Australian Organisations

Accessibility.com.au
Offers practical, comprehensive and cost effective approach to disability management to existing and proposed building developments, services and operations. Features a 'Kids' section that is useful and fun for kids with a disability, their parents, carers and siblings.

Australasian Genetic Alliance
Support people living with a genetic condition, increase community awareness by networking and sharing resources and represent common interests.

Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability
Aims to enhance the skills, knowledge and commitment of members and to facilitate a supportive network in order to enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual or developmental disability.

Australian Association for Families of Children with Disability
Provides information, support and advocacy for families of children aged under 25 years with disability in all States and Territories of Australia.

Australian Government Department of Education Science and Training
Develops and implements policies to ensure the continuing relevance of education, science and training to contemporary needs and the growing requirement of lifelong learning.

Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA)
Provides policies, income support and assistance for families and their children, people with disabilities, carers and community groups.

Australian Learning Disability Association
Aims to provide access to information and resources for individuals with learning disabilities, their families, educators and the general public.

Australian Physiotherapy Association
The peak body representing the interests of Australian physiotherapists and their patients. A national organisation with non-autonomous state and territory branches and specialty subgroups.

Australian Psychological Society
Committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession and spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to peoples’ lives, through improving scientific knowledge and community wellbeing.

Australian Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association
The peak body representing the interests of people with spina bifida, their families and carers with the goal of improving lives and communities.

Autism Info Australia
Provides clear information for parents on what ASD means and outline some of the services and treatments available today in Australia. We also work towards promoting services on a local, state and national level including support groups, state bodies, local projects and more.

Autism Spectrum Australia
Builds partnerships with people with Autism Spectrum Disorders, their families and the community to provide information, services, learning and research.

CP Australia
Works towards creating a national focus on cerebral palsy and to promote the interests, rights, roles and wellbeing of people with cerebral palsy and similar disorders.

Deaf Children Australia
Provides information, advocacy, support services and educational resources that respond to the needs of these children and their families.

Disability Information and Communication Exchange
Mission is to work to make the Australian community one in which people with intellectual disability are involved and accepted as equal participating members.

Early Childhood Australia
Advocates to ensure quality, social justice and equity in all issues relating to the education and care of children from birth to eight years.

Early Childhood Connections
Contains links to informative websites, collated alphabetically and in submenus, to provide easy viewing and access to the most up to date information for professionals and parents interested in the renewed emphasis on the early childhood years.

Epilepsy Action Australia
Provides education and support services to children and adults with epilepsy or other seizure disorders across Australia.

National Ethnic Disability Alliance
The national consumer based peak body for people from non-English speaking background with a disability, their families and carers. Aims to advocate at a federal level, for the rights and interests of people from a NESB with a disability, their families and carers.

OT Australia
The peak professional body representing the interests of Occupational Therapists across the country and strives to ensure that members consistently receive quality, responsive services that add significant value to their careers.

Playgroup Australia
The national body recognised as the leading representative and advocate for playgroups.

Raising Children Network - Children with a Disability
This new section on children with a disability provides information on Family Life, Services & supports, Play, health & fitness, Working with professionals and Disability rights and the law. It also explores topics such as your feelings, others' reactions and working with disability professionals.

There is a handy A - Z Disability Reference containing a brief explanation of disability terms as well as definitions of the disability professionals you may encounter.

Speech Pathology Australia
Contains information on branches, code of ethics, conferences, continuing professional development and fact sheets.

Vision Australia
A living partnership between people who are blind, sighted or have low vision. We are united by our passion that in the future people who are blind or have low vision will have access to and fully participate in every part of life they choose.

Australian Capital Territory Organisations

ACT Down Syndrome Association Inc
Offers support and information to families with a member who has Down syndrome and promotes improvements in the quality of life of persons with Down syndrome with aims to stimulate, within the wider community, an awareness of their very real abilities and needs.

Autism ACT
Strives to achieve the best educational outcomes for children while seeking to better understand the causes of their autism in a mutually supported group.

Disability ACT
The role and responsibility is to plan, develop strategic policy, allocate funding and provide and monitor services for people with disability and the families that care for them.

Therapy ACT
A division of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services. It provides a multidisciplinary therapy and support service for people with disabilities and delays in their development aged from birth to 65 years of age. Therapy and support services are available for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work and psychology.

New South Wales Organisations

A key agency in the complex network of government, non-government and commercial organisations whose activities affect the lives of people with disability, their families and close associates.

Aims to bridge the information gap between people with disabilities and organisations which offer appropriate services for them by offering access to the information they need to make informed choices.

Down Syndrome NSW
Represent the interests and respond to the needs of people with Down syndrome in the major aspects of their lives, as members of the family, in their individual pursuits and as members of the community.

provides free telephone information and advice on early intervention services within New South Wales for young children with developmental delays or disabilities.

Family Advocacy
Empowering families in which there is a child or adult with a developmental disability to achieve great things.

The peak body for people from a non-english speaking background (NESB) with disability and their families and carers in NSW.

The peak organisation in NSW representing the interests of people with intellectual disability.

Northern Territory Organisations

(soon to be posted)

Queensland Organisations

Autism Early Intervention Outcomes Uni (AEIOU)
Dedicated solely to an intensive early intervention program for children with autism aged 18mths - 6yrs. Also encourages children to enter mainstream education (kindergarten and preschool) while attending the program.

Autism Queensland
Provides direct services and support to people with autism spectrum disorder, their families and staff working with them, as well as general information about ASD.

Community Resource Unit
Challenges ideas and practices which limit the lives of people with disabilities and inspire and encourage individuals and organisations to pursue better lives for the disabled.

Disability Services Queensland
Focuses on the provision of services and supports, community infrastructure development and the whole-of-government leadership and coordination impacting on people with a disability and their families.

Down Syndrome Association of Queensland Inc
Provides information about the organisation and Down syndrome, available services for people with Down syndrome and their families and helpful resources for parents.

Down Syndrome Association of Victoria
Promotes improvements in the quality of life of people with Down syndrome and provides understanding, support, information, resources and encouragement to people with Down syndrome and their families.

Queensland Advocacy Incorporated
An independent community-based systems advocacy and legal advocacy organisation for people with a disability with aims to promote, protect and defend the fundamental needs, rights and lives of the most vulnerable people with a disability.

Queensland Parents for People with a Disability Inc
Vigorously defends justice and rights for people with disabilities by exposing exclusionary practices, speaking out against injustices and promoting people with disabilities as respected, valued and participating members of society.

Queenslanders with Disability Network Inc
For people with disability, with people with disability, by people with disability for citizenship and social justice with aims to connect people with disability to build a voice of Queenslanders with disability to represent their views on issues that affect them.

Tasmanian Organisations

Autism Tasmania
Offers advice and information to parents, carers and families and provides education and services to children with autism.

Victorian Organisations

Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities
A community based organisation which represents the rights and needs of people from non-English speaking background with a disability and their carers. Provides advocacy, information, referral, education, training and consultancy.

Association for Children with a Disability
Provides information, support and advocacy to Victorian families who have a child with any type of disability or developmental delay, including a free telephone support service, publications and resources for parents as well as advocacy to government and the community.

Autism Secondary Consultation and Training Now (ACT-Now)
The Autism Secondary Consultation and Training Strategy is funded by the Department of Human Services. This three year project aims to build skills and capacity across each DHS region in Victoria in the area of Early Childhood (0-6years).

Autism Victoria
Aim to improve the quality of life for people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders and provide a range of services to individuals and agencies with an interest in ASD.

Autismhelp.info
Dedicated to increase awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder and provide practical strategies and resources to benefit preschool, primary and secondary teachers, childcare workers, integrated aides, health professionals and more.

Best Start
Aims to improve the health, development learning and well-being of all children from pregnancy through to transition to school, 0-8 years of age.

Brain Foundation Victoria
Aims to support and strengthen parents and carers in meeting the challenges they face, helps them understand their child's special needs and provides information and a range of supports to people and families living with the effects of Acquired Brain Injury.

Broad Insight Group (BIG)
As a family orientated service the aim is to facilitate your child's skills and abilities for future life, while incorporating and considering the whole family through the early intervention process. Provides therapy, education, information and family support in a framework of caring, qualified staff.

Centre for Community Child Health
Provides information about specialist clinical services, professional training and research and projects undertaken by the Centre for Community Child Health.

Centre for Developmental Disability Health (CDDHV)
Aims to improve health outcomes of people with developmental disabilities by enhancing the capacity of the generic health service system to respond to their needs.

Department of Education Victoria
Provide and ensure access to high quality primary and secondary education and ensure that government policies and service delivery reflect and meet the needs of all young Victorians.

Department of Human Services
Committed to ensuring all Victorians have access to quality services that protect and enhance the community's physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Department of Human Services Regional Information
Information, programs and contact details for the eight regional offices responsible for the distribution and purchase of services.

Disability Online
Provides people with a disability, their families and carers with access to online disability related information across governments and the non-government sector which is quality assured, reliable, up-to-date and locally relevant.

Disability Services Division
Responsible for funding and providing a range of support and services for people with intellectual, physical, sensory and dual disabilities, neurological impairments and acquired brain injury.

Early Childhood Intervention Services
Supports children with a disability or developmental delay from birth to school entry and their families and provides a highly visible and integrated point to access accurate information on universal and specialist support provided by the Department of Human Services.

Education Program for Infants and Children (EPIC)
Educating children with disabilities and supporting their families. Provides educational programs and services that will maximise the developmental achievements of young children with disabilities.

Funded Agency Channel
Supports management and staff within the Victorian Department of Human Services funded agencies by providing easy access to information and resources to support funded agency business, provide agency specific information, transactions and interactive features within a secure environment and to support collaboration, discussion and networking throughout the human services sector.

Noah's Ark
A community organisation that seeks to provide opportunities for families who have a child with a disability or other additional needs to participate in the community. Operating from 19 locations across Victoria, providing a range of State and Australian government funded programs.

Office for Children
Focused on the health, safety and wellbeing of children, young people and families.

Playworks
A resource unit for children with disabilities in childcare. Supports and promotes the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream children's services.

Scope
Services provided include, early intervention, health support, therapy, specialist advice, attendant care and education. Focuses on research, raising community awareness and facilitating community inclusion for people with physical disabilities.

Taralye
Provides oral language programs for deaf children. Works in partnership with families, other providers and the community to improve the linguistic, educational and social outcomes of deaf children by promoting innovative early childhood intervention services, research and advocacy.

Uncle Bobs Child Development Centre
Committed to the care of children with disabilities, aims to conduct and promote educational programs and research activity and strives to promote policies and principles that will best meet the needs of children and empower their families.

Windermere
Provides information on counselling, family support, disability services, parenting and residential care for the state of Victoria.

Yooralla
Help both children and adults with disabilities to do the everyday things that most can take for granted - like eating, moving about, talking and becoming an independent individual.

Yooralla - Early Childhood Intervention Services
Offer a variety of centre-based, home-based or community-based programs that incorporate play, education and therapy for children with additional needs as well as information and support to family members.

Western Australian Organisations

Austism Association of Western Australia
Dedicated to advance the personal development, equality of opportunity and community participation of people with autism.

Disability Services Commission
Primary focus is to make a positive difference to the lives of people with disabilities, their families and carers.

Down Syndrome Association of WA
Works to support the community to develop the potential of people with Down syndrome to live a valued life. Offers support through forums to share information and experiences relating to people with Down syndrome.

Noah's Ark Toy Library
Provides a toy/equipment service for children with special needs. Assistance in promoting a child's physical and intellectual development is provided through the advice of trained staff, a wide range of toys, educational aids and resource material.

Resource Unit for Children with Special Needs Inc
Disability resource, training, support and advisory agency for children's services. Contains information on news, inclusion, regional teams and a large collection of fact sheets on children with special needs.

Speech and Hearing Centre
Offers unique and valuable programs and services for children who suffer speech and language impairment and can succeed with specialised support.

The Centre for Cerebral Palsy
A leader in the provision of services, research and development and specialised therapy for children and adults with cerebral palsy.

International Organisations

American Association for Home Based Early Interventions
Serves parents of and those working in the field of early home intervention with infants, toddlers and preschoolers with special needs.

American Speech Language Hearing Association
The professional, scientific and credetialing association for audiologists, speech-language and learning scientists aiming to ensure all people with speech, language and learning disorders have access to quality services to help them communicate more effectively.

Autism Research Institute
Devoted to conducting research and to disseminate the results of research on the causes of autism and on methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating autism and other severe behavioural disorders of childhood.

Autism Society of British Columbia
A parent based and directed society providing support to individuals with autism and their families.

Birth Defects Foundation
BDF Newlife is the UK's leading child health and research charity. Disability, diseases, disorders and malformations affect thousands of families throughout the UK. Funds pioneering medical research and provides special nurse services and grants to affected children and families.

British Columbia Family Hearing Resource Centre
Offering comprehensive services to families with young deaf and hard of hearing children and provides consultation and training to professionals in this field.

Center for Children with Special Needs
Focuses on improving systems of care for children with special needs through education, research and evaluation and impacts policy, quality of care, education and family partnerships in health care.

Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies
Working to ensure that all infants, preschoolers and children to age twelve have an opportunity to be cared for and educated in high quality, inclusive community early care and education settings. Incorporates 'Growing Ideas Tip Sheets'.

Center for Motor Behavior and Pediatric Disabilities
Conducts and disseminates basic scientific research to better understand the complexity of individuals with Down syndrome and to utilise this knowledge to drive clinical services.

Center for the Study of Autism
Provides information about Autism to parents and professionals and conducts research into the efficacy of various theraputic interventions.

Contact a Family
Works across the UK to provide information and support for families who care for children with any kind of special need, disability or medical condition.

Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organisation dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities.

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Early Childhood Research Institute
Identifies, evaluates and promotes effective and appropriate early intervention practices and preschool practices that are sensitive and respectful to children and familes from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Online
Created to promote better care and outcomes for children and familes effected by developmental, learning and behavioral problems by providing access to clinically relevant material for professionals, students and parents.

Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood International
Controlled by disabled parents which promotes better awareness and support to disabled people considering, during and after pregnancy and as parents.

Disability Solutions
Offers useful information that is sensitive and brings current research, medical information, educational strategies and practical suggestions to parents, families, self-advocates and professionals concerned with developmental disabilities, in a language that is understood.

Disabled Parents Network
A national organisation of and for disabled people who are parents or hope to become parents and for their families, friends and supporters.

Division of International Special Education and Services
The international pages of the Council for Exceptional Children and its Division of International Special Education Services provide international statements and declarations, research and projects and conferences and events.

Down Sydrome: For New Parents
A resource for parents of children with Down syndrome, offering a personal perspective, with information that is particularly relevant to new parents. Also hosts a Forum.

Down Syndrome: Health Issues
A comprehensive site for parents and professionals containing articles about health and children with Down syndrome, by a pediatrician, but inspired by his son.

Down Syndrome Association - Penang
Offers support and encouragement for parents and families and provides assistance and facilities to individuals with Down syndrome to enable them to contribute to society.

Down Syndrome Information Network
Offers a range of information resources and online services to the international Down syndrome community and aims to provide information and services for families, carers, professionals and researchers worldwide.

Down Syndrome Research Foundation
Formed in 1995, in response to the need expressed, by parents and professionals, for detailed and research-based information for themselves and the community at large.

Down Syndrome Society - Canadian
Provides information and assistance to all those with an interest in Down syndrome by advocating on behalf of individuals in the areas of education, employment and healthcare and by providing networking opportunities for parents and professionals in relevant fields.

Down's Syndrome Association - UK
Offers information couselling and support for people with Down's syndrome, their families and carers, as well as being a resource for interested professionals.

Inclusion.com
Concentrates on the development of future leadership for inclusion through the creation of focused programs, materials and research to create a world where Everyone Belongs.

Infant Development Program of British Columbia
Serve children from bith to three years, who are at risk for, or who already have a delay in development.

Infants and Young Children
The journal Infants and Young Children is published in conjunction with the International Society on Early Intervention (ISEI). Articles from each issue are made available, in addition to the opportunity to comment or ask questions of the author(s).

Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues
Investigating children, families and contemporary social issues and is committed to undertaking both basic and applied research related to the development, functioning and wellbeing of children and families and to address pressing social issues.

Integrated Children's System
Focuses on a single approach to understanding the key processes of assessment planning, intervention and review, based on an understanding of children's developmental needs in the context of their families and communities.

International Society on Early Intervention (ISEI)
Provides a framework and forum for professionals from around the world to communicate about advances in the field of early intervention. Basic and clinical researches relevant to the field of early intervention representing a diverse array of biomedical and behavioral disciplines as well as clinicians and policy-makers in leadership positions.

KidNeeds.com
A worldwide resource that provides children with special needs, families and other caregivers with access to comprehensive information and resources.

National Center for Cultural Competence
Mission is to increase the capacity of health and mental health programs to design, implement and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems.

National Center for Early Development and Learning
National early childhood research project focusing on enhancing the cognitive, social and emotional development of children from birth through to age eight years.

National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management
Dedicated to early hearing detection and intervention and universal newborn hearing screening. Resources include information for hospitals, states, audiologists and families.

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Promoting the health of babies, children and adults and enhance the potential for full, productive living. Work includes identifying causes of birth defects, development disabilities and helping children to develop to their full potential.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
National information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators and other professionals. Focus is children and youth (birth to age 22 years) with a wide variety of publications, including fact sheets on specific disabilities, state resource sheets, parent guides and bibliographies.

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
Supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and aims to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities, (birth through to five years) and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate and family-centered supports and services.

National Scientific Council of the Developing Child
Based on the belief of the value of sound and accurate science as a foundation for enlightened action, aims to enhance the early development of children through the design and implementation of effective public and private policies and programs.

Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support
Provides information on research, education and related subjects from those with personal experience. Chat rooms and message board facilities available.

Parents Helping Parents
Lots of information aimed at supporting parents of children with special needs. Contains information on parenting, technical aids and discussion groups.

Parents Inc
A partnership of Alaska families with disabilities that provide support, training resources and advocacy statewide. Families assisting families of children with disabilities.

Pathways Awareness Foundation
Designed for both parents and professionals containing valuable information about children's physical development including a growth and development chart where you can track a child's physical, play and speech.

Resources for Health Care Providers
Primary goal is to improve the health of persons with developmental disabilities by educating physicians and other healthcare providers about caring for this population. It is also designed to support persons with developmental disabilities and their families, in making informed health care decisions.

Speechville Express
Provides knowledge about available resources to help your child or a child you care for who has difficulty with speech, language, communication or is a late talker.

Support Organisation for Trisomy (SOFT) UK
Provides support for families affected by Patau's syndrome (Trisomy 13), Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18), partial trisomy, mosaicism, rings, translocation, deletion and related disorders.

Sure Start
A large scale interdepartmental initiative of the UK government which aims to work with parents and children to promote the intellectual and social development of preschool children, particularly those who are disadvantaged, to ensure they are ready to flourish when they get to school. A cornerstone of the government's drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion, based on firm evidence of what works.

The Brazelton Institute
Focuses on the health and development of the newborn infant. Offers information on a comprehensive newborn baby assessment tool and organisation newsletter.

The Council on Quality and Leadership
An International non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the quality of services and supports to people with disabilities, accomplished.

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