Special Education Parent Resources
Here you will find tools, guidance, and information designed to help you better understand special education programs, your rights as a parent or guardian, and the many ways we can work together to support your child’s growth and success.
MO Protection and Advocacy Services
Transition Preparation & Planning
Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015
Resources for Individuals with Disabilities
This is a partial list of agencies and organizations that provide valuable support to individuals with disabilities. Some programs may have income-based eligibility, while others are available to all.
Additional resources may exist beyond those listed. For more information, please contact your Case Manager, Process Coordinator, or the Director of Special Services.
Activities
To give A Sporting Chance to any person with any disability, youth who are disadvantaged, abused & neglected by developing and providing amateur sports training, competition and recreational programs. Any person with any disability or youth who are disadvantaged can participate in any program offered by A Sporting Chance.
Office is located in The Arc of the Ozarks Building
417-874-1958 - Office
1501 E. Pythian
Springfield, MO 65802
Art Inspired Academy
Offers the opportunity for individuals with and without disabilities to participate in creative arts classes such as theatre, movement, music enrichment and art. We provide inclusive classes in a community setting that collaborates with existing programs and provides support for individuals with disabilities. At Art Inspired Academy, we provide support based on individuals abilities. We welcome people of all abilities in our classes! Participants express themselves through artistic experiences while working on goals to improve communication, motor skills, social skills, self-control and confidence.
AbilitiesFirst.net
3216 S. National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65807
417-886-0404
Email: info@abilitiesfirst.net
Camp Barnabas
www.campbarnabas.org
Camp Barnabas exists to provide life-changing opportunities to people with special needs in a Christian camp setting during the summer.
Tracy Sherrow- Email: Tracy@campbarnabas.org
417-708-5298 -Year Round- Springfield Office
Champion Athletes of the Ozarks
Allows for special needs athletes to participate in special events with their peers in fun and exciting settings that may not normally be accessible.
ChampionAthletes.org
Susan Miles – 417-890-1599
Springfield Park Board-Recreational Opportunities
The Greene County Park Board strives to provide quality recreational programs to individuals of all abilities. Programs include bowling, ceramics, line dance, tennis, golf, camping, canoeing/float trips.
ParkBoard.org
Email: parks@parkboard.org
417-864-1049
Arc of the Ozarks
Structured recreational programs are available for children and young adults during the school on Saturdays of every month. Recreational activities include arts, crafts, games, swimming, outings in the community, and other activities to teach individuals with disabilities the skills needed to better use their leisure time.
Summer Camp is offered during the summer.
TheArcOfTheOzarks.com
Amy Holland – 417-864-7887
Email: aholland@thearcoftheozarks.org
Agencies
Center for Music Therapy and Wellness
Drury’s Music Department
The Center for Music Therapy and Wellness is a university-affiliated music therapy clinic. The certified music therapists work with a variety of populations, using music to bring about positive physical, psychological, neurological, and spiritual change.
Centerformusictherapyandwellness.com
Julie Cassity – 417-873-7877
Email: info@centerformusictherapyandwellness.com
Developmental Center of the Ozarks
Serves infants, children, and adults who are developmentally disabled, developmentally delayed or physically disabled, as well as those who are not, through therapeutic, educational, habilitative and rehabilitative programs. DCO holds as its greatest responsibility to promote personal growth through teaching those skills necessary for all citizens of our community to lead full and productive lives.
Therapy services, early childcare and education, employment services, adult day centers, technology and learning center
DCOOnline.com
417-829-0800
Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks (DSGO)
Their mission is to help individuals with Down syndrome become successful by providing support and education to loving families.
Dsgo.life
417-885-9905
Empower Abilities
Offers choices and empowerment for people with disabilities. Provide four core services to assist people with disabilities to achieve their independent living goals and to live in the least restrictive environment
- Individual & systems advocacy, peer support, information and referral, independent living skills
- Youth services- transition classes on independent living skills, advocacy, field trips, community resource management, social events
Judevine Center for Autism
Judevine® Center provides an array of autism services to meet the needs of individuals and their families in urban and rural locales.
417-213-8018
Department of Mental Health
Established to help anyone with a disability attributable to intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, brain injury or other related mental or physical disability occurring prior to the age of 22. Provides the entry point (or intake) to Support Coordination and other services.
Regional Director: Julie Lillich - 417-895-7400
Division for Developmental Disabilities
Springfield Regional Office
1515 East Pythian
Springfield, MO 65801
Mental Illness - Division for Behavioral Health
Services for the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) are provided by community mental health centers that are responsible for serving people in their region of the state.
Burrell Behavioral Health
1300 Bradford Parkway
Springfield, MO 65804
(417)761-5000
Statewide Parent Training and Information Center for Parents of Children with Disabilities. Their primary goal is to assist parents in their effort to effectively advocate for their children's educational rights and services.
MSU – Speech Language Hearing Clinic
The Clinic provides evaluation and treatment for all ages in the areas of Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Early Intervention for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Nova- Center of the Ozarks
Supports individuals & families all ages affected by autism and other developmental disabilities. Areas include individualized supported living, community integration, home skills development, personal care attendant, behavior intervention and support & education/information.
417-886-1188
Supporters of Children with Additional Needs
SCAN is a non- profit support group of families of children with additional needs, coming together to build a network of support and to share information.
Advocacy; Education; Socialization; Community Exposure; Awareness; Resources; Tolerance. S.C.A.N. members enjoy meetings, opportunities, fun activities, family events, and socialization. Located in Lebanon, Mo.
Scan4Kids.com
Arc of the Ozarks
To support individuals with disabilities in directing their own lives as valued members of the community.
Ages 0-to adult.
- ABA services- functional behavioral analysis, tutoring
- Education & Recreation Services
- Employment Solutions
- CounterPoint Austism
- Residential Services
- Community Connections
- Advocacy
TheArcofTheOzarks.org
Amy Holland – 417-864-7887
Email: aholland@thearcoftheozarks.org
WC Partners
WC Partners provides support for Webster County citizens with developmental disabilities and their families. WC Partners also provides Targeted Case Management services through a private contract with the Missouri Department of Mental Health as well as funding support for Web-Co Custom Industries. WC Partners helps individuals with developmental disabilities acquire the services and supports they need to live and be employed in our community.
WC-Partners.net
417-630-0782
Health and Senior Services – Bureau for Special Health Care Needs
Serves children with, or at risk of, a disease, physical disability, or medical condition. Provides limited funding of medically necessary services, including in-home health and support services.
Region 9
Wright County Health Dept.
(417) 741-7791
Continued Education
Support services are individualized in an attempt to provide the most appropriate services for the needs of the student.
Ozarks Technical Community College
Disability Support Services
417-447-8189
The Disability Resource Center
417-836-4192
Disability Support Services
417-873-7457
Supported Employment Services
Employment Solutions – The Arc of the Ozarks
Referred by Vocational Rehabilitation or Dept. of Mental Health
- Employment Specialists aid in many aspects of the job search. These services include: career discovery, career planning, job placement, job coaching, retention support and transition services.
- Two choices- Enclave- work in crews of 4-6 with a job coach or individual placement with job placement and/or job coaching.
417-864-7887
Helps students complete your high school diploma or GED or high school graduate who wants to pursue career technical training or advance to college.
- Job search assistance, tutoring, mentoring, job training program
1-800-733-JOBS
Referred by Vocational Rehabilitation
- Vocational assessment
- Job development
- Job coaching services
417-862-5005
Services available to 16-21 years old in high school, drop out or in college and whom are motivated to further their education and /or obtain employment skills.
- Job readiness training- resume writing, completing applications, mock interviews and paid internships, and GED classes
417-887-4343
- Job Placement
- Supported employment
- Vocational Evaluation and Career Planning
- Traumatic Brain Injuries services
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing services
- Veterans services
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Skill Training Programs:
- Janitorial, Food Service, Childcare, Computer Skills, Auto Tech Assistant Training
417-869-8086