Links to non-PAI Resources

Organizations, associations and other disability resources

@LA - www.at-la.com/@la-dis.htm - commercial site exists on advertising, features an exhaustive list of links to charitable and support organizations for people with disabilities in the greater Los Angeles area.

AAPD - American Association of People with Disabilities - www.aapd-dc.org - a nonprofit, non-partisan, cross-disability organization whose goals are unity, leadership and impact.

American Red Cross - www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/mobileprogs.html - disaster preparedness information and resources for people with disability to prepare for a disaster

Association for Retarded Citizens (TheArc) - TheArc.org - links to state and local Arc chapters; mental retardation and developmental disability sites; discussion board; legislative alerts; publications; training materials; fact sheets.

Autism Awareness Centre Inc. - www.autismawarenesscentre.org - information on autism spectrum disorders; more than 300 books and items to support and enhance Autism Spectrum Disorder programs and therapies.

Autism Society of America - www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer - the voice of the autism community, whether you are an individual with autism, a parent, family member or friend, professional or other interested advocate.

Braille Institute - www.brailleinstitute.org/ - a private non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate blindness and severe sight loss as a barrier to a fulfilling life.

Brain Injury Association, Inc. - www.biausa.org/ - Creating a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education and advocacy.

California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Education Teachers - www.carsplus.org - Information and support for resource specialists and special education teachers.

California Endowment - www.calendow.org - First, every Californian must have access to quality health services. Second, our health care system must be culturally competent to respond to the diversity and demographic changes in our state. Third, we must eliminate the disparities in health and strengthen communities to become healthy places to live.

California Institute for Mental Health (The) - CIMH - www.cimh.org - dedicated to a vision of a culturally competent mental health service system, sustaining and supporting families and children with psychiatric disabilities, and promoting mental health and wellness.

California State Independent Living Council (SILC) - www.calsilc.org/ - links to California's Independent Living Center (ILC) Network, phone numbers for local ILCs, other Web sites of interest, reports and documents on independent living.

California Supported Living Network - www.supportedliving.com/ - a statewide organization of people and agencies committed to the belief that every Californian with a developmental disability can live in his or her own home if provided the supports and services needed to be safe and successful.

CalMedicare.org - www.calmedicare.org - A free public service for California Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and friends. Information about the Medicare program in California, as well as the options for covering health costs not paid for by Medicare.

CAL-TASH - California chapter of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps - www.tash.org/chapters/caltash/ - stretching the boundaries of what is possible.

CAMHPRA - California Association of Mental Health Patients Rights Advocates - www.camhpra.org - the Internet door to patients' rights. CAMHPRA supports county patients' rights advocates and promotes public policy that protects the rights and well being of mental health consumers. 

CanDo - www.cando.com - a resource for the disability community. Articles about disability rights issues such as accessible housing, attendant services, the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reports from ADAPT. Advocacy Forum lets you post your reactions and opinions.

CASE - California Alliance for Special Education - www.caseadvocacy.org - non-profit organization provides legal support and educational services to families of special-needs children and their community; based in San Francisco, California. 

CASH / PCR - California Association of State Hospital Parent Councils for the Retarded - www.cashpcr.org/ - ensuring the rights and care of the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled are protected.

CASRA - California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies - www.casra.org - an association of private, nonprofit agencies that provide rehabilitation and support services for clients of the public mental health system.

CCD - Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities - www.c-c-d.org - advocates on behalf of people with physical and mental disabilities and their families - to ensure self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration, inclusion; enhance civil rights and quality of life; reflect the values of the ADA. Lots of links to other disability organizations.

CFILC - California Foundation of Independent Living Centers - www.cfilc.org/ - focuses on networking and support for positive change; has a directory of addresses and contacts for independent living centers; links to related organizations.

Children Now - www.childrennow.org/ - a nonpartisan, independent voice for children, working to translate the nation's commitment to children and families into action with particular concern for those who are poor or at risk using communication strategies to reach parents, lawmakers, citizens, business, media and community leaders generating positive change on behalf of children.

Children's Defense Fund - www.childrensdefense.org/ - The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is a private, nonprofit organization established to provide an effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves, paying particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.

The Children's Partnership - www.childrenspartnership.org/

CIRCL - Connections for Information and Resources on Community Living - creating opportunities for building and sharing individual, organizational and community strengths in supported living.

Citizen's Survival Kit - www.pueblo.gsa.gov has hundreds of free booklets and pamphlets like Disaster Preparedness, Consumer Action Handbook, Writing a Will and much, much more.

CLAS - Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services - www.clas.uiuc.edu - Early Childhood Research Institute features technical reports on culturally & linguistically appropriate services, publications, and links to other organizations and services. 

CNMHC - California Network of Mental Health Clients - www.cnmhc.org - CNMHC's mission is to empower clients of the mental health system through self-help groups and networking statewide; to confront stigmatizing attitudes about mental health clients; to promote and instill the rights of clients in and out of treatment situations, with special attention to the right to freedom of choice; to provide every possible reasonable accommodation.

Connect for Kids - www.connectforkids.org/ - helps adults make their communities better places for families and children.

Disabled Sports USA Far West - www.dsusafw.org - Provides affordable inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health and confidence.

DREDF - Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. - www.dredf.org/ - national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.

DRI – Disability Research Institute – http://www.dri.uiuc.edu - partnership between the Social Security Administration, Office of Policy, Disability Programs, and the College of Applied Life Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) – focuses on understanding the reality and impact of SSA income programs – SSI and SSDI – on applicants and recipients. Offers research, information, training and education, and data usage.

EFA - Epilepsy Foundation of America – www.efa.org – information about epilepsy.

Families USA Foundation - www.familiesusa.org - the voice for health care consumers, a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans; many publications available at no charge to advocates; links to related sites, jobs, news releases, federal legislation.

Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT) - www.feat.org - a nonprofit parent organization serving families with autistic family members. Advocates for early intervention. Offers an on-line newsletter, usually twice a day.

Fiesta Educativa - www.fiestaeducativa.org - dedicated to empowering Latino families of persons with special needs through education, training, referral and information. Fiesta Educativa is committed to the philosophy that persons with disabilities are entitled to the benefits of full integration into their community.

Hearing Loss Association of America - www.hearingloss.org  

Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty - www.weingart.org/institute - a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy organization that focuses on issues of homelessness and poverty. Provides links to other organizations, publications, research, resources. 

International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet (ICDRI) - www.icdri.org/Books/books.htm - books on disability issues, web site construction, usability, products.

Jewish Disability Organizations - www.jfcsmpls.org/inclusionresources.html - comprehensive listing of local and national secular and Jewish disability resources.

L.I. Autism - www.liautism.com - forums, events, resources, articles.

Leadership for a Changing World - leadershipforchange.org - seeks to recognize, strengthen and support leaders. Each year awards grants to 20 outstanding leaders or leadership groups that are not well known outside their community. The site has information on how you can nominate a leader or organization.

Little Tokyo Service Center - LTSC - www.ltsc.org - nonprofit charitable organization serving people in need, especially those facing language or cultural gaps, financial need, or physical disabilities in Los Angeles.

Matrix Parent Network + Resource Center - www.matrixparents.org/ - a parent-run information and resource center helping families in Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

NAMI California - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, California - www.namicalifornia.org - informing, educating, and supporting people with mental illness and their families. Links to other mental health resources and supports.

NAMI Veterans Resource Center - mental health resources for veterans, active duty military members, as well as their families, friends, and advocates; covers post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain Injury, mental illness, suicide prevention, public policy and legislation, and more.

National Coalition on Healthcare - www.nchc.org/facts/coverage/shtml - facts on health insurance coverage

National Council on Disability - www.ncd.gov - NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

NCPAD - National Center on Physical Activity and Disability - www.ncpad.org/index.php - information, resources, organizations, physical activities for specific disabilities, monthly newsletter, and more.

NDRN - National Disability Rights Network - www.napas.org/ - links to disability organizations; government agencies and departments; publications; policy updates; resources for people with disabilities.

NICHCY - National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - www.nichcy.org.htm - IDEA information, disability information, parent guides, student guides, transition guides, and more. NICHCY publications. NICHCY training modules on IDEA.

NCLD - National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc. - www.ncld.org - information and resources on learning disabilities - facts, behavioral warning signs, legal rights, evaluations, publications.

NILC - National Immigration Law Center - www.nilc.org/ciwc/ciwc_ce/index.htm - community education link at NILC - www.nilc.org

NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health - www.nimh.nih.gov - publications on mental health issues in English and Spanish for consumers, researchers, and the medical community.

NOD - National Organization on Disability - www.nod.org - national organization promotes the full and equal participation of America's 40 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. Site has information on disabilities, answers to frequently asked questions, publications, press releases, employment, links to other related sites.

OCRA - Office of Clients Rights Advocacy - www.pai-ca.org/OCRA/ - Regional center advocacy for people with developmental disabilities.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention - OJJDP - http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org - to provide information and resources about juvenile justice and delinquency, including conferences, funding, publications, and strategy.

Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance - OCAPICA - www.ocapica.org - dedicated to enhancing the health, and social and economic well-being of Asians and Pacific Islanders in Orange County, California, through service, education, advocacy, organizing and research.

PEER - Parents Engaged in Education Reform - www.fcsn.org/peer - A project of the Federation for Children with Special Needs - Parents Engaged in Education Reform (PEER) is a national technical assistance project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. It's purpose is to increase the participation of parents of children with disabilities and their organizations in school reform efforts.

Post-Polio Health - http://www.post-polio.org - to enhance the lives and independence of polio survivors and home ventilator users through education, advocacy, research and networking

SHHH-California - Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. - www.shhhca.org - a self-help organization for hard of hearing people, and their friends and family. National SHHH - www.shhh.org.

TASH - The Association for People with Severe Handicaps - www.tash.org - works in partnership with disability advocates worldwide. TASH is a civil rights organization for, and of, people with mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, physical disabilities and other conditions that make full integration a challenge.

Through the Looking Glass (TLG) - www.lookingglass.org - National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities, is a nationally recognized non-profit agency that provides direct services, training, materials and research concerning families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue. 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute - http://www.tribal-institute.org - information for people working in Native American courts.

United Advocates for Children of California - www.uacc4families.org - UACC, a nonprofit advocacy organization, works on behalf of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families. UACC's web site is designed to provide education, information, and support to caregivers of children and youth with emotional disturbances.

Urban Institute - "The Health and Well-Being of Children in Immigrant Families" - www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/310584_B52.pdf - report on immigrant children in three areas: family environment, physical and emotional health, and access to needed services.

VOICES Association, Inc. - www.4voices.org - committed to improving the lives of children with severe speech-language and other communication disorders, and their families. 

WarmLine Family Resource Center - www.warmlinefrc.org - resources and support to families of children with special needs in Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, Placer, Nevada and Alpine counties.

Western Center on Law and Poverty - www.wclp.org - a non-profit legal services program devoted to high-impact poverty law litigation and legislative advocacy in the state of California. WCLP focuses its work in the areas of welfare, housing and health care.

World Congress & Exposition on Disabilities - www.vwcdexpo.com - News, links to products and organizations of interest to people with disabilities.