Direct links to resources I’ve found helpful throughout my journey.  Rather than recreate great advice, I believe in giving credit where credit is due!  Plus, why recreate the wheel?!?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 8 million (as of school year 2022-23) eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

A Day in Our Shoes is a mom-owned & mom-led small business dedicated to online SpEd advocacy.  You can finds lots of great things on the site, but I found this article on Prior Written Notices especially helpful. 

For understanding Autism & PDA:
PDA Society (UK) – clear explanations of the PDA profile
Autism Research Institute – broader autism resources
National Autistic Society (UK) – practical guides
Child Mind Institute – easy read or quick listen
 
Side note: Some of the most helpful information I found came from UK-based organizations, where the PDA profile is more formally recognized. While it isn’t currently a standalone diagnosis in the U.S., the framework helped me better understand my child.

For ADHD:
CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD) – evidence-based info
ADDitude Magazine – real-life strategies (take what fits, leave the rest) – there’s also an app!

For ADHD medications studies (reference Quieting the Noise for context)

Guanfacine and hypertension — PubMed review
FDA prescribing information for Intuniv (guanfacine ER)
Randomized trial of guanfacine in children with autism — PubMed
Guanfacine in autism: anxiety, repetitive behavior and other outcomes — PubMed
FDA safety information for Intuniv

For Dyslexia & Dyscalculia:
International Dyslexia Association
Understood.org – great plain-language breakdowns

Other Miscellaneous Resources:
Dr. Mona Delahooke (Beyond Behaviors)
Polyvagal Theory resources by Dr. Stephen Porges
The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene
Forever Boy: A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy, by Kate Swenson
Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood, by ASD mothers Adrian Wood, Carrie Carriello, and Kate Swenson