Special Needs

Genetics Home Reference
Website developed by the National Institue for Health to educate parents about the ways genetic variations affect health. - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
Special School District Resource Center
Knowledgeable staff and a wealth of information for families of children with disabilities.
12110 Clayton Rd
Town and Country, MO 63131
314-989-8438 - www.ssd.k12.mo.us/parents/fcrc/index.html
Family Resource Center
Located on the 3rd floor of Children's Hospital. Provides literature on diverse topics related to parenting.
One Children's Place
Room 3S-12
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
314-454-2350 - www.stlouischildrens.org
Social Security Office
A child might be eligible for 3 types of Social Security benefits-
Social Security Dependents Benefits (SSDI)- for children of disabled or deceased parents.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)- benefits are payable to children under 18 years old who have disabilities and limited resources.
Medicaid-automatic for patients with severe impairments regardless of parental income.
1-800-772-1213 - www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/child.htm -
Children's Legal Alliance - Legal Services of Eastern MO
Free legal assistance to income eligible children who have special education needs. Services include representing children at IEP meetings, due process, suspension or expulsion hearings. Other services include ensuring homeless children have access to education, advocating for access to appropriate special education services, correcting inaccurate or misleading school records.
4232 Forest Park Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63108

Intake: 314-534-4200, ext 1311 or
1-800-444-0524 ext. 1311 - http://www.lsem.org - Children's Legal Alliance Handout
MPACT Parent Training and Information
A statewide parent training and information center serving all disabilities. MPACT's mission is to ensure that all children with special needs receive an education that allows them to achieve their personal goals.
1-800-743-7634
- www.ptimpact.com/index.htm
First Steps
For children, birth to age 3, who have delayed development or diagnosed conditions that are associated with developmental disabilities. Provides coordinated services and assistance.
1-866-583-2392 - www.eikids.com
Belle Center
The Belle Center offers an inclusive Center-Based Preschool offering children with disabilities opportunities to be included in a typical classroom. They also provide outreach services offering therapy for children in the community, parent education programs on topics like development or legal issues, and workshops that help support parents and siblings of children with disabilities.
See also the helpful links on the Belle Center website!
1082 Old Des Peres Rd
St. Louis, MO 63131
Phone: (314) 821-5230
- www.bellecenter.com
Catch a Falling Star
The mission of Catch a Falling Star is to strengthen the physical and social skills of children with disabilities while promoting inclusion in every day living. Catch a Falling Star is a unique recreational/fun center open after-school, in the evenings and on weekends to children with and without disabilities ages 2-14.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 2pm-8pm, Friday 2pm-10pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.

6554 Manchester Ave
314-645-5556.
- www.catchafallingstar.org
Paraquad
Information and referral service about resources for people with disabilities including:

Accessible Housing Clearinghouse
Financial assistance with home modifications, rental and mortgage payments,
Employment program,
Benefits planning assistance
College for Living including continuing education, supported education, supported employment.
DEAFWay Interpreting Services
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services - develop independent living plans
Personal Assistance Services - people with disabilities hire, train and supervise their own personal attendants.
Youth and Family Program
Public Policy Advocacy Program

5240 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110
314/289-4200 (voice)
314/289-4252 (TTY) - www.paraquad.org
St Louis Arc
Support and services to adults and children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, and their families.
1816 Lackland Hill Parkway
Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63146
(314) 569-2211
- www.slarc.org
St Louis Regional Center
Service coordination for anyone with a developmental disability, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, head injuries, autism, epilepsy, certain learning disabilities.
St. Louis City Office
3101 Chouteau
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 301-3900
St. Louis County Office
211 North Lindbergh
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 340-6500 - www.dmh.missouri.gov/slrc/index.htm
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
Provides individual and family support and advocacy for people with Down Syndrome.
8420 Delmar Boulevard, Suite 506
St. Louis, Missouri 63124
314-961-2504 - www.dsagsl.org
Easter Seals Disability Services
Services to adults and children with disabilities, including early intervention, play therapy, camping, respite care, leisure activities, child development, family support.
13975 Manchester Road
Manchester, MO 63011
1-800-664-5025
636-227-6030
- http://mo.easterseals.com
Life Skills Foundation
Services to adults and teens with developmental disabilities including community living skills, employment support, and leisure activities.
10176 Corporate Square Drive
Suite 100
St. Louis, Missouri 63132-2924
(314) 567-7705 - www.lifeshills-stl.org/splash.html
Missouri Protection and Advocacy
A federally mandated statewide system which provides protection of the rights of persons with disabilities through legally based advocacy.
314-961-0679
800-233-3958 - www.moadvocacy.org
Ranken Jordan
Provides care for children with complex medical and developmental needs regardless of ability to pay.
11365 Dorsett
St Louis, MO 63043
314-872-6400 - www.rankenjordan.org
Talking Tapes: Textbooks on Tape
Textbooks on Tape are resources for students from kindergarten to 12th grade with visual, physical, cognitive and learning disabilities. There is no annual membership or contract required and no special listening equipment needed. All recordings are on two-track cassette tapes.
314-646-0500 - www.talkingtapes.org
Epilepsy Foundation of the St. Louis Region
Prevention, education, and advocacy services to people with seizures, their families, and the community. Includes employment, independent living, and social services.
7100 Oakland
St Louis, Missouri 63117
(314) 645-6969 or (800) 264-6970 - www.epilepsyfoundation.org
St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association
Services for people with learning disablities and their families, including information, referral, community education, resource library, individual consultation.
13537 Barrett Parkway Dr, Suite 110
Ballwin, MO 63021
(314)-966-3088 - www.ldastl.org
Judevine Center for Autism
Services to people with autism, including therapy, residential care, education, family support. - www.judevine.org
Fragile X Resource Center of Missouri
Provides support and information to individuals with FXS and their families.
2 Valley View Place
St. Louis, MO 63124
314-997-0431 - www.fragilex.org/html/missouri.htm
WINGS
Seeks to enhance a child’s quality of life during his or her last months, weeks or days, by offering pain and symptom management and comfort care.
314-872-5050 - http://peds.wustl.edu/clinical/wings/
***Visual or Hearing Impairment***
Delta Gamma
Early intervention ervices for children with visual impairment.
5030 McRee Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
314-776-1300 - www.dgckids.org
Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) provides services to people with varying degrees of visual impairment, ranging from those who cannot read regular print to those who are totally blind.
St Louis North District
10449 St. Charles Rock Rd.
Room 401
St. Ann, MO
63074-1827
314-890-4200
Fax 314-426-3560

St Louis South District
2 Campbell Plaza,
Floor 3B
St. Louis, MO 63139
314-877-0151
Fax 314-877-0168
- www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/rsb/
Missouri Council of the Blind
A support group that provides information and support. Information provided includes scholarships, summer camps, special services program, adaptive technology information, health benefits, employment and legislation issues and public awareness programs.
5453 Chippewa
St. Louis, MO 63109
Phone: 314-832-7172
Toll-free 800-342-5632
Fax: 314-832-7796 - www.missouricounciloftheblind.org
Central Institute for the Deaf
Central Institute for the Deaf is a fully accredited auditory-oral school where hearing-impaired children learn to listen, talk, read and succeed. They specialize in excellence in auditory-oral deaf education for children birth to 12. Generous private support makes CID affordable for families of children with hearing loss who qualify, regardless of ability to pay.
825 South Taylor Avenue
St Louis, MO 63110
314-977-0132
877-444-4574 - www.cid.edu
***Sports Programs***
- St. Louis Adaptive Sports Programs
Kids Enjoy Exercise Now
Provides free one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities.
P.O. Box 69010
St Louis, MO 63169 - www.keenstlouis.org
Cerebral Palsy Sports Program
Coordinated by physical therapists at Children's hospital, provides sports opportunities for children with CP.
314-454-2642
Recreation Council of greater STL
Clearinghouse for information on leisure, recreation and socialization opportunities for individuals with developmental disABILITIES who reside in the Greater St. Louis Area.
St. Louis City Office:
2334 Olive
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314)772-2299
St. Charles Office:
425 Spencer Rd.
St. Peters, MO 63376
(636)477-7704 - http://stlouis.missouri.org/reccouncil/
T.A.S.K.
Team Activities for Special Kids provides year-round instructional sports program that provides athletic and social opportunities to kids with special needs. The purpose of the program is to help build self-esteem and skills in children with special needs.

11139 South Towne Square, Suite D
St. Louis, Mo 63123
(314) 845-3641
E-Mail: tasksports@sbcglobal.net
- www.tasksports.org
IEP (Individual Education Plan) pamphlet
Helpful guide on navigating the IEP process from start to finish, as well as problem solving tips for when problems arise. - IEP Pamphlet