If you work with teens with disabilities, you’ll want to know about the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work (TTW) program. Its Youth Transition portion offers funds for organizations that help students receiving Social Security disability benefits find employment. Is it right for you? Melody Goodspeed, Youth Transition Specialist for TTW answers some common questions about the funding.

Finding quality, affordable child care can be difficult for any parent. For those with a special needs child, it can also be a very confusing and emotional experience. Rebecca Freshour looks at what the law says, and what parents need to know to find care for their children.

Special Olympics is an international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for persons with intellectual disability. The idea was born when Eunice Kennedy Shriver noticed that individuals with intellectual disability were far more capable in sports and physical activities than experts thought. In December 1968, Special Olympics was established as a nonprofit charitable organization.

The mission of PTI Nebraska is to provide training, information and support to parents who have a child, ages birth through twenty six, with a disability or specialized health care needs. Resources are provided for parents,family members, school personnel and interested citizens.

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) was founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman to provide a strong and effective voice for the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind� and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

Mounting research affirms that the greatest window of opportunity to influence child development is during the first years of life, so early identification of young children with disabilities or developmental delays is critical. The Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Web site has information for parents and caregivers--and is looking for ideas and resources that may help states or communities enhance the quality of their identification systems and public awareness activities.

One of the most pressing needs of special-needs children is to be treated like children. Tessa's Place in Bettendorf, Iowa meets that need for many. Lee Nelson reports on how a family's loss turned into a huge gain for disabled children in the area.

This site - part of the PBS Caring for Critically Ill Children online series -- has practical suggestions for parents and teachers on talking to critically ill children about what is happening to them, including a section with tips for different aged children.

No one has better insight into the needs of children with developmental disabilities than those children themselves, and their families. Leanna Skarnulis reports on a Texas program that trains family members and individuals with disabilities to be persuasive and persistent advocates.

Almost five years ago, Greg and Tierney Fairchild learned through prenatal testing that their eagerly awaited first child would be born with Down syndrome. The story of their decision to proceed with the pregnancy was recently published as a book, Choosing Naia, by Mitchell Zuckoff. Connect for Kids' Caitlin Johnson wondered how the Fairchild family is doing now, as Naia approaches her school years.