Community Resources for Families with Special Needs: Where to Start
Many families supporting a loved one with special needs start their journey at a doctor’s office - either the family or a doctor has noticed something, testing is done, and then there is a diagnosis and the family begins supporting the loved one with special needs. But while much of that is intuitive, figuring out that resources exist in the community, what they are, and how to connect with them can be overwhelming. Here are some great places to start, whether you have some idea of what your needs are or just the sense that there’s got to be more out there, these organizations can help.
Sooner Success is run by the University of Oklahoma, but that’s only its beginning. It collaborates with many Oklahoma organizations and connects families with any and all types of loved ones with special needs with those organizations.
Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC)
ORC is run by Oklahoma State University, but as with Sooner Success, that’s only the beginning. It collaborates with many government resources and programs for families with any and all types of special needs.
Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma
Can answer questions and offer training courses designed to help families and people with developmental disabilities learn what their rights are and how to advocate for those rights.
A federally funded, statewide disability rights organization that provides and supports advocacy for Oklahomans with disabilities in civil matters related to disability rights, including representation in administrative hearings or in court and investigation of abuse or neglect in the community and in institutions.
