The Arc of Essex County: 973-535-1181; www.arcessex.org
The Arc of New Jersey: 1-732-246-2625; www.arcnj.org
The Arc of Essex County’s Down syndrome website: www.downsyndromeconnect.org
Department of Children and Families/PerformCare – 1-877-652-7624: www.performcarenj.org
Mom2Mom helpline for parents of Special Needs Children/24 hour parent support: http://ubhc.rutgers.edu/mom2mom/index.htm
1-877-914-6662
The Sibling Support Project www.siblingsupport.org
Family Resource Associates www.frainc.org (check out their great newsletters for siblings)
The Arc of The United States www.thearc.org
The National Down Syndrome Society www.ndss.org
The National Down Syndrome Congress www.ndsccenter.org
Down Syndrome Education International www.dseinternational.org
The Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation www.dsrtf.org
The Arc of New Jersey www.arcnj.org
The Arc of Essex County Parent Support Group –973-535-1181 ext. 1223
Network 21 (Central New Jersey) www.dsnetwork21.com
Billy’s Buddies (Bergen County) www.wyckoffymca.org
Family Resource Associates (Shrewsbury) www.frainc.org
The Complete IEP Guide How to Advocate for your Special Ed Child by Lawrence M. Siegel
Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy by Pam and Pete Wright (www.wrightslaw.com)
New Jersey Department of Education, Special Education Page www.state.nj.us/nj/education/specialed
Private School Association for Students with Disabilities in New Jersey www.asah.org
New Jersey State Approved Schools list (https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/directory)
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education www.njcie.org
SPAN (Statewide Parent Advocacy Network) www.spanadvocacy.org
ACNJ (Association for Children of New Jersey) www.acnj.org
Disability Rights New Jersey (formerly New Jersey Protection and Advocacy) www.drnj.org
Books for Children:
- We’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
- My Friend Isabelle by Eliza Woloson
Books for Parents:
- GIFTS: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives Edited by Kathryn Lynard Super
- Babies with Down Syndrome – A New Parents Guide by Karen Stray-Gundersen
- The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
- You Will Dream New Dreams Inspiring Personal Stories by Parents of Children With Disabilities by Stanley D, Kleinm PH.D and Kim Schive
- Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everday Magic by Martha Beck
- Choosing Naia: A Family’s Journey by Mitchell Zuckoff
Woodbine House books (www.woodbinehouse.com)
The Toys ‘R Us Differently-Abled Toy Guide
Beyond Play (www.beyondplay.com)
Abilitations (https://store.schoolspecialty.com)
Down Syndrome Medical Clinics:
- The Judy Center at Hackensack University Medical Center www.hackensackumc.org
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia www.chop.edu
- DDC (Developmental Disabilities Clinic) at Morristown Memorial Hospital 973-971-4095
- DDC at Overlook Hospital 908-598-6655
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD www.kennedykrieger.org
- Children’s Specialized Hospital www.childrens-specialized.org
Breastfeeding for Children with Down Syndrome:
- La Leche League International www.llli.org
The Candle Lighters is a non-profit established in 1974 by a group of concerned parents, relatives, and friends who wanted to assist in the growth and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in our community. The role of the Candle Lighters is to raise funds for unfunded and underfunded programs of The Arc of Essex County that benefit children and adults with developmental disabilities in Essex and surrounding counties. Programs supported by The Candle Lighters include: The Stepping Stones Early Intervention Program, Camp Hope, and Recreation.
Over the past decade, many of the fee-for-service programs provided by The Arc of Essex County have periodically been in financial jeopardy. Thanks to the generous support of the Candle Lighters, the cost charged to families for these programs continues to be significantly reduced.
For more information please visit:
