CHOOSING
A RESOURCE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
HOMES
Home Adaptations
Home Resources
HOSPITALS/CLINICS
NATIONAL RESOURCES
STATE RESOURCES
VEHICLES
NATIONAL RESOURCES
ADVOCACY AND LEGAL RIGHTS
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
CCD is composed of approximately 100 disability organizations designed to bring about empowerment, change and inclusiveness in society through advocacy and public policy. www.c-c-d.org
National Network of ADA Centers
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research offers 10 regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers throughout the country. These centers provide information, assistance, training on ADA implementation and referrals to aid individuals with disabilities. www.adata.org
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund is a national civil rights law and policy center whose mission is to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Their services include children and family advocacy, education, legislative action and training which may include technical skills, IEP formation, response to intervention, self advocacy and transition and adult services. Its web site includes legislative information and updates upcoming events, publications and news bulletins. www.dredf.org
Justice For All E-mail Network
JFA Justice For All (JFA) is administered by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and disseminates information via a listserv regarding disability policy and issues. www.aapd.com
National Disability Rights Network
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP). The P&A/CAP network works collectively to provide legally based advocacy services to individuals with disabilities residing in the United States. www.napas.org
Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization attempting to ensure patients have access to health care while promoting financial stability in the face of serious illness or disability. www.patientadvocate.org
Social Security Online
This site has information about social security Medicare and disability benefits, as well as employment support for people with disabilities. www.ssa.gov
U.S. Department of Justice ADA Homepage
The Department of Justice is in charge of implementing and enforcing many ADA regulations. This website includes a variety of information on regulations, technical assistance materials, and settlement. www.usdoj.gov
ARTS, SPORTS AND RECREATION
The American Camp Association
The American Camp Association has extensive information on various camp programs available for children and adults. The site includes a search function permitting users to find specific camps, including those for kids with special needs. www.acacamps.org
Directory of Summer Camps for Children with Disabilities 2008
NICHCY offers this site identifying camps for children with disabilities. www.nichcy.org
Special Olympics
Special Olympics provides year round athletic opportunities and competition through different Olympic-type sports for people eight years of age or older with disabilities. www.specialolympics.org
VSA arts
VSA arts provides opportunities in the arts for individuals with disabilities. Their site features a search-by-state feature to find programs in the searcher’s region. www.vsarts.org
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
AbilityHub
This web site provides information on adaptive equipment and alternative methods that aid individuals with disabilities or health conditions in accessing computers. www.abilityhub.com
ABLEDATA
ABLEDATA provides extensive information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available both in the United States as well as internationally. While they do not sell products themselves, they are able to aid buyers in locating companies that do. www.abledata.com
Alliance for Technology Access
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is the national network of various community-based organizations, including vendors, resource centers and professionals dedicated to providing information, training and support services to children and adults with disabilities by promoting the use of assistive, and information technologies. www.ataccess.org
Alternative Financing Technical Assistance Project (AFTAP)
The AFTAP is sponsored by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). This site, while geared mainly towards professionals in the Assistive Technology industry, also offers a handy section on loan programs for the purchase of equipment. www.resna.org
assistivetech.net
This site offers information on assistive technology, as well as a database to aid in finding vendors and products for individuals with disabilities. www.assistivetech.net
The Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA)
CATEA focuses on assistive technology, promoting accessible environments, and barrier-free education. Their search function allows users to easily find the equipment most useful for them. They also link to a number of other organizations that may be useful. www.catea.gatech.edu
Children’s Technology Review
This site is designed to aid adults in finding the best products for their kids in the field of technology. Each issue provides updates on the newest trends, as well as focuses on exciting products from videogames to websites to software. www.childrenssoftware.com
Closing the Gap
This organization promotes computer technology for those with special needs. www.closingthegap.com
EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
EASI makes available information and guidance on assistive technology that are particularly relevant in the educational arena. Their site also has sections with pod casts and webinars. www.rit.edu
Family Center on Technology and Disability
The Family Center is designed to support organizations, individuals, parents and educators in locating assistive technology. www.fctd.info
National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Project
Sponsored by RESNA, this organization’s mission is to reduce barriers by increasing access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. This site also has information on funding assistive technology, as well as universal design. www.resna.org
Talking Books Plus
The National Library Service offers books and magazines recorded on tape free of charge to individuals with disabilities that have visual related challenges. These materials can be delivered directly to your door free of charge. www.nlstalkingbooks.org
Trace Research and Development Center
The Trace Center offers information and resources relating to universal design and accessibility. www.trace.wisc.edu
CHILDREN – SUPPORT
Ability OnLine Support Network
Ability Online offers the opportunity for young people with disabilities to interact in an online community with other youth with similar illnesses and disorders. The site is monitored by volunteers to promote caring and helpful interactions. www.ablelink.org
Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation
This organization offers financial assistance to single parents caring for a child with a life threatening illness or disability. www.andreriveroflife.org
Bandaids & Blackboards
Bandaids & Blackboards is a youth-oriented site designed to help people understand what it is like to live with a serious illness or disability. Divided into three sections – one for kids, teens and adults – this site offers stories, art and poetry, coping techniques and advice. www.lehman.cuny.edu
Exceptional Parent Magazine
This online magazine offers suggestions and support in raising children or young adults with disabilities. www.eparent.com
The Fathers Network
This organization provides information, resources and assistance to fathers, other family members and care providers of children with disabilities. www.fathersnetwork.org
MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Organization
MUMS is a national organization for parents or care providers of children with disabilities or serious health conditions. They provide support by matching parents with other parents whose children have similar conditions and/or support groups. www.netnet.net
Parent to Parent USA
This national organization offers parents of children with disabilities or special needs links to various organizations around the country designed to offer self-advocacy training, parent to parent matching, support groups, information and referral services and more. www.p2pusa.org
The Sibling Support Project
The Sibling Support Project is designed to offer peer support, workshops, websites and additional information to the brothers and sisters of children with serious health concerns. www.siblingsupport.org
Special Needs Project
This site offers hundreds of disability-focused books, videos and DVDs. for individuals, parents, educators and family members. www.specialneeds.com
Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP
STOMP provides support, advice and assistance to military parents of children with special needs, regardless of medical condition. www.stompproject.org
Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation
This organization offers programs like fun family activities, hospital entertainment and outpatient activities to children with serious illnesses. www.starlight.org
CHILDREN – TRAVEL
National Patient Travel Center
The National Patient Travel Center aids families in obtaining necessary long distance medical air transportation in order to obtain specialized medical services. www.patienttravel.org
CHILDREN – WISH GRANTING
Children’s Wish Foundation International
This organization helps seriously ill children fulfill a special wish. www.childrenswish.org
Make-A-Wish
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® grants wishes to children (between the ages of 18 months and 18 years) with life-threatening medical conditions. www.wish.org
EDUCATION
Center for Family, School and Community
This organization helps school systems to foster the learning and development process for all students by working with a variety of agencies around the country. They do also focus specifically on promoting success and development for students with disabilities. www2.edc.org
Family & Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
FAPE works to improve education in children with disabilities by linking families and advocates to information regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). www.fape.org
SNOW (Special Needs Opportunity Windows)
SNOW offers users information, news, updates and additional resources on a variety of topics for individuals with special needs including special education, adaptive technologies, universal design, and technology accessibility. www.snow.utoronto.ca
Wright’s Law
This site provides updated and reliable information, resources, cases and articles on special education law, as well as advocacy for children with disabilities. www.wrightslaw.com
EMPLOYMENT
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services
JVS is a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of services to individuals with disabilities, including assistance in locating employment and job training. www.iajvs.org
GENERAL AND MULTI SERVICE
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
AAPD continually updates their website with the latest news and information on issues that affect those with disabilities. www.aapd-dc.org
American Dog Trainers Network
This site offers information by state regarding guide dogs. www.inch.com
Center for Personal Assistance Services
The Center for Personal Assistance Services offers a wealth of information on personal assistance services (i.e. assistance in the home and at work in completing daily tasks) in the United States, as well as a searchable by state feature that enables users to gain additional information on disability services in their state. www.pascenter.org
Charity Choices
This site allows you to search for charities by location or what they do. www.charitablechoices.org
Delta Society
This international organization is geared towards helping place individuals with disabilities and other special needs with companion service animals. Human-animal pairing has been proven to reduce stress, alleviate depression, aid individuals in performing daily tasks, and positively impact various health systems within the body. www.deltasociety.org
Disability Awareness in Action (DAA)
DAA focuses on disability as a matter of human rights, focusing particularly on those individuals living in developing countries. On their website users will find contact information for disability organizations around the world, various publications and bio technology. www.daa.org.uk
National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA)
The mission of NFCA is to empower and enable family caregivers to act on behalf of themselves and their loved ones while advancing the principles of health and well being. This is accomplished through the provision of links to numerous organizations and programs designed to aid family members and professionals in caring for individuals with disabilities. www.nfcacares.org
National Organization on Disability (NOD):
NOD’s mission is to aid individuals with disabilities in their participation in everyday life through community partnership, improving accessibility, increasing employment opportunities and expanding disability participation. This site lists a variety of programs designed to aid individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment, as well as recognizes communities that excel in ensuring equal access for all members of society. www.nod.org
National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR)
This page has a FAQ on Social Security as well as information on attorneys and paralegals that represent Social Security and Supplemental Security Income claimants. www.nosscr.org
New Horizons' Unlimited
New Horizons provides access to extensive information concerning programs, resources, legislation and news and events that may aid individuals with disabilities and their families. They also have a library containing books, magazines and other online tools. www.new-horizons.org
NICHCY State Contact Sheet
The State Contact Sheet is a publication of the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. NICHCY can generally put you in touch with various resources in your community, as well as provide you with comprehensive information and assistance regarding disability issues in your state. www.nichcy.org
Paws With a Cause
This national organization trains assistance dogs for placement with individuals with disabilities and other special needs. www.pawswithacause.org
TASH
TASH is an international membership organization whose goal is fully inclusive communities. TASH works towards inclusion of individuals with disabilities through advocacy services, as well as research and education. www.tash.org
United States Access Board
This site has information on Disability organizations, communication and information technology, codes and standards, ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines, and Information Technology. www.access-board.gov
HEALTH
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
This government site provides information on Medicaid waiver programs by state, low cost health insurance, regulations and guidelines, research and statistics and Medicare. www.cms.hhs.gov
Family Voices
Family Voices is a national grassroots organization composed of families and friends promoting and advocating for effective and inclusive health care services. They offer training for individuals with disabilities and their family members to become better self-advocates, an online toolbox filled with relevant resources, information on State Children’s Health Insurance Programs, an online interactive resource website and more. www.familyvoices.org
Families USA - The Medicaid Clearinghouse
Families USA is a nonprofit organization that provides not only extensive information on Medicaid, but works on a variety of levels to ensure high-quality and inexpensive healthcare for all Americans. www.familiesusa.org
Genetic Alliance
This organization promotes advocacy on behalf of individuals and families living with genetic disorders. The site has links to leadership and public policy training opportunities, various programs, their newsletter, weekly bulletins and more. www.geneticalliance.org
Medline
National Library of Medicine sponsors Medlineplus, a popular health information site. www.nlm.nih.gov
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
This site has additional information on A-T, as well as helpful organizations, and research publications. www.ninds.nih.gov
National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Disorders
(NIH) – NIH is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for coordinating and supporting medical research. The site offers extensive information on thousands of rare diseases, current research, ongoing studies, support groups and scientific and medical publications. www.health.nih.gov
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
NORD is a nonprofit organization that has an extensive database, a library of links, free booklets for physicians and more as they work towards the identification, treatment and cure of rare disorders. www.rarediseases.org
NeedyMeds
This site offers a list of pharmaceutical programs and organizations that can assist individuals in buying medications they cannot afford. www.needymeds.com
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM)
OMIM provides a database of genetic disorders, as well as numerous links to valuable information on health issues via MEDLINE. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
United States Office of Health & Human Services
This site has excellent information on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as well as comprehensive resources for families and children. www.hhs.gov
We Move
We Move has extensive information on movement disorders including a discussion board, information on meetings, and research updates. www.wemove.org
RESPITE
ARCH National Respite Network
Respite care involves providing temporary, short-term, relief to those who are caring for family members who are elderly or have disabilities. The ARCH National Respite Network offers the National Respite Locator Service, a service to help individuals locate respite services in their respective communities, as well as the National Respite Coalition, a service that works to ensure policies and programs are preserved at the national, state, and local levels. www.chtop.org
TRANSPORTATION
AMS Vans
Description: Adapted vans sold at wholesale prices. Modified new or used minivans – all with new wheelchair conversions. Rear and side entry accessible vehicles available. Front door delivery available nationwide. www.AMS Vans.com
Project Action
Easter Seals Project ACTION provides an extensive database of accessible transportation services throughout the United States. This database also includes information on accessible taxi services, accessible tours and tour companies and accessible airport/private shuttles. Users can highlight the relevant state and city in order to view available services. www.projectaction.easterseals.com
