Monday, November 09, 2009

About Special Needs Project

“Putting the right books in to the right hands”

Special Needs Project is a place to get child development textbooks, books about aspergers syndrome, autism, and other disabilities. Located in Santa Barbara, California, SNP serves families, professionals, agencies and schools worldwide with the largest, most authoritative collection of disability-related materials.

It began in an independent bookstore in Berkeley, California. For several years, the store produced a critical bibliography of the books available to parents at the time. Special Needs Project became a distinct entity in 1989, and it has grown from a local resource to today's catalog featuring hundreds of the best books (including selected audio and video material) in each of more than forty categories. Its Director is Hod Gray.

Special Needs Project is dedicated to making the best information available to those who need it. Adapting an often-repeated saying, Gray says, "Knowledge plus know-how equals power." SNP's unique experience knowledge base makes it particularly indispensible as consultant and source for libraries, schools and agencies wishing to build special collections in fields such as learning disabilities, autism & mental health, assistive technology, inclusion and independent living, disability rights and many others.

About SNP's Founder:

"My Hungarian was never very good," says Hod Gray, who started Special Needs Project in 1989 and continues at its head. The reference is to his graduate degree in Uralic Philology, but his life as a bookseller began in high school when as a student he started a campus bookstore. Gray has been an editor and professional fundraiser, and was an an executive in the non-profit world before returning from New York to his native California. He and Lynn Jehle started Gray's Book Company in 1980.

Their daughter Dolly (1971-1989) was born with cerebral palsy. Gray has been active with many disability organizations and now devotes full time to Special Needs Project.

http://www.specialneeds.com/about.asp

© Copyright 2000 Special Needs Project

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