child’s Play - Terri Wiss, MA, OTR/L & Director, 10011 N. Foothill Blvd., Cupertino, CA 95014-5649, 408-865-1365. Occupational therapy.
- Lighthouse Project - provides OT services to people of all ages with NVLS, asperger’s, & high-functioning autism, specialize in providing sensory integration interventions, are well known for their social skills development programs, offer summer camps at the clinic, provide specialty services such as Interactive Metronome (I.M.), Perceptual Education Program (PEP), & the Listening Program. 471 Division Street, Campbell, 408-871-8711.
- Rondalyn Whitney, MOT, OTR/L - Expert on nonverbal learning disorders (NLD), now a lecturer @ OT Department @ San Jose State, co-founder & served as president of Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association, founder & past clinic director of The Lighthouse Project, currently serving as Communications Chair of the Occupational Therapy Association of CA, interests include assessment & treatment of children with neurocognitive learning disabilities: aspergers, NLD, high functioning autism, & social participation in families with differently developing children. 408-924-3085, email: rwhitney@casa.sjsu.edu.
See also Center for Speech Language & Occupational Therapy under Speech & Language section.
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- Westcott Physical Therapy Pediatrics, 240 Second St., Los Altos, CA 94022, (650) 941-7600 - private outpatient PT practice, providing therapy services to both adults and kids.
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- Trudy Hartman, MD
Palo Alto
650-321-8797
- Dr. Alan Rosenthal
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
795 El Camino Real
Palo Alto
650-853-2904
specialty is child/adolescent psychiatry
- Dr. Linda Weir, MD, OD
855 Oak Grove Ave.
Menlo Park
650-322-3720
703 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto
650-562-3640
Osteopathic Doctor is like an MD but holistic
- Elena Labrada, MD
855 Oak Grove Avenue
Menlo Park 95025
650-329-9688
In the same office as Linda Weir, where there are also two male psychiatrists, and the whole office is child & adolescent psychiatry. A Yale and Stanford graduate in child & adolescent psychiatry, she is excellent with children & teens, very personable.
- Matthew Stubblefield, MD
3303 Alma St.
Palo Alto
650-856-0406
psychiatrist who works with all age groups, his specialty is ADHD & accompanying disorders, such as anxiety, obsessive behaviors, depression, etc.
- Dr. Pamela Kaiser
Menlo Park
650-323-2222
- Dale Jacknow, Developmental Pediatrician
San Mateo
650-342-3137
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Dr. Elisa H. Song
950 Woodside Road, Suite 5
Redwood City, CA 94061
650-369-KIDS (5437)
Holistic pediatrics for your child's body, mind & spirit, integrating conventional pediatrics with nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine
See also in the ASSESSMENTS - EDUCATIONAL section:
- Dr. Kimberly Bell, MD, Psychiatrist;
- Solutions Psychiatric Associates, A Medical Corporation: Dr. Wendla Schwartz, MD, Psychiatrist & Dr. Mark Ritchie, MD, Psychiatrist
See also info under BIPOLAR section.
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- For grades K-3:
- "What Is Reading?": what it takes to learn to read for young children.
- Target the Problem: a tool to help parents and teachers understand the specific problems a child may be having with reading. You'll find practical suggestions on what you (and kids themselves) can do to help students overcome or deal with their reading difficulties.
- Tips for Parents: from the Council for Exceptional Children and the Department of Education, which has an 8-page booklet (also in Spanish) with lots of practice activities and actions that parents can use to light that reading fire.
- For adolescents
- The National Council of Teachers of English has two links: "Summer Reading and Learning" and "Adolescent Literacy."
- Check out this article on middle schoolers at the International Reading Association.
- For high interest/low reading level materials: the Accessible Book Collection for age-appropriate reading materials for students reading below their grade level. Qualified students can borrow digital copies, or e-books from the vast collection. These are great for students who are prevented from reading standard print due to visual, perceptual or physical disability such as: blindness, physical disability, visual impairment, learning disabilities and dyslexia.
- To find a good literacy program, go to the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHY), which has lots of excellent resources on literacy for adolescents. To learn how to know a good adolescent literacy program when you see one, see the article from the Alliance for Excellent Education.
- Resources for all ages:
- Books on tape: For those who don't like to read because it's difficult and painful, books on tape may be the solution and open the book covers in a whole different way. Try your public library, where the collections of books on tape (on CDs, too!) might surprise you. Also try:
- If you're involved in working with young children, teaching them to read, then you'll be fascinated by Children of the Code, a public television documentary series that includes over 80 interviews with leading neuroscientists, psychologists, reading researchers, educators, historians, and more.
- For tutoring, The Reading Clinic: diagnostic evaluations, Slingerland screening, consultations & advocacy, professional trainings & in-services, tutoring in: reading & spelling issues, phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension weaknesses, writing, math, curriculum integration, dyslexia, central auditory processing disorders, ADD, study skills, SAT testing preparation. Kristin Powell, Reading Specialist & Founder, 18820 Cox Ave., Saratoga, 408-871-2236.
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- Boy Scouts - Troop 35 has about half special needs boys, usually mild MR, AUT, or AS, ages 11-17. Contact Cliff Nakayama 650-255-5235.
- Girl Scouts - GSUSA welcomes girls with disabilities & is flexible with their program so that it can be inclusive.
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See specific subject area.
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- The Lighthouse Project - OT, social skills, and summer camps for autism, AS, ADHD, NLD
- FriendSmarts - Ginny Strock & Ruth Seyer, 560 San Antonio Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306-4652, 650-494-1396. Social skills through art & play.
- Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC, Speech Language Pathologist, 3550 Stevens Creek Blvd. #200, San Jose, CA 95117, 408-557-8595 - EXCELLENT -– was even written up in a Time magazine feature article on autism -- team-based service approach, specializes in working with children & adults @ high end of autism spectrum: high-functioning autism, asperger syndrome, AD/HD, & non-verbal learning disabilities)consultation, private practice, training, social skills groups for children to adults with social cognitive deficits (ADHD, ASDs).
- Stairway to Friendship Therapy Services - Karen Glass, OTR/L & Ruth Sayer, OTR/L, 471 Division St., Campbell, 408-975-9272 - Relationship Development Therapy for early children & adolescents with autism, AS, and NLD.
- Online Asperger Syndrome Information & Support (OASIS) – tons of information and links. Articles, IEP templates, classroom ideas, more!
- Second Start - Aspergers Syndrome Social Cognitive Class, 3002 Leigh Ave., San Jose, 408-979-8210, x260
- Shelah Moss - works with kids on imagination, play etiquette and some motor skills and pragmatic language, 408-262-5960.
- The Friends Program with Laurie Leventhal Belfer - used to be with Children's Health Council but started her own private practice about 5 years ago. One of the original psychologists who diagnosed Asperger, high functioning autism in the Bay area ten years ago. 650-322-4431
- Books
- Thinking About You Thinking About Me by Michelle Garcia Winner
- Bridging the Gap: Raising a Child with a Non Verbal Learning Disorder by Rondalyn Whitney
- Bullies to Buddies: How to Turn Your Enemies Into Friends by Izzy Kalman
See also the Center for Speech Language & Occupational Therapy under Speech & Language section.
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- Mid-Peninsula Speech & Language - For children and adults with communication difficulties of all types—from articulation, voice, understanding and social interaction challenges to learning disabilities and expressive language problems. 2425 Park Boulevard, Palo Alto, 650-321-8111.
- Center for Speech, Language & OT (CSLOT) - conditions served: LD, speech/language delays, services provided: community & parent education, OT, speech/language therapy, areas of special interest: stuttering language/aphasia articulation/phonology voice/apraxia dysartria pragmatic work with all ages with speech & language as well as OT, social groups, & accent reduction. Brendan O’Connor Webster, MA, CCC, Speech & Language Pathologist & Executive Director, 1577 Carob Lane (Loyola Corners), Los Altos, 650-948-7189.
- Donna Dagenais - "AMAZING...unbelievable with Asperger, HFA kids. Used to be with Mid-Peninsula Speech & Language." Palo Alto, 650-321-8111.
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- Disabled Sports USA - Wide range of activities for people with all kinds of disabilities, including the Tahoe Adaptive Snowsports School at Alpine Meadows, Kids on a Roll – sports, games, interpersonal skills development, arts & crafts & community service for children who use wheelchairs – whitewater rafting, 4WD Backcountry Access, golf, family cycling, waterskiing, Tahoe Adventures – sailing, kayaking, canoeing, jetskiing, boat rides, camping & relaxing on the shores of Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe.
- Far West Wheelchair Sports - Programs operated in cooperation with the City of San Jose Office of Therapeutic Services, including power wheelchair soccer teams and “Wheels on Fire,” which offers a variety of wheelchair sports, as well as summer sports camps. 1677 Park Ave., San Jose, 408-794-1443
- Jewish Community Center – Camps, dance & swimming classes.
- Special Olympics Silicon Valley Region - Soccer, Long Distance Walking/Running, Volleyball, Weight-lifting training at locations in San Jose. Bowling at locations in Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Jose.
- "Physability" at the YMCA - Instructors develop a personalized exercise program, including an aerobic, strength training, and flexibility component for each participant. See the Palo Alto Family YMCA site for details; other YMCAs may offer the program as well.
- Shared Adventures - Annual Day at the Beach in Santa Cruz features surfing, kayaking, scuba & paddling. Another annual activity is the Day in the Sky at Watsonville Airport, offering free flights for kids ages 6-17 with special needs. Other activities include art classes, sailing, bowling & yoga for the blind.
- Take Flight for Kids - sponsored by the Valley Medical Center, kids with special needs & their family & friends take a free flight in private airplanes at San Jose Reid Hillview Airport.
- Little League Baseball - Palo Alto has a Challenger team for kids with disabilities. Go to www.pabaseball.org to find out how to register.
- American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) VIP soccer - For children & young adults with special needs. Contact Palo Alto AYSO VIP Program Coordinator & co-coach Chuck Malone at vip_08@ayso26.org.
- Swimming
- Special Needs Aquatic Program (SNAP) at the Palo Alto Family YMCA, 3412 Ross Road, Palo Alto. Contact Kathryn Azevedo at 650-736-8626 or swimsnap@gmail.com.
- Abilities United Aquatic Services (formerly the Betty Wright Swim Center at C.A.R.), 3864 Middlefield Road, Building #C, Palo Alto, 650-494-1480 – group & individual swim lessons, physical therapy (with a doctor's prescription).
- Timpany Recreation and Aquatic Center, 730 Empey Way, San Jose, CA 95128, 408-295-0228 – rehabilitative aquatics program run by Easter Seals of the Bay Area.
- Maki Swim Center, Cupertino, 408-358-7049.
- Dance
- Stars Dance, 223 Moffett Blvd., Mountain View, 650-961-7827 – dance for children with behavioral and attention difficulties.
- Zohar, 4000 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, 650-494-8221 – dance for autistic and other special needs children.
- Dance Attack, 408-356-6456 - ballet for children ages 4-7 with motor delays.
- Horseback Riding
- National Center for Equine-Facilitated Therapy (Hippotherapy), 5001 Woodside Rd., Woodside, CA 94062, 650-851-2271 - you will need a prescription.
- Westwind Barn, 27210 Altamont Rd., Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, 650-947-8680 - Small classes run by 4-H and LOTS of volunteers to assist riders.
- BOK Ranch, 1815 Cordilleras Rd., Redwood City, CA 94062, 650-366-2265.
- Skiing - Adaptive ski areas closest to the Bay area are Alpine Meadows at Lake Tahoe and Bear Mountain in Southern California. To find an adaptive ski area anywhere else, go to www.sitski.com.
- Ice Skating
- Ice Oasis, 3140 Bay Road, Redwood City, CA 94063. Saturday ice skating class for developmentally challenged children. For details, contact Even Roberts or Leo Ungar at 650-387-4398.
- Winter Lodge in Palo Alto has always been very receptive to having wheelchairs (both manual and power) out on the ice, so long as the person is able to move & be in control. 3009 Middlefield Road, (650) 493-4566.
- Ice Chalet, 10123 N. Wolfe Rd., Cupertino, CA - Offers APE classes; contact Christopher Hathaway 408-446-2906 or Gail Bowen 408-245-0485.
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Bowling – Palo Alto Bowl has an elevator (the cashier needs to operate it with a key) and a frame to help wheelchair users roll the balls down the lanes, 4329 El Camino Real, 650-948-1031.
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California State Parks list accessibility for each of its parks (http://access.parks.ca.gov/) and you can search by feature (camping, picnicking, trails), by park, or by region.
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- MindGenius is a productivity tool which encourages users to think things through in order to minimize unexpected outcomes. Its origins are routed in the principles of Mindmapping created by Tony Buzan in the late 60's.
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- If you live in Palo Alto: The Palo Alto CAC provides useful monthly parent educational support, similar to our SELPA 1 CAC group. Meetings are held at the PAUSD district offices, 25 Churchill, Palo Alto. For more information, call 650-493-5442 or go to www.cac-paloalto.org. For their hotline, call 650-494-3712.
- Protection & Advocacy, Inc. - Advocates on behalf of people with disabilities and provides information and many publications, most of which are online (see IEPs & Accommodations). For help with a disability rights issue, call the Oakland office, which is the one that covers Santa Clara County: 510-267-1200.
- Disability Rights Advocates - Advocates on behalf of people with disabilities & has successfully challenged discriminatory practices in public & private entities throughout the country.
- Center for Disability Access - law firm specializing in access issues.
- Let Them Hear - information & advocacy for the hearing-impaired.
- Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome Coalition for Education (AASCEND), 415-248-1670.
- Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC), 650-965-2020, www.chacmv.org.
- Second Start - Family support services, parenting classes, speech & language, individual and group counseling, social cognition classes. 3002 Leigh Avenue, San Jose, 408-979-8210 ext. 260 or email ariod@yahoo.com.
- The Pratt Center - Full range of services for special needs children and adults; monthly lecture series, 4 Main St., Los Altos. Call 650-949-2997 or email prattcenter@covad.net.
- www.parent-2-parent.com , 408-354-6119.
- Family Support Line, 408-517-0931, run by Green Pastures, Inc., 730 Cornelia Court, Mountain View
- First Signs - Help with early signs of autism, www.autism.org.
- Council of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) - A nationwide organization that provides info, trainings, and representational services for special needs parents. Click on "Find Local Attorney/Advocate."
- The Respect for All Project - A program of women’s educational media which includes videos dealing with diversity, bullying/teasing, 415-641-4616 or 800-405-3322. Email info@respectforall.org or go to www.womedia.org.
- www.disaboom.com - wide-ranging web site offering information, chat, blogs and discussion topics for people with disabilities and their caregivers
- Educational Advocates:
- Linda Hughes, 650-345-2300, San Mateo
- Linda Ilene Slone, MA, 650-283-8484, Palo Alto (has moved but is willing to provide phone support, but will not be able to attend IEPs with parents)
- Paula M. Flower, parent advocate, 408-926-3944 San Jose
- Elizabeth Essner, Advocates For Education, 408-979-9964, San Jose
- Joanna Jaeger, 408-940-1069
- Mary Maher, Area Board 7, 408-246-6479
- Linda Hughes, 650-345-2300, San Mateo
- Sue Digre of PARCA (San Mateo County only), 650-312-0730, Burlingame - developmentally disabled, go to www.parca.org or email sued@parca.org.
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- Americans with Disabilities Act – public facilities, including most public modes of transportation must be accessible to people with disabilities. To learn more, a good place to start, with resources, toll-free information line, regulations info & mediation program is at
www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada.
Air Carrier Access Act – prohibits discrimination in air travel, requires airlines to accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities. Know your rights: go to www.disabilitytravel.com/airlines/air_carrier_act_details.htm for a summary.
Travel Agents:
- Wheelchair Escapes - Newton, NH, 866-382-3596. Where I first saw photos of an accessible helicopter. Fantastic!
- Accessible Journeys – Ridley Park, PA, 800-846-4537. Arranges group & individual tours for people with mobility impairments, mostly to international destinations.
- Flying Wheels Travel – Owatonna, Minn., 507-451-5005
- Nautilus Tours & Cruises – Woodland Hills, CA: travel agency specializing in domestic & international trips for the disabled, 818-591-3159
- Dream Tours - a guided tour organization that provides supervised, all-inclusive vacations to people with special needs from all over the U.S. to Florida attractions (e.g., Sea World, Walt Disney World)
- Wilderness Inquiry - 800-728-0719, safari in South Africa or sea kayak in Norway or Costa Rica, all completely accessible.
- Some groups organize trips for those with specific disabilities (e.g., American Lung Association’s Pennsylvania chapter has an “Oxygen Cruise” for those with respiratory diseases).
Organizations:
- Access-Able Travel Source – Wheat Ridge, CO, 303-232-2979. Information & resources on accessibility at hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation, etc., covering many locations throughout the world.
- Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (www.sath.org)
Sites
- Meeting the Need – an old tin mine in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 15 minutes from Mt. Rushmore, that has been refurbished with decking and ramps for a completely accessible wilderness retreat.
- Freedom Shores (www.isla-aguada.com) - a full service beach resort in southeastern Mexico that is completely wheelchair accessible.
Cruises:
- Dialysis at Sea – cruise operator, Clearwater, FL, 800-544-7604
- Most cruise lines’ web sites describe each ship & its accessibility.
Equipment
- Search online for local vans with lifts/ramps, travel companions, accessible vacation home exchanges.
- Wheelchair Getaways – accessible van rentals nationwide, 800-642-2042.
Books:
- Fodor’s Great American Vacations for Travelers with Disabilities (1996, 2nd edition) – out of print but still available from Amazon.
- Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts & Bolts Guide for Wheelers & Slow Walkers by Candy Harrington
- Also by Candy Harrington: 101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
- Rick Steves’ Easy Access Europe: A Guide for Travelers with Limited Mobility – from the one of the biggest experts on travel to Europe
- A Wheelchair Rider's Guide: San Francisco Bay and the Nearby Coast and Los Angeles and Orange County Coast are published by the Coastal Conservancy, a state agency that works to protect coastal resources and improve public access. They will send you either of these books free of charge if you call 510-286-1015 or go to www.scc.ca.gov.
See also Assistive Technology & Mobility Impairments section.
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- School for Independent Learners - 909 San Antonio Rd., Los Altos, 650-941-4350. Jean Ohme will match your child with a tutor for any subject from elementary school through college.
- John Carlsen - learning coach, math, chemistry, physics, Meyers Briggs
579 Everett Ave.
Palo Alto
- Joan Karlin - math, science, study skills
100 Yerba Santa Ave.
Los Altos
650-948-1449
- Meyers Learning Center - Offers 1:1 academic tutoring, including subject-specific tutoring & homework support, coaching, & workshops to youth of diverse ages and learning abilities, we teach the whole student. Specialty is curriculum in time management, organization, and study skills. Ali Zidel Meyers, MSW, 10485 Phar Lap Dr., Cupertino, 650-544-5636.
- Pacific Learning Center - Offers academic tutoring K–college & some tutors have special ed background. Carol Taylor, M.A., Director, 365 First St., Los Altos, 650-948-4647.
- Saratoga Instruction & Diagnostic Center - psychoeducational & neuropsychological assessments, IEP consultation, Orton-Gillingham and other multi-sensory tutoring methods for reading & writing, math tutoring, Fast ForWard family of programs to remediate language & reading delays, counseling, speech & language therapy, and auditory integration training. Carol Karlson, M.Ed., Learning Specialist, and Alice Ruzicka, Ph.D., Psychologist, Neuro-psychologist, Marriage/Family/Child Counselor, Educational Psychologist, Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor, 19040 Cox Ave., Suite 5, Saratoga, 408-255-6872.
- The Reading Clinic - diagnostic evaluations, Slingerland screening, consultations & advocacy, professional trainings & in-services, tutoring in: reading & spelling issues, phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension weaknesses, writing, math, curriculum integration, dyslexia, central auditory processing disorders, ADD, study skills, SAT testing preparation. Kristin Powell, Reading Specialist & Founder, 18820 Cox Ave., Saratoga, 408-871-2236.
- Danelle Trudeau - BS in education specializing in curriculum & instruction for special-needs learners; math & science tutoring as well as study skills & educational therapy (teaching how to learn and helping your child figure out their learning style) & will tutor at your home. 650-622-9691 or email sdtrudeu@comcast.net.
- Janis Garcia - reading & spelling tutor, dyslexia specialist, 1610 Elmhurst Dr., Los Altos, 650-269-6401, janisb.garcia@gmail.com.
- Paul Thiebaut III at 650-271-0738 - "an excellent tutor who helps our daughter with her compositions for English etc."
- Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired - 2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107, Palo Alto, 800-660-2009 or 650-858-0202. Formerly the Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, provides rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
- Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic - library of more than 104,000 audiobooks in a broad variety of subjects, from literature and history to math and the sciences, at all academic levels, from kindergarten through post-graduate and professional. 488 West Charleston Road, Palo Alto, 650-493-3717 or toll free 866-493-3717.
- For more books on tape:
- Guide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 151200, San Rafael, CA 94915-1200, 415-499-4000
- Guide Dogs of America, 13445 Glenoaks Blvd., Sylmar, CA 91342, 818-362-5834
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- www.CliffNotes.com is a FREE version of CliffNotes books. It’s amazing! I spent time searching and got so much for free. At some point you may have to register on the site (free). It seems only Course Guides (67 of them) & Test Prep Tools (97 of them) need to be purchased as a pdf download or print edition. “Read literature notes online for free: Literature Notes, Course Guides, Test Prep Tools, Resources & a CliffNotes site search. Use links to find free summaries, character analyses, essay suggestions, important quotes and more…life & background of the author, brief synopsis of the novel, list of characters, chapter analyses, critical essays, study help (quiz, essay topics & review questions), how to cite the literature note (bibliography & writing a thesis statement). Resources include: College Prep, Language Arts, Math & Science, Literature & Poetry, Study Skills (Get a Grip on Stress & Time Management, Handle Research in the World’s Biggest Library: The Internet, Know Your Stuff for In-Class Exams, Make the Most of Taking Lecture Notes, Remember What Not to Forget @ Test Time, Search for Stuff on the CliffNotes Site, Study Habits Cheat Sheet), Student Life & Beyond, Government & History, Ask Cliff.
- Palo Alto High School uses DRAFT:BUILDER educational software. It “leads students through the three key steps in creating a first draft: organizing ideas, taking notes & writing the draft. It models the logical, progressive steps of draft-writing & displays a visual representation of the process. The display gives students a framework to generate, manipulate & connect ideas & information …Students are less overwhelmed, more organized & able to produce a high-quality first draft.”
- ENOTES – it’s educational software much like Cliff Notes where books are analyzed including 2 perspectives per issue. There is a monthly fee.
- WRITE OUT LOUD educational software may be in some schools.
- Here are two more FREE websites much like CliffNotes.com: www.sparknotes.com and www.PinkMonkey.com.
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