Supporting Native American Families of Persons with Developmental Disabilities

This website is designed to provide information to people with developmental disabilities, their families and staff who serve them. We have tried to make this site easy to use by separating general information, information of special interest to persons with disabilities and their families and information useful for staff. There is some overlap in these areas, so if you don't find what you were looking for under one category, e.g., staff, you should try the other areas as well. PLEASE NOTE: This website is under construction and new pages are added daily.

NEW TO COMPUTERS....If you are unfamiliar with computers, web browsers and how to move around on web pages, move your mouse (or your finger on the touch-pad) until it is on the words at the end of this paragraph. Then push down on the button. If you mouse or pad has more than one button, use the left one.CLICK HERE!

People with disabilities and their families, please click here.

Staff members, please click here.

For general information on developmental disabilities, click here.

INFORMATION OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES

INTRODUCTION TO THE SECRET LANGUAGE AND WORLD OF DISABILITY Where do I start? What is a developmental disability? Do I have one? Does my child have one? What is an IEP, IFSP, IPE? Do I need to know? Why should I care? I feel as if everyone is speaking in code! Who can help me? How do I find out about programs? ??? For an introduction to developmental disability, please click here.

Parent involvement in the Individual Education Plan (IEP)

• Why parent involvement in the IEP is SO important. (Please read this.)
• What makes a good Individual Education Plan?
• Individual Family Service Plans (for young children and their families)

PERSONAL AND FAMILY ISSUES: PROBLEMS, RESOURCES & INFORMATION

• Abuse of persons with Developmental Disabilities
• Caring for Our Elders with Developmental Disabilities
• Employment for persons with developmental disabilities
• Financial aid, social services and other resources for families - what is available and how to get it.
• Home-based care
  • Medication administration
  • Developmental stimulation for children with disabilities
    
• Preventive health practices
  
  • Obesity and physical fitness
  • Control of infectious diseases
  • Dental Care
  • Injury Prevention
    • Safe and accessible homes for individuals with mobility impairments
    • Safe homes for individuals with cognitive and behavioral impairments
  • Environmental health
    
• Substance abuse by persons with developmental disabilities
  

INFORMATION OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO STAFF

GENERAL DISABILITY INFORMATION

• Definition of developmental disability
• Overview of North Dakota state services for people with developmental disabilities
• Tribal Services
• Information on specific disabilities
  • Autism
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Mental retardation
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Common co-occurring conditions, e.g., epilepsy.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• National Organization for Rare Diseases- This website has information on over 1,000 rare diseases. You can find reports, fact sheets, brochures and support groups. Their research briefs are highly recommended reading.

WHO WE ARE for an introduction to the staff members working on the Native American Family Support Project, click here.