Help For
Birmingham’s
Kids
with Special Needs
Following
is a list of resources and services made available to Alabama residents who are disabled or have
disabled children. There are a number of services offered throughout the state
for parents with children with disabilities, from inclusive school care
programs to gymnastics and aquatics classes.
This list gives parents the resources they need to create an
environment where their disabled child feels comfortable and active. Many of
the programs offered focus on assistance that’s both educational and
recreational. While Birmingham Parent seeks to include every resource,
this list may not be complete.
If you know of an organization or
service that should be included in the next special needs directory,
please e-mail editor@birminghamparent.com
or fax to 205-739-0073 for updating in the next directory.
INFORMATION
Alabama Council for
Developmental Disabilities
www.acdd.org or
334-242-3973
Provides educational resources
for individuals with special
needs and their families.
Alabama Disabilities
Advocacy Program (ADAP)
www.adap.net or
800-826-1675
Provides free legal services for
disabled individuals who qualify.
Autism Society of Alabama
4778 Overton Road, Birmingham 35210
www.autism-alabama.org
877-4AUTISM
or 205-951-1364
The Autism
Society of Alabama strives to empower individuals impacted by
autism and their families through education, advocacy and support. ASA is often
the first place a family calls because 1) they have concerns about their
child’s development, 2) their child has recently received a diagnosis of autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) and 3) they need assistance navigating the service
delivery system. ASA programs include an Autism Camp, support groups,
conferences, Adventures in Autism, Handwriting without Tears workshops, a
Lending Library.
Collat
Jewish Family Services
3940 Montclair Road, Birmingham, AL
35213
www.cjfsbham.org
205-879-3438
Confidential counseling and social service
support for individuals and families experiencing challenges in coping with
some aspect or situation in their life is available on a sliding fee scale. For
individuals with multi-problem situations, social service assistance is
provided as part of the therapeutic process.
United Way of Central
Alabama - Information and
Referral Center
www.uwca.org or www.refersoftware.com/uwca/
or
205-323-0000
A community resource directory
of all services in Shelby,
Jefferson, Walker, Blount and
St. Clair
counties.
CHILDCARE/DAYCARE
Childcare Resources, Birmingham
www.ccr-bhm.org or 205-252-1991
Assists parents
with children with special needs in locating childcare and information.
Head Start in Alabama
www.headstart-alabama.org or
205-327-7500
Provides parenting, adult enrichment
and comprehensive Head Start child
development services.
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham - Hand in Hand
www.ucpbham.com or 205-944-3900
A learning program for children 6
weeks through age 4 for children with and without
disabilities to maximize each child's
intellectual, physical and emotional health.
EDUCATION
The
Literacy Council
www.literacy-council.org
or 205-326-1925
The Horizons School
www.horizonsschool.org or 205-326-6606
Music Plus Academy of Performing Arts
www.musicplusstudios.com
or 205-822-3343
One on one teaching is Vestavia, Greystone, Trussville and Clay. Study of
an instrument or other disciplines. Preschool and special needs classes.
Spring Valley School
www.springvalleyschool.org
or 205-423-8660
VSA Arts
of Alabama, The
Children's Hospital
www.vsartsalabama.org or
205-212-7051
FINANCIAL/INSURANCE
AllKids
www.adph.org/allkids or 888-373-KIDS (5437)
Provides insurance for eligible
children younger than 19.
Alabama Child Caring Foundation
www.accf.net or 877-220-5929
Provides insurance for eligible
children younger than 19.
Individual & Family Support
Council
www.ifsonline.org or 205-991-4432
Individual and Family Support is
designed to keep a family together. Therefore, just about any service a family
or individual might need to allow them to continue living with the family or
within their community is considered eligible for assistance. Commonly requested
support: respite, personal care assistance, transportation, home or vehicle
modification, assistive technology, medical/dental care or supplies,
therapeutic/nursing services (physical & occupational therapy,
speech/language therapy, and vocational support not otherwise provided through
the school system or other day programs).
A developmental disability may
include, but is not limited to: cerebral palsy,
down syndrome, spina
bifida, mental retardation, autism, deafness, blindness, epilepsy, traumatic
brain injury, developmental delay, etc.
Easter Seals - Medical Assistance
Grant
www.eastersealsbham.org or
205-942-6277
Assists in paying for medical
requirements of children and adults who have
disabilities and who are unable to provide for
their own needs.
Medicaid of Alabama
www.medicaid.state.al.us or 800-362-1504
Medicaid is a state/federal program
that pays for medical and long-term care services
for low-income pregnant women,
children, certain people on Medicare, disabled individuals
and nursing home residents.
HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
4 Paws For
Ability
www.4pawsforability.org or
937-374-0385
Service dogs (including seizure
dogs, autism dogs, hearing dogs, and others) are made
available to help increase community
acceptance and participation of people with disabilities.
Ability Resources, LLC
Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Services
www.abilityresources.com or
205-978-9938
Providing a complete range of
occupational and physical therapy services for children of all ages and
abilities. We specialize in fine motor delay, sensory motor skills and
handwriting remediation.
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation
Services - Children's Rehabilitation Service
www.rehab.state.al.us or 888-430-7423
Statewide organization of doctors,
therapists, etc. serving children to age 21 with varying
disabilities. Any child or adolescent under 21
years of age, regardless of income,
who is a resident of Alabama and has a special health care need
my receive CRS services.
Individuals with hemophilia are
eligible for services beyond 21 years of age.
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation
Services - Early Intervention
www.rehab.state.al.us or 888-430-7423
Alabama's Early Intervention System for
children who are delayed in reaching developmental
milestones. Infants and toddlers from birth
through age 2 are eligible to receive
free of charge appropriate services
if they are delayed by 25 percent or more in their cognitive, physical,
communicative, social, emotional or adaptive development, or if they have a
diagnosis of a physical and/or medical condition that will likely result in developmental
delay
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation
Services - Homebound Services
www.rehab.state.al.us or 800-441-7607
Provides a wide
range of education and home-based services to assist people with severe
disabilities in leading more independent lives. Must be 16 years
of age.
Alabama Relay Center
www.alabamarelay.com or 800-676-3777
Communication systems for the
visually impaired and hearing impaired. Disabled individuals
with proper equipment call the Alabama Relay Center which relays communication to/from
persons without equipment.
ARC
www.thearcofalabama.com or
866-243-9557
The Arc of Alabama, Inc. is a
statewide volunteer membership organization which advocates for people with
cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs
www.thebellcenter.org or
205-879-3417
The Bell Center is dedicated to maximizing the
potential of children at risk for developmental delay. The Bell Center uses a transdisciplinary
approach for designing intervention programs and strategies for each child. The
program is designed specifically to promote growth in gross and fine motor
skills, as well as language, cognition, self-help and play skills.
Birmingham Hyperbaric Oxygen, LLC
200 Riverhills Business Park, Suite 260, Birmingham, AL
35242
www.birminghamhbot.com or
205-980-0123
Provides pure oxygen under pressure to promote healing and speedy
recovery. Now treating Autism, CP, near-drowning and other brain disorders.
Children's Hospital of Alabama
www.chsys.org or 205-939-9100
Alabama's premier
hospital for children. Provides advocacy, resources and medical services
including specialty clinics for children with disabilities.
Easter Seals Pediatric Rehab
www.eastersealsbham.org or
205-621-6503
Provides physical, occupational, and
speech therapy to children with special needs ages
birth to 21 regardless of ability to pay for services.
Friends of Disabled Adults and
Children Too
www.fodac.org or 770-491-9014
FODAC offers free durable medical
equipment (including wheelchairs), installing donated and new adaptive
equipment in vehicles, ramps in homes, disposable medical equipment. Located in
Atlanta, GA but serves AL.
Full
Life Ahead
www.fulllifeahead.org or 205-439-6534 or
866-700-2026
Full Life
Ahead Planning Program helps to empower the person with a disability to live as
independently as possible by gathering supporters from the community to address
the person’s needs – whether they have academic, financial, employment or social
needs. Services are free.
Hands LLC
www.HandsLLC.com
or 205-733-0976
Services include one on one behavior
based therapy for children 2 to 18, social skills groups, workshops and support
groups.
Lakeshore
Foundation
www.lakeshore.org or 205-313-7400
Making Strides
www.makingstrides.org or
205-980-0447
Provides physical
therapy for children with cerebral palsy, called conductive education.
Mitchell's Place
www.mitchells-place.com or
205-957-0294
Mitchell's Place is a comprehensive
treatment center for children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Services provided include a
multidisciplinary outpatient treatment center, an early learning program, and a
social and educational enrichment program.
Pediatric Therapy Associates, Inc.
700 Century
Park South, #128
Birmingham, AL 35226
www.pediatricptot.com or 205-823-1215
Programs
focus on specialized individual physical and occupational therapy services. Intensive Strengthening, Sensory Integration, Yoga and Handwriting
programs for children of many ages.
Puzzle Piece
130 Inverness Plaza,
#333, Birmingham, AL
35213
www.playproject.org or 205-999-8904
Providing evidence-based DIR/Floor time play
therapy for families touched by Autism. In home, family focused,
low cost, relation-based intervention.
University of Alabama at Birmingham - Civitan International Research Center,
Sparks Clinics
www.circ.uab.edu/Sparks or
205-934-5471
UAB Sparks Clinics provides an
extensive range of interdisciplinary clinics offering comprehensive diagnosis,
evaluation, and treatment of the needs of children and adults with mental
retardation and developmental disabilities.
University of Montevallo - George C. Wallace Speech and Hearing Center
www.montevallo.edu/csd/clinicalservices.shtm or 205-665-6720
Assist children with communicative
problems in obtaining diagnostic and therapeutic services; training of students
majoring in speech language pathology.
Vocational
Rehabilitation Services
205-290-4400
RECREATION
ACE Bows and Arrows
www.aceallstarsofalabama.com or
205-868-2370, contact Bill Presson
A special needs cheer team of
intellectually challenged boys and girls who are physically functional.
Adaptive Aquatics
www.adaptiveaquatics.org or
205-807-7519
Provides
opportunities for people to learn to water ski, no matter what their
limitations.
Children's Dance Foundation
www.childrensdancefoundation.org or
205-870-0073
Dance and movement
to music classes for special needs children in-house and at various locations
across Birmingham.
Camp Our Time
www.ourtimetheatre.org or 212-414-9696
Iroquois
Springs, Rock Hill, NY
A sleep-away arts camp (August 10-17) for young people ages 8-18 who
stutter and their siblings.
Camp Sky Ranch
www.campskyranch.com or 828-264-8600
634 Sky Ranch Road, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Real camping for special needs
(mentally handicapped) children.
Easter Seals - Alabama's Special Camp for Children and
Adults (ASCCA)
www.campascca.org or 800-843-2267
Easter Seals Camp for children and
adults with special needs. Campers learn new skills, make new friends, participate in swimming, water skiing, tubing, canoeing,
boating, fishing, arts and crafts, nature appreciation, overnight camping,
horseback, riflery, climbing, rappelling, and
whitewater canoeing. Located on Lake Martin off Highway 280. 6 years of age or older, physical
or mental disability, and other requirements as determined by specialty camp.
Hoover Recreation Center
www.hooveral.org or 205-444-7777
Programs designed around individuals
with physical or mental disabilities including adapted aquatics.
Lakeshore Foundation
www.lakeshore.org or 205-313-7400
Promotes
independence for adults and children with physically disabling conditions and
opportunities to pursue active healthy lifestyles.
Oak Mountain Youth Baseball/Softball Challenger
League
www.omybs.com or
genehurst@bellsouth.net
The Challenger League at OMYBS
provides boys and girls with disabilities the opportunity to experience the
emotional development and the fun of playing Youth League Baseball.
Space Camp & Aviation Challenge
www.spacecamp.com or 800-637-7223
Space Camp and Aviation Challenge
use space and aviation as a platform to excite and educate children ages 9
through 18 in math, science and technology.
Special Equestrians
www.specialequestriansinc.com or
205-987-9462
Therapeutic
horseback riding for those with disabilities.
The Exceptional Foundation
www.exceptionalfoundation.org or
205-870-0776
Provides recreational and social
opportunities to people ages 5 and up with mental and/or physical challenges.
The McWane Science Center
www.mcwane.org or
205-714-8414
Terrific Tuesdays! Special needs groups can explore
the world of science and wonder everyday of the year at McWane Science Center and on the 1st Tuesday
of each month groups of 15 or more special needs children and adults can
experience McWane Science Center for $1 for adventure hall admission
and $3 for an IMAX® Film. Reservations must be made 14 days in advance and groups must have
15 or more people to receive this rate. Please call for more information or to
make a reservation.
The Miracle League of Moody Alabama
www.moodymiracleleague.com or
pdeason@moodymiracleleague.com or
dtreadwell@moodyparcandrec.com
The Miracle League is a charitable
organization that provides children with mental and/or physical challenges an
opportunity to play baseball as a team member in an organized league.
VSA Arts Alabama
www.vsartsalabama.org or
205-212-7051
VSA arts of Alabama is a non-profit organization dedicated
to promoting the arts for people with disabilities by implementing arts-related
programming, training, and advocacy across the state.
RESPITE
Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network
www.alabamarespite.org or
205-991-0927
Helps caregivers of children with
disabilities find respite providers.
Children's Health System - Respite
Resource Network, Referrals
866-737-8252
Free training program for adults 18
and over who are interested in learning how to care for children with
disabilities.
Homewood Church of Christ - Respite Care Ministry
www.homewoodchurch.org or
205-942-6232 ext. 107
4th Friday of each month from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., except in November and December
Life Church of Birmingham - Kids Nite
Out the Special Edition
www.lifechurch.ws or 205-986-5433
4th Friday from 6-10 p.m.
Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church - Special Kids
Night Out
www.ompc.org or 205-995-9694 or contact
Mark Hunter at 981-4306 or mhunter@ompc.org
2nd Friday from 6-10 p.m., from September through May.
Saint Mark United Methodist Church Respite
www.saintmarkumc.org
or 205-620-9497 Contact Susan Lee 1st Friday from 6-10 p.m.
SPECIALTY ITEMS/TOYS
P.T.
Possibility Thinker
www.ptthinker.com
This
children’s toy and publishing company includes items about teaching children’s
to be themselves and discovering their strengths. P.T.(short
for Possibility Thinker) is a character doll with a heart. P.T. comes
with a detachable heart that has a special message embroidered on
it. Choose from 40 different embroidered messages to select just the right
words of encouragement, motivation or inspiration for anyone of all ages with
special needs.
TRANSPORTATION
Clastran
www.bjcta.org or 205-325-8787
Transports persons
who are elderly (60+), disabled, or traveling to or from a rural area in
Jefferson or Shelby counties.
Kid One
www.kidone.org or 800-543-7143 or
205-978-1000
Kid One Transport will provide
transportation for any child in need of reaching care that will better them
medically, mentally or physically when they are without means of transportation.
Client must have a permanent or temporary lack of transportation, must reside
in a community served by Kid One, must be under the
age of 19.
