Helpful Special Needs Links

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Employment Assistance

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Information, speakers, technical assistance, training and referrals regarding enforcing ADA and prohibiting discrimination in employment of disabled persons.
Voice: 1-800-669-4000
TDD: 1-800-669-6820
Verified: 5/5/2008

Job Accommodation Network
Information on accommodations for people with disability. Sponsored Office of Disability Employment Policy and Dept. of the Labor.
Voice: 1-800-526-7234
Verified: 5/5/2008

Housing Assistance/Independent Living

National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse
Maintains a database of over 80,000 accessible apartments nationwide. Helps people with disabilities find accessible apartments. Owners and managers may also use this service to register their accessible units.
Voice: 1-800-421-1221
Verified: 5/5/2008

National Council on Independent Living
Provides information and referrals to independent living centers.
Voice: 1-877-525-3400
Verified: 5/5/2008

Disabled and Alone
Helps families and caretakers of a loved one with a disability answer the question, 'Who will look after my loved one when I am gone?' by creating a 'life plan' and carrying out each family's plan for their disabled loved one, as directed and funded by the family.
Voice: 1-800-995-0066
Verified: 5/5/2008

Canine Companions for Independence
Trains dogs to assist people with physical and developmental disabilities. Also has opportunities for people interested in volunteering to raise puppies.
Voice: 1-800-572-2275
Verified: 5/5/2008

Disabled Veterans

Disabled American Veterans Provides free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies of the government. Guidelines for developing chapters.
Voice: 1-877-426-2838
Verified: 11/1/2007

Help for Parents of Special Needs

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
Provides information on disabilities with a special focus on children (birth to age 22). Services include information, referrals, technical assistance to parents, educators, caregivers and advocates. Referrals to support groups. Most publications are free. E-mail: nichcy@aed.org
Voice: 1-800-695-0285
Verified: 5/5/2008

Technical Assistance Alliance for Parents Centers
Support and education for families of children with any disability. Advocates for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Literature, training sessions, information and referrals.
Voice: 1-888-248-0822
Verified: 5/5/2008

Special Needs Advocate for Parents (SNAP) Support for parents of special needs children. Referrals to educational advocates, support groups, attorneys and other resources. Medical insurance problem solving. Assistance with estate planning. Newsletter, speakers' bureau and interactive bulletin boards.
Voice: 1-888-310-9889
Verified: 5/5/2008

Through the Looking Glass
Phone support, newsletter, information and referrals for disabled parents or parents of disabled children.
Voice: 1-800-644-2666
TDD: 1-800-804-1616
Verified: 5/5/2008 Advocates

Access Board
Advocates for accessibility. Provides publications and forms to press charges against agencies that are not accessible.
Voice: 1-800-872-2253
TDD: 1-800-993-2822
Verified: 5/5/2008

Assistive Technology

National Institute for Rehab Engineering
Provides information, advice and referrals to people with all types of disabilities about assistive technology equipment. Aim is to help people with disabilities to be more independent and self-sufficient.
Voice: 1-800-736-2216
Verified: 5/5/2008

Abledata

Provides information, publications and consumer reviews of all types of assistive technologies for persons with disabilities. Sponsored by Nat'l Inst. on Disability and Rehab. Research and U.S. Dept. of Education.
Voice: 1-800-227-0216
Verified: 5/5/2008

Other Disability Info

Easter Seals National Headquarters Disability Helpline
Provides disability resource packets for children and adults with disabilities. Online directory available.
Voice: 1-800-221-6827
Verified: 5/5/2008

University of Montana Rural Institute
Provides assistance for disabled children and adults who live in rural areas. Technological services, early intervention and services for the elderly. Conducts research, rural transportation, employment and health promotion for disabled.
Voice: 1-800-732-0323
Verified: 5/8/2008

Childcare Plus

Information and referrals to families of children (birth to 5). Provides training for childcare providers and other early childcare professionals.
Voice: 1-800-235-4122
Verified: 5/5/2008

Library of Congress National Library Blind and Physically Handicapped
Refers callers to libraries that have information on books on tapes and in Braille available for qualified blind or handicapped persons who can't read standard print.
Voice: 1-800-424-8567
Verified: 5/2/2008

ADA Technical Assistance Line
Provides free publications on the American Disabilities Act. A new publication will be available each month in a limited supply.
Voice: 1-800-514-0301
TDD: 1-800-514-0383
Verified: 5/5/2008

**Printed with permission from the American Self-Help Clearinghouse. (http://www.selfhelpgroups.org/)