Family Resources

The Kaufman Children’s Center works closely with families to provide the best care possible for our KCC kids. We understand that navigating your way through the special-needs system can be incredibly challenging, and we endeavor to help as much as possible. We hope the information listed in this area may be of help to you. Please feel free to provide feedback by emailing Cyndi Davis, the KCC’s community outreach coordinator. We would love to hear what has worked for you, and will be happy to pass on helpful information to other families.

Grants

Financial help from outside resources

Child Apps

Fun and educational
apps for your child

Insurance Tips

How to get the most
from your coverage

Friends of the KCC

Organizations that
may be of assistance

Therapist Tips

Expert advice from our KCC staff

Helpful Links

Excellent info from outside resources

Special Needs Grant Opportunities

Please note that each grant resource is from an independent organization; none are associated with the Kaufman Children's Center. The KCC has made every effort to provide high-quality and helpful grant information, but we cannot be held liable for errors or the quality of the grant sources. Information should be independently verified and confirmed. Questions about specific grants should be addressed to the organization offering the grant.

If you receive help from a grant source not listed here or find that a grant is no longer being offered, please email us know so we may update our list for the benefit of other families. Thanks for your help!

Cyndi Davis, Community Outreach Coordinator
248-737-3430 or EMAIL

Special Needs Grants

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Grant Search Engines

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Autism Grant Sources

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Grants for Travel Expenses

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Special Needs Apps

Every day at the KCC we are hearing more and more about the usefulness of smartphone and tablet apps for kids with special needs. We have been approached by many parents for a comprehensive list of apps. Although it may be impossible to list every app available, the following resources are a great first step in finding technology that may be helpful for your child.

Help us help others! If you know of an additional app source or find that an app is no longer being offered or supported, please let us know so we may share it with other families. Thanks for your help!

Cyndi Davis, Community Outreach Coordinator
248-737-3430 or EMAIL

Parents can search for apps by keyword, tag, most popular and most recent.  There’s also a fantastic category search to find apps for the following uses: communication, social skills, life skills, behavior, educational, scheduling, and speech/language.

http://www.friendshipcircle.org/apps/

BridgingApps is an Easter Seals program that helps parents, teachers, and therapists to effectively use mobile devices and apps to target and improve individual skill development to help children and adults with disabilities reach their highest levels of physical and cognitive development.

https://insignio.bridgingapps.org/dashboard

This service is constantly updated by parents and other users and includes information on the platform, cost, age group, price, any related research. https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-apps

Birdhouse is a super helpful, easy-to-use website and smartphone app designed FOR parents raising children with autism, BY parents raising a child with autism. Easily keep a running, searchable journal of your child’s daily activities like sleep, medications/supplements, moods, therapies, poop, meltdown, food, and other activities, so you can figure out what’s working and what needs to be changed, and have everything on you whenever you need access to it. http://www.birdhousehq.com/

Both Apple and Android offer built-in tools and technologies that help people with disabilities get the most out of their devices. Search the iTunes store and Google Play for additional special needs apps.

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Tips for Dealing with Insurance Companies

The KCC bills directly to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, and Health Alliance Plan. We do not participate with Medicaid.

For all other insurance plans,  payment is the responsibility of the parent. We encourage you to contact your insurance company to determine if you can be reimbursed for your expenses. Our front office staff is happy to provide you with the billing codes you will need.

We understand that dealing with health insurance can be a complicated and sometimes frustrating process, and have pulled together some tips we hope will help.

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Friends of the KCC

Help navigating the autism through a wide variety of resources

Using technology to help your special needs household stay organized

Assistance and friendship to children
with special needs and their families

Treatment resources and
continuing education for SLPs

Therapy songbook resource from
the KCC’s own music therapist

Childhood apraxia of speech charity based in the greater Chicago area

Traditional summer camp experience
for kids with special challenges

Online community to enrich the
experience of raising children

Enabling a Jewish education for
children with special needs

Private pediatric speech-language
therapy center located in New Jersey

Nonprofit offering resources and
support for apraxia parents

Helping to meet the changing needs
of individuals with Down syndrome

How OT can help people perform
at the highest level of their life roles

Private school and clinic for
children with special needs

West Bloomfield toy store with
unique special needs resources

Making effective communication accessible and achievable for all

Support and services for parents
and families of special needs kids

Resources from the Michigan
Speech-Language-Hearing Assn.

Funds therapies and treatments for
children with communicative disorders

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Therapist Tips for Parents & Professionals

Winter Speech & Language Practice at Home

Some fun and simple activities to try at home to keep your child’s skills in top form

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Summer Sensory Ideas to Retain School Skills

Ideas for fun summer activities that will help keep kids from falling behind in school

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Best Practices for Your Child’s Speech & Language Therapy

Nancy Kaufman's top tips for helping children who struggle to speak

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Toss the Sippy Cup for Best Speech Development

The type of cup your young child drinks from can have a big impact on their development

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Sensory Ideas for School and Home

Sensory input is a wonderful way to help children of all abilities focus on their schoolwork

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When to Seek a Speech & Language Evaluation

Deciding to initiate an evaluation can be difficult, but it’s often the best decision

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Helpful Links

Help your kids conquer cabin fever with this giant list of web-based activities!

LINK

Huge list of resources categorized for families, educators, and providers. Additional list of resources in Spanish.

WEBSITE

Researched information on how autism affects sleep, as well as some useful tools that individuals and their parents can use to find better rest.

WEBSITE

A round up of advice from experts, offering some general rules to have in mind about adapting your house to a family member living with a disability. Don't miss the list of play date tips from our own Amy Hengstebeck, OTRL!

WEBSITE

Help us help others! If you know of an additional source that would be helpful to others, please let us know so we may share it with other families. Thanks for your help!

Cyndi Davis, Community Outreach Coordinator
248-737-3430 or EMAIL