Resources

Books

Accessible Home Design: Architectural Solutions for the Wheelchair User, PVA, 1999. Call 888-860-7244 or write the PVA Distribution Center, P.O. Box 753, Waldorf, Maryland 20604-0753. The cost is $22.95.

Allowance Magic: Turn Your Kids into Money Wizards, by David McCurrach, 2003.

Dr. Tightwad's Money-Smart Kids, by Janet Bodnar, 1997. Make kids of any age savvy about earning, spending, borrowing, and saving.

Raising Financially Fit Kids, by Joline Godfrey, 2003. Lessons of financial responsibility presented in a family-friendly manner.

Using Credit Wisely. Order this free booklet by visiting www.usecreditwisely.com.

Web sites

Credit

ABC Guides will help you find a listing of credit cards ranked by annual fee, interest rate, and grace period. Their Web site is www.abcguides.com/creditcards.

www.equifax.com, 800-685-1111

www.experian.com, 888-397-3742

www.transunion.com, 800-888-4213

National Foundation for Consumer Credit: visit www.nfcc.org for credit counseling, debt reduction services, and education for financial wellness.

Disabilities

American Bar Association Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law, www.abanet.org/disability; 202-662-1570.

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities,www.nichcy.org; 800-695-0285.

Spina Bifida Association, www.sbaa.org, 800-621-3141.

Educational resources

College admission

Visit www.act.org for admission and testing information on the American College Testing Assessment (ACT) college entrance exam.

Visit www.collegeboard.com/testing for information about the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Visit www.ets.org/toefl for information about the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which is used by colleges and universities to evaluate student English language proficiency.

College preparation

Visit www.collegeispossible.org a college preparation guide targeted to middle and high school students.

Visit www.collegeplan.org for information about colleges, scholarships, loans, and college life.

Visit www.mapping-your-future.org/ for information about college financial strategies and career options.

Visit www.ed.gov/pubs/Prepare/index.html for publications about study skills, reading, and good parenting.

Visit www.ed.gov/students/prep/college/thinkcollege/edlite-index.html for encouragement about lifetime learning, with information geared toward preschoolers through adult learners.

General college information

Visit www.aacc.nche.edu, American Association of Community Colleges for information about community colleges.

Visit www.blackexcel.org for student guides and resources for African-American and first-generation college students.

Visit www.collegeboard.com for information on college admissions, financial aid, testing, and enrollment.

Visit www.collegenet.com for tips on buying used books and college merchandise.

Visit www.collegeview.com for information on 3,800 schools.

Visit www.petersons.com for educational resources including books, college search and advice, and online products.

Visit www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp for information about how to select, apply, and pay for college.

Career, trade, and technical schools

Private Postsecondary Vocational Schools: visit www.rwm.org/rwm for a database of postsecondary vocational schools in all 50 states.

Visit www.search4college.com for a guide to career training and resources for choosing college, vocational, and technical school training.

Votech Education: visit http://careerplanning.about.com/mbody/?once=true& for information about how to land and enjoy your first job, tips on balancing life and education, and career planning.

People with disabilities

Spina Bifida Association (SBAA) Scholarship Fund: to obtain an application and review scholarship submission guidelines, visit the SBAA Web site at www.sbaa.org (put your cursor on Programs and click Education in the drop-down menu) or call 800-621-3141.

HEATH Resource Center at George Washington University has a national clearinghouse on post secondary education for people with disabilities. Call 800-544-3284 or visit www.heath.gwu.edu.

If you are a Vietnam vet whose child is eligible for benefits through the Agent Orange Benefits Act, the VA will pay for all costs for training, including tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment. Call the Department of Veterans Affairs at 800-827-1000 or visit www.va.gov to apply for benefits.

Financial aid

Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov to apply online or download an application form for federal financial aid.

Visit www.fastweb.monster.com to search for all kinds of scholarships.

Visit www.finaid.org for financial aid resources and calculators to determine education costs.

Visit www.salliemae.com to plan for college, apply for a loan, or find a job.

Visit www.ed.gov/index.html for information on loans, scholarships, application forms, and more.

Financial advisors

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, www.cfp.net

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, www.aicpa.org

The Financial Planning Association, www.fpanet.org

The National Associationof Personal Financial Advisors,www.napfa.org

The Society of Financial Service Professionals, www.financialpro.org

Financial calculators

Investing in Your Future (http://library.thinkquest.org/3298). Financial calculators help you to see how different investments will grow.

The Check Book Calculator: www.calculatorweb.com/calculators/checkbookcalc/index.shtml. Help in balancing your checkbook.

The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE); www.life-line.org; 202-464-5000. Provides information on life, health, and disability insurance; includes links to calculators to help you determine how much insurance you need.

College Board: Visit www.collegeboard.com/pay to find "College Financing Calculators" to help you figure out how to pay for college.

Choose to Save: Visit www.choosetosave.org and click Saving Tips, which are designed to help consumers plan all aspects of their financial security.

FinAid: Visit www.finaid.org for calculators to help you figure our how much school will cost, how much you will need to save, and how much aid you will need.

General financial information

American Savings Education Council: visit www.asec.org for information about how to build long-term financial independence.

Visit www.managingmymoney.com for basic financial information.

National Endowment for Financial Education: visit www.nefe.org for a variety of information, resources, and programs dedicated to helping Americans gain the knowledge and skills to take control of their personal finances.

NEFE Teen Resource Bureau; visit www.ntrbonline.org.

Explore your spending habits by visiting www.ace.uiuc.edu/cfe/money/spending.html.

Information about identity theft is available from the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Visit www.usatoday.com/money/front.htm for a helpful source of financial information.

Investing

Alliance for Investor Education: visit www.investoreducation.org for information on investing basics.

American Association of Individual Investors provides education on investing, financial planning, and retirement. Visit www.aaii.com.

finance.yahoo.com

www.fool.com

Young Fools: www.fool.com/teens/FamilyCollection980325.htm. Teen site featuring education information from the Motley Fool.

www.invest-faq.com

www.moneycentral.msn.com

www.thestreet.com

Work resources

The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, lists employers that have indicated an interest in hiring qualified individuals with disabilities on its Web site, www.dol.gov (click ODEP).

State vocational rehabilitation offices help people with disabilities learn job skills and find employment. Your child can apply for these services from the age of 16. Go to www.firstgov.gov and search for Vocational Rehabilitation.

Social Security Administration: visit www.ssa.gov for information on SSA benefits, news, information, links, forms, and calculators.

The Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work Program supports disabled individuals in achieving their work goals. Visit www.yourtickettowork.com for information or call 866-968-7842.

The Career Key: visit www.careerkey.org for career guidance and identification of career skills and interests.

Visit www.employmentguide.com for education resources, information on job fairs, and career advice.

Visit www.monster.com for information about careers, networking, resume writing, and more.