Professional Groups
The Bethesda-based Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (www.icdl.com) has an online guide to disorders as well as recommendations for evaluations and types of therapists.
Washington Independent Services for Educational Resources (www.wiser-dc.com) is a membership organization for therapists, tutors and educational professionals with an online list.
Developmental Delay Resources (www.devdelay.org) also has local resources, as does the Learning Disabilities Association of Montgomery County (www.ldamc.org), and a new local site, www.specialneedsspecialkids.com.
Hospital-Based
The Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Children's National Medical Center in the District does comprehensive evaluations of children with developmental delays including autism spectrum disorder as well as learning disabilities, ADHD and other disabilities. Contact 301-338-8787 for information.
Inova Kellar Center at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children in Fairfax provides evaluation and treatment for attention-deficit and learning disorders. Call 703-218-8500.
The University of Maryland's Hospital for Children's Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics Division offers evaluation and treatment for children with developmental and behavioral problems. 410-706-2300.
Georgetown University's Center for Child and Human Development has comprehensive services, including the Autism and Communications Disorders Clinic, the Developmental Evaluation Clinic, the Neuropsychology Service and the Attention Program. Call 202-687-5000.
The Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore has a wide array of clinics where children can be evaluated, including the Center for Development and Learning, Center for Autism and Related Disorders, and the Developmental Cognitive Neurology Clinic. Call 888-554-2080.
Research
When inquiring about specific therapies, ask for copies of journal articles proving the efficacy and safety of the method in question. If the practitioner offers only summaries, ask for the specific citation so you can find the original article yourself.
One way to find dependable information on a therapy is Medlineplus.gov, a Web site that consolidates information from federal health agencies and credible professional and patient groups.
For detailed reporting that takes a critical look at non-mainstream therapies, visit Quackwatch.com. Run by a retired psychiatrist, the site strives to hold treatments to high standards of scientific evidence.
-- Cathy Trost
