Related conditions

Site for the Autism Society of America

Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support, or O.A.S.I.S.

Autistics.org, a site for people on the autism spectrum that provides information and support to others on the spectrum.

Site for the Attention Deficit Disorder Association

Site for Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder

Site for the National Fragile X Foundation

Site for the Tourette Syndrome Association

Site for the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Community Resource Center

Adoption and Premature Baby issues
(many adopted children and preemies have sensory processing issues)

Adoptive Families magazine.

OrphanDoctor.com provides information on developmental and medical issues common to adopted children.

Site for Parents of Premature Babies Inc

Special Education

Wrightslaw is an excellent, up-to-date source for information on special education, particularly special ed law.

Developmental Delays and Learning Disabilities

First Signs provides excellent info about developmental delays, including recommendations for screening tools you can ask a professional to use to properly evaluate your child.

http://www.yai.org - The YAI network provides information and help for children with developmental delays.

http://www.devdelay.org - Developmental Delay Resources offers information and workshops.

http://www.zerotothree.org - The Zero to Three organization offers information about the development of babies and toddlers ages 0 through 3.

Http://www.ldonline.org is an online resource for information on learning disabilities and differences.

http://www.ld.org is the site for the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

Online Support Groups

Go to Yahoo Groups and search for “sensory processing,” “sensory issues,” “sensory integration,” or any other keyword to find an online support group.

The Apraxia-Kids site features forums and an online support group for parents of kids with apraxia.

Nutrition

Nutritionist Kelly Dorfman, M.S., L.N.D., is extremely knowledgeable about nutritional issues in children with SPD and related issues and cofounder of Developmental Delay Resources. I am ever grateful to her for helping with the nutrition chapter in Raising a Sensory Smart Child.

GFCFDiet.com is a site for learning more about gluten-free, casein-free diets that help children with gluten/casein intolerances that exacerbate sensory issues.

iNutritionals is a site where you can purchase brain-enhancement nutritional and other products created by neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter’s Perlmutter Health Center (I highly recommend Dr. Perlmutter's products!)

Nordic Naturals sells quality omega-3 essential fatty acid supplements derived from fish oils, which many have found helpful for their children with SPD (they feature a list of retailers).

Coromega sells quality omega-3 essential fatty acid supplements derived from fish oils, which many have found helpful for their children with SPD.

Enzyme Stuff offers information on using digestive enzyme supplements. It includes a terrific article on Epsom salt baths for kids with SPD.

Houston Enzymes is a source for very high quality digestive enzymes, which are very helpful for children with leaky gut syndrome and other digestive problems that can worsen sensory issues.

Kirkman Labs sells dietary enzymes, Epsom salt cream (terrific for children who resist baths containing Epsom salts), and essential fatty acid supplements, all of which some parents find helpful for kids with SPD and gluten-free products.

Vitacost is one of my favorite sources for discount vitamins, supplements, and personal items. They carry many gluten-free flours and products as well as healthy snacks for kids.

Sensory Processing Disorder

SI Focus is a quarterly magazine for parents and professionals who want to know more about SPD.

Henry Occupational Therapy Services, Inc., features products and workshops to help kids with sensory processing issues be better able to focus and attend in school.

Childrens Disabilities Information has great articles on everything from SPD to autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.

Finding a sensory smart OT

Check the SPD Foundation's treatment directory at their Find Services page to locate OTs and other professionals trained in working with children with sensory processing disorder.

See the list of EI providers by state located on the website for the book Raising a Sensory Smart Child.

The site for the American Occupational Therapy Association may be helpful for finding a local occupational therapist trained and experienced in helping children with sensory processing issues.

Western Psychological Services keeps a list of therapists certified to administer the SIPT (Sensory Integration Praxis Test) who may provide services as well.

Check the OT Finder at OT Works in Canada to locate an OT in Canada.

Auditory Processing Difficulties

Advanced Brain Technologies sells The Listening Program ® for children with auditory processing issues. This is one of the more affordable programs for helping kids with auditory processing by using special music to retrain the system. Personally, I'm quite impressed by the research that went into their program!

Vital Links sells the Therapeutic Listening ® program, one of the more affordable programs for helping kids with auditory processing by using special music to retrain the system. I used this with my son with sensory issues and we saw permanent, positive results.

The National Coalition on Auditory Processing Disorders offers helpful information on the many types of auditory processing disorders.

Speech-Language Delays and Issues

Apraxia-Kids is an organization that offers support and information on oral or global apraxia, also known as dyspraxia or difficulty with motor planning. They feature excellent articles on speech, communication, and development.

The site for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation provides information on finding a professional who can treat auditory processing disorder.

SpeechDelay.com is a great resource for parents of children with speech delays.

Children's Disabilities Information is a great resource for parents of children with speech delays.

The International Dyslexia Association provides information about dyslexia.

Casa Futura Technologies sells the anti-stuttering device invented by Thomas David Kehoe, an extraordinary and brilliant inventor who is passionate about helping those who stutter. You can read my interview with him, sparked by the movie The King's List, on my blog. Kehoe has very interesting insights and great advice on how to help your child who stutters.

Gross Motor and Motor Planning Difficulties

Brain Gym is a program for using movement to help with organizational and motor planning challenges.

The School Moves program helps with organizational and motor planning challenges kids have in school.

Visual Processing Difficulties

The College of Optometrists and Visual Development provides information and help for visual processing difficulties, including a list of behavioral (developmental) optometrists who can screen for visual processing disorder, which many kids with SPD have, as well as visual issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

The Children's Vision Information Network provides information about visual processing disorder. This site includes links to fun visual games that address specific visual processing issues.

The Irlen Institute provides information about Irlen syndrome, which affects people’s ability to handle visual contrast (for instance, reading black-on-white text versus other contrasting colors).

Complementary Therapies
(not related to food and diet—you can learn more about these therapies in the book Raising a Sensory Smart Child as well)

The American Hippotherapy Association has information on therapy for kids using horses and where to find a practitioner.

The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association has information on therapeutic horseback riding and where to find a practitioner.

The Aquatic Resources Network has information on water-based therapies for sensory issues and other issues.

The Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America provides information on craniosacral therapy and help in locating a practitioner.

The Interactive Metronome program, helps with concentration, focus, and other issues.

The Myofascial Release organization provides information on myofascial release therapy as well as help in locating a practitioner.

Heavy Metal Poisoning

Lead and mercury are known neurotoxins; learn more about how to help prevent and treat heavy metal poisoning.

The EPA’s website for the National Lead Information Center.

The EPA’s site for information on mercury hazards.

Parenting and Socialization

The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding offers information about using social stories with children who have nonverbal learning disorder and difficulty reading social cues, challenges common in children with autism.

Lives in the Balance is the site for Dr. Ross Greene’s Center for Collaborative Problem Solving, featuring the program outlined in his book The Explosive Child. The center helps parents and professionals working with kids who have challenging behavioral issues.

Articles and interviews with Nancy Peske on sensory issues, sensory smarts, and parenting a child with sensory issues

At Childrens Disabilities

At Stork Net

At Baby Shrink

At Come Unity