Listed below are links to organizations or information that may be useful to you. Do you know of an organization not listed here that has assisted you or may be useful to others? Send us an email with the link and we’ll check it out.
The Autism Society – autism-society.org
The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism.
Baylor University’s Guide: “How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion” – How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion
This guide provides age appropriate ways to teach children about disabilities and the value of sharing and accepting each other’s differences.
Behavioral Heath Network –bhninc.org
Helps individuals, families, and communities improve the quality of lives for those with behavioral health and developmental challenges.
Behavioral Health Response (BHR) – bhrstl.org
BHR provides the ACI crisis hotline and mobile outreach services for residents of the eastern Missouri counties served by BJC Behavioral Health, Comtrea, Crider Health Center, and Hopewell Center. In addition, BHR is the crisis hotline provider for counties covered by Arthur Center and the MOCARS Community Mental Health Centers.
Bridgeway Behavioral Health – bridgewaybh.com
Bridgeway is a multi-service agency rooted in the philosophy that to serve an individual is to serve a family, and to strengthen a family is to strengthen a community. Bridgeway has earned a reputation as a leader in its field. Our integrated approach to treating addictive disorders, sexual assault, and domestic violence, provides clients with a comprehensive recovery plan.
Catholic Charities – ccstl.org
Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression and build a just and compassionate society.
CCRB – Community and Children’s Resource Board of St. Charles County (St. Charles County Kids) – stcharlescountykids.org
St. Charles County Kids is the administrator for the Community Children’s Services Fund. Funds are contracted to non-profit agencies to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services to St. Charles County children, youth, and families.
Center for Autism Education – teachautism.org
The Center for Autism Education is a non-profit organization that serves individuals with severe and challenging behaviors who have Autism or other developmental disabilities.
Center for Head Injury Services – headinjuryctr-stl.org
The Center for Head Injury Services exists to rebuild and enhance the lives of people through a full continuum of community-based specialized brain injury services.
Cerebral Palsy Group – cerebralpalsygroup.com
The Cerebral Palsy Group is dedicated to improving the overall quality of life for individuals with cerebral palsy. They provide free educational information and support to those who have been affected by cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities.
CHADD – chadd.org
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), is a national non-profit, tax-exempt (Section 501 (c) (3) ) organization providing education, advocacy and support for individuals with AD/HD.
Community Council – communitycouncilstc.org
Community Council has promoted collaboration between nonprofit, public and private partners. Together we’re better!
Community Living –communitylivingmo.org
From children to seniors, Community Living provides people with disabilities the opportunity to learn, live, grow, and play in the community, which makes the community inclusive, diverse and a better place to live.
Compass Health Network – compasshealthnetwork.org
Our goal has always been to assure every citizen of this area has the health care they need, at the time they need it, delivered in the setting in which those services will be most effective and efficient.
Crisis Nursery – crisisnurserykids.org
The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is committed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect and provides emergency intervention, respite care and support to families in crisis through: Short-term care for young children in a safe and nurturing environment, helping families resolve crisis, offering resources for empowerment, ongoing support and parent education, community outreach and awareness, and advocacy for children and families.
Delta Center for Independent Living – dcil.org
A CIL is a non-profit corporation, which assists people with significant disabilities who want to live more independently. CILs are managed and staffed by people with disabilities, are always located in the communities they serve, and assist people with all types of disabilities.
Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments – dgckids.org
The core service offered consists of home-based educational services for infants and toddlers, birth to three years, who are blind or visually impaired and their parents/caregivers.
Developmental Disabilities Resource Board – ddrb.org
The DDRB is a public taxing entity, commonly known as a “Senate Bill 40 Board” that enters into funding contracts with agencies that serve individuals with developmental disabilities in St. Charles County.
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis – dsagsl.org
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization comprised of families, friends, and professionals with the common interest to benefit the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families.
Easterseals Midwest – eastersealsmidwest.org
Easterseals Midwest strives to be a leader in the field of delivering exceptional services that help build communities where all people with developmental disabilities have equal opportunities to realize their goals, dreams and aspirations.
Great Circle – www.greatcircle.org
Great Circle is an agency that provides a unique spectrum of behavioral health services to children and families. With specialized programs and highly-trained professionals, we provide hope to those in difficult circumstances throughout Missouri and beyond.
Emmaus Homes, Inc. – emmaushomes.org
Emmaus Homes is a faith-based mission of families, staff and volunteers, working together to provide compassionate care to adults with developmental disabilities in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Federation for Children with Special Needs – fcsn.org
The Federation is a center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families.
First Steps – mofirststeps.com
First Steps is Missouri’s Early Intervention system for infants and toddlers, birth to age 3, who have delayed development or diagnosed conditions that are associated with developmental disabilities.
Franklin County Kids – franklincountykids.org
The funds are dedicated for services to Franklin County children and youth, and will be awarded to local agencies to provide services that address the growing unmet mental health needs of our community youth.
Governor’s Council on Disability – disability.mo.gov
The Governor´s Council on Disability (GCD) promotes full participation and inclusion of the nearly 1 million Missourians with disabilities in all aspects of community life by educating citizens, businesses, schools, universities and others of their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Institute for Human Development – ihd.umkc.edu
The Institute conducts and collaborates on a wide variety of Applied Research projects to develop, implement, and evaluate new ideas and promising practices that support healthy, inclusive communities.
Learning Disabilities Association of Missouri – ldastl.org
St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (St. Louis LDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding and acceptance of learning disabilities.
Lincoln County Kids – lincolncountykids.org
Provide services for Lincoln County children and youth, ages birth to 19 years of age
Mers Goodwill – mersgoodwill.org
Provides opportunities for persons with barriers to employment to work and live more independently in the community.
Missouri Assistive Technology – at.mo.gov
The mission of Missouri Assistive Technology is to increase access to assistive technology for Missourians with all types of disabilities, of all ages.
Missouri Career Source – missouricareersource.org
Division of Workforce Development and its partner agencies have collaborated to provide Missouri citizens with a fine-tuned, high functioning workforce system.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – dese.mo.gov
According to the Missouri Constitution, “The supervision of instruction in the public schools shall be vested in a state board of education …” (Article IX, Section 2a). This provision gives the State Board of Education general authority for public education, within limits set by the General Assembly.
Missouri Department of Mental Health – http://dmh.mo.gov/mentalillness/
The Division of Behavioral Health (DBH), formerly the Divisions of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, is responsible for making sure prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation services are available for individuals and families that need public mental health services throughout the State of Missouri.
Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division – dss.mo.gov
The Department of Social Services is responsible for coordinating programs to provide public assistance to children and their parents, access to health care, child support enforcement assistance and to provide specialized assistance to troubled youth.
Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD) – https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities
Serves individuals with developmental disabilities such as cognitive disabilities, cerebral palsy, head injuries, autism, epilepsy, and certain learning disabilities.
Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation – dese.mo.gov
Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (MDVR) operates under the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE). The Division is made up of three core programs: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Disability Determination Services (DDS), and Independent Living (IL). All three programs are dedicated to providing quality services to our consumers and to increasing their independence.
Missouri School for the Blind – msb.k12.ms.us
MSB is a day school with a residential component serving over 1,200 children between the ages of 0-21 at either its center base in St. Louis or through its outreach services effort.
Missouri School for the Deaf – https://msb.dese.mo.gov/
Missouri provides a well-rounded educational program for the deaf children of the state through the facilities and services of the Missouri School for the Deaf.
MOP&A – moadvocacy.org
MOP&A is the only legal rights organization in Missouri exclusively for people with disabilities.
National Alliance on Mental Illness – nami.org
Our mission is to improve the lives of persons with mental illness and their families through education, support, advocacy and research, to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
National Federation of Families For Children’s Mental Health – ffcmh.org
The National Federation supports families in all the work that they do at the local, state and national level. Through our various programs and resources, we are able to help families and their children obtain the needed resources and supports.
OASIS – aspergersyndrome.org
This web site provides articles, educational resources, links to local, national and international support groups, sources of professional help, lists of camps and schools, conference information, recommended reading, and moderated support message boards.
Office of Special Education Programs – ed.gov
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.
Pacer Center – pacer.org
The mission of PACER Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents.
Paraquad – paraquad.org
Paraquad provides over 40 services, addressing the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities.
Parent Training and Information – ptimpact.org
Our mission is to ensure that all children with special needs receive an education which allows them to achieve their personal goals.
Pathways to Independence – ptistl.org
Provides social skills development for individuals age 16 and over who are diagnosed with a higher cognitive functioning developmental disability to develop greater self-reliance needed for productive employment and meaningful personal relationships. Services are provided in various group settings in the community by staff who actively participate in all events to help individuals develop their targeted skills and goals.
People First of Missouri – missouripeoplefirst.org
People First of Missouri is a statewide organization formed by, run by and which exists for persons with developmental disabilities. Currently there are over 40 chapters across the state of Missouri with approximately 1,000 members.
Places for People – placesforpeople.org
Places for People’s mission is to provide individualized, high-quality and cost-effective services to adults with serious and persistent mental disorders so they can live, work, and socialize in environments of their own choosing. We accept a special responsibility to serve those individuals who rely on public funding.
Preferred Family Health – pfh.org
We are a comprehensive behavioral health non-profit organization established in 1979 providing substance abuse treatment/prevention and mental health services throughout Missouri.
Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis/St. Charles County – recreationcouncil.org
Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis/St. Charles County-The Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization which serves as a “clearinghouse” for information on leisure, recreation and socialization opportunities for individuals with developmental disABILITIES who reside in the Greater St. Louis Area.
Show Me Aquatics – showmeaquatics.org
Creates a warm water aquatic, fitness and therapeutic center that maximizes leading innovations in programming, architecture, and technologies to provide a barrier-free environment allowing anyone to improve their quality of life through physical activity.
St. Charles County Kids (The Community and Children’s Resource Board of St. Charles County – CCRB) – stcharlescountykids.org
St. Charles County Kids is the administrator for the Community Children’s Services Fund. Funds are contracted to non-profit agencies to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services to St. Charles County children, youth, and families.
St. Louis Arc – slarc.org
The St. Louis Arc is a non-profit, United Way agency that provides support and services to more than 3,000 adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and their families, throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.
St. Louis Crisis Nursery – crisisnurserykids.org
The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is committed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect and provides emergency intervention, respite care and support to families in crisis through: Short-term care for young children in a safe and nurturing environment, helping families resolve crisis, offering resources for empowerment, ongoing support and parent education, community outreach and awareness, advocacy for children and families.
TASH – tash.org
TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy.
United Cerebral Palsy Heartland – ucpheartland.org
UCP Heartland’s mission is to provide the highest quality of programs, services and supports while advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of individuals with disabilities.
United Services – unitedsrvcs.org
United Services creates an inclusive educational environment that values children of all abilities, in partnership with our community.
United Way – https://helpingpeople.org/
We’re committed to using donations wisely, locally and effectively to make a positive difference in the lives of people in our community.
Willows Way – willowsway.org
Willows Way provides personalized support to individuals with challenges, promoting dignity while fostering independence, growth and life choices within the community.
Wrightslaw Special Education – wrightslaw.com
Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.
Youth In Need – youthinneed.org
Youth In Need is a nonprofit child and family services agency, headquartered in St. Charles, Mo. Through a variety of crisis prevention and intervention programs, Youth In Need is dedicated to building positive futures for the community’s most vulnerable children, teens and families.