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This list is of resources that are not directly related to employment. They are divided into the following four categories:
- Education includes websites and articles related to education and students with disabilities.
- Community includes websites designed for the entire disability community. They encourage people to communicate with other people with disabilities and share news, stories, and advice.
- Services and organizations includes links to organizations and specific services for people with disabilities.
- Issues includes specific articles and research related to different issues faced by people with disabilities. These range from basic explanations of disability laws to advice for organizations about how to provide services to the disability community.
More links related to Education, Health, Disability, and Community are listed in our Hispanic/Latino Community Information and Resources.
Education
Postsecondary Rights & Responsibilities
In order to enhance the educational experience of students with disabilities and to avoid unnecessary confusion or delay in their access to postsecondary pursuits, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education developed a brochure that explains the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary schools. This pamphlet also explains the obligations of a postsecondary school to provide academic adjustments, including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure that the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability. The content of this pamphlet is now online. For more information visit their website.
Bilingual Booklets
A series of 40 inexpensive, bilingual (English/Spanish) informational booklets, language tests, and other encouraging educational materials are available online. The resources were designed for use at parent meetings, parent-teacher conferences, parent information/education workshops, tutoring groups, student organizations, motivation for college preparation, and more. Some of the topics covered in the booklets currently available include “Don’t Drop Out Of School,” “Questions And Answers About College,” “Young People, Start Now To Plan Your Life For Future Success.” All booklets are $.95 cents, but there are volume discounts and special offers. Contact Moreno Educational Co. at (619) 461-0565 or stevemoreno@morenoed.com for more information.
Parent's Resource
The Spanish version of "Steps to Success: Communicating with Your Child's School" has been Developed by CADRE and its partner NICHCY. This resource offers specific communication skills that may be helpful to parents as they develop and maintain partnerships with their child's school. To access the Spanish version of the document go to http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/successesp.cfm
Transition Planning Tool in Spanish
The curriculum, "My Future My Plan" is designed to motivate and guide students with disabilities and their families as they begin early transition planning for life after high school. The curriculum package is available in both Spanish and English. For more information go to http://www.ncset.org/publications/mfmp.asp
Documentary Video Available on the Special Education Experience
Ir a la Escuela (Going to School) is a film that documents the daily experience of three disabled children receiving special education services in the Los Angeles school district. It is told from the perspective of the students themselves, but also provides a look at the way in which their parents have fought for their equal education opportunities. It also takes a look at the ways in which the LA schools have responded to civil laws that ensure equal education for everyone.
The film contains scenes spoken in English and in Spanish. There are 2 tapes available: one has narration and subtitles when necessary in English (& closed captions), and one with narration and subtitles when necessary in Spanish.
For information on how to see and/or buy the film or to read reviews of the film, visit Richard Cohen Films' web site or read the Proyecto Visión review of the film
Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
This project aims to inform and educate families and advocates about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 and promising practices. The FAPE partnership is under the leadership of the PACER center.
Pathways to Outcomes – School Readiness & Family Economic Success
This website holds a wealth of findings about what it takes to improve the lives of children and families living in America's tough neighborhoods. Community advocates, service providers, funders, and policymakers will find a broad collection of information about what works in social programs and policies to achieve desired results, including increased rates of children ready for school and higher numbers of economically successful families.
SchwabLearning.org
SchwabLearning recently announced the revision of their Spanish mini Web site. Over 20 key articles have been translated into Spanish. For more information go to http://www.schwablearning.org/espanol/index.asp
Federal Resource Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD)
The FRC supports a nationwide technical assistance network to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, especially students from under-represented populations.
Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities
Diploma options represent alternative means of graduating from high school. This brief outlines the different types of diploma options, discusses the benefits of systems with single diploma options and those with multiple diploma options, and provides information about further resources on the topic. http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1928
Fast Facts For Faculty - Tips for Instructors
Ohio State University developed concise and helpful guidelines to enable its instructors to be more proficient at meeting the needs of students with disabilities. Available online in HTML, Word and pdf formats, they can be a great resource to any educator, instructor or trainer.
Think College Website
A new website has been designed to help students with cognitive disabilities make attending college a reality instead of a dream. This website will serve as a repository of links and other information exploring the many opportunities that are now becoming more readily available. http://www.thinkcollege.net/
Learning Disabilities Association
The Learning Disabilites Association of America is a national non-profit organization. Its purpose is to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults of normal or potentially normal intelligence who manifest disabilities of a perceptual, conceptual, or coordinative nature.
Community
Youth Leaders Are Active Leaders
Youth leaders are active in self-determination, policy, and advocacy education for youth with disabilities around the United States and are very dynamic in their work with legislators and government officials regarding disability issues. The NYLN is governed by the Youth Leadership Council who spearheads planning for activities such as a national conference, youth-directed research, public education, mentorship, and youth consultation around the nation. Latino youth with disabilities and their advocates can obtain more information about the NYLN by checking the NYLN web site or calling their information line at 1-(800) 410-8311 x110.
Conversational Etiquette
Kathie Snow explains how using the appropriate language can help achieve "community, achievement, and freedom" for people with disabilities. The commentary entitled "People First Language" uses simple, straightforward language to explain what language to use and why it's important. This document is also available in Spanish.
Disability Resources on the Internet
Part of the International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet's (ICDRI) mission is to collect an enormous database of disability-related resources. The ICDRI Web site provides links to everything from 'ATM news' and 'EU activities' to 'Hispanic Web resources' and 'vocational rehabilitation.' They also have a current calendar of disability-related events, and current news.
Accessible Society for News
The Center for an Accessible Society is a National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) -funded organization that "provides journalists credible information and quotable sources on national disability policy and independent living issues." Their website includes easy access to information on issues including education, employment, independent living, healthcare, housing, media, public policy, Medicare/MiCASSA, travel and transportation, technology, web and Internet access, universal design, and voting access.
Independent Living Discussion Forum
Regardless of what you have on your mind, you'll find an appropriate discussion forum that allows you direct contact with the thousands of visitors to our site each month.
Disability Social History Project
The Disability History Project is a community history project that offers a space for disabled people to reclaim our history and determine how to define ourselves and our struggles. The website includes information about events, resources, literature listings, exhibits, people, and a disability timeline that dates back to 3000 BC. The team at the Disability Social History Project welcomes reader participation. Email Content Editor Stephan Dias at sdias@disabilityhistory.org about anything that you would like to see become part of the Disability Social History Project, including disabled heroes, important events in disability history, and resources.
Global Networking
Currently lists 300 organizations of and for persons with disabilities from around the world looking partner organizations for joint projects, events, sharing resource persons for lectures, training or technical assistance, for study visits, internships or other cooperation including funding.
AccessWorld Newsletter
AccessWorld, the American Foundation for the Blind's technology magazine, is now a free, web-only publication. Objective evaluations of assistive technology and the accessibility of mainstream products are the centerpiece of AccessWorld. The publication offers reviews of screen readers, screen magnifiers, cell phones and more.
New features such as "e-mail this article to a friend" and "printer-ready" options have been added. In addition, readers can download "Braille embosser-ready" files that have been translated and formatted to be sent directly to their Braille printers. Read the latest issue on the American Foundation for the Blind’s website. http://www.afb.org/accessworld
LILA
LILA is a project of the Advanced Policy Institute's Community Information Technology Center in the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research and the Westside Center for Independent Living. It is a comprehensive resource available to those living with disabilities in the Los Angeles area with links to over 650 various disability organizations and resources in the area along with contact information and maps queries for each. It also offers a public forum where questions can be asked regarding a variety of issues related to disability. It also provides local information regarding accessibility and advocacy for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Books and DVDs Related to the Arts and Disabilities
ArtsAccess compiled a list of books and DVDs related to the arts and disability that is available online. There are resources for children, adults, parents and teachers. The list includes titles such as The Cinema of Isolation: A History of Physical Disability in the Movies, by Martin F. Norden, Making an Entrance: Theory and Practice for Disabled and Non-Disabled Dancers, by Adam Benjamin and Christopher Bannerman, and Deaf Side Story: Deaf Sharks, Hearing Jets, and a Classic American Musical, by Mark Rigney. DVDs that have audio descriptions include Daredevil, Road to Perdition and Moulin Rouge.
Disabled & Proud! T-Shirts, Bumperstickers Available
Sarah Triano, activist and co-founder of the National Disabled Students Union, teamed up with Dan Wilkins at The Nth Degree to bring you a line of Disability Pride products as part of Sarah's National Disability Pride Tour (funded by an AAPD Hearne Leadership Award). Through the sale of powerful, thought-provoking products, the team hopes to change the way people think about disability, break down the internalized shame among people living with disabilities, and promote the belief in society that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity that people living with disabilities can take pride in. A portion of the profits from these Disability Pride products go to the Leadership/Organizing Project for Youth with Disabilities at Access Living in Chicago (Y.I.E.L.D) to help develop the next generation of leaders living with disabilities. Go to the Disabled and Proud website to see a full list of products. They also are available in Spanish.
Services and organizations
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders. Visit www.nami.org or call (800) 950-6264 for information.
American Foundation for the Blind Web Site
If you haven't recently stopped by the American Foundation for the Blind's web site, there have been some exciting changes since your last visit. While the site is as accessible as ever, all content on is either new or updated to reflect the increasing demand for timely, authoritative information on living with blindness or visual impairment.
Some new features you'll be interested in include exhaustive information on assistive technology, including a searchable database of assistive technology products and manufacturers and fully updated content on employment, including continually updated job listings and information on workforce issues, job training, employment statistics, and much more.
Autism Society of America
The Autism Society of America (ASA) announces the launch of a Spanish-language section on its Web site. http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer
Assistant Referral Service
Matches disabled assistance users and assistants in their hometown or in other parts of the world, for live-in or part-time positions or as travel companions. Assistants help with the activities of daily living, such as getting bathed and dressed, going shopping, driving, etc.
Program to Assist Disabled Refugees in U.S.
In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of newly arrived refugees with disabilities resettled in communities throughout the U.S. Newly arrived disabled refugees are in great need of information and services related to living and working with their impairments in the United States, but they face several barriers to access. Considering this trend and the implications, the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) established the Disabled Refugees Program to address the needs of this population and those who serve them, and to bridge the gap between refugee service providers and mainstream disability service providers and advocates. Accessing services such as employment or vocational training, medical care, and state or federal benefits programs can be challenging for refugees with disabilities or caregivers who are unfamiliar with the services available to them. The Disabled Refugees Program aims to enhance disabled refugees' understanding of their rights and available benefits, and to increase their access to services that facilitate self-sufficiency and early integration into local communities. For program activity information and technical assistance go to their website or contact Dawn Blankenship at dblankenship@uscridc.org or 202-347-3507 ext 3006.
Housing & Disability Issues Listserv
Housing & Disability Issues is a moderated informational list. It consists of information about disability issues including home ownership, affordable housing and more. Send subscription requests to HOUSING.DISABILITY.ISSUES-request@lists.unh.edu.
Since this is not a discussion list, members are not able to send questions directly to the list. If members have information that they feel is relevant to the list, they can send it to drv@cisunix.unh.edu. If the information is appropriate, it will be posted to the list.
Free-Loan Media Program
The Department of Education and the National Association of the Deaf have created a bilingual video rental system called the Captioned Media Program (CMP). The program was established to bring equal access to communication to Deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. CMP has thousands of movies in English & Spanish to lend to Deaf and hard of hearing people free of charge. They even cover shipping fees to and from the renter's mailing address. Simply visit Web site, register to become a member and start browsing their database for the flick of your choice. The database is well organized and varied. The Web site also is translated to Spanish. Go to www.cfv.org or call (864) 585-2617 or (864) 585-2617 (TTY).
Service Provider Database for New York State
The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities offers a new way for people to find services in their area. The office added to its Web site a geographic information system that lets users map the location of support services for the mentally retarded and disabled anywhere in the state. The interactive GIS shows the location of state-sponsored services as well as those provided by 850 private organizations. A mapping link takes visitors to the GIS application where they can search by address, ZIP code and county, and service type such as counseling and other categories.
Disability Resource Hotline in Tennessee
The Tennessee Disability Pathfinder is a free, comprehensive information and referral service for children and adults with disabilities, family members, service providers and advocates. Information is provided in English and Spanish by contacting 1-800-640-4636 or 1-800-273-9595 (TTY). Click on "Pathfinder en Español" to view national and local bilingual resources. The services of the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder are made possible through a partnership between the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development and the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. http://www.familypathfinder.org
Assistive Technology Hub
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) provides information and support services to people with disabilities to increase their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. ATA's "Hub" is an assistive technology database that helps users learn about the tools they can use to access technology. It is simple to get information off the Hub. Users can look for details on assistive technology organizations, services or products. It also is possible to search by categories including employment/vocational, ergonomics/environment and physical movement/control.
Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans & Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development's Rural Housing Program, offers up to $7,500 to make dwellings accessible for household members, age 62 or older, with a disability in rural areas. Get details online http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_repairgrant.htm or call (202) 720-4323.
Miracle Ear Children's Foundation
Miracle-Ear centers nationally provide free hearing aids and services to children from low-income families. Box 59261, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0261, 800/234-5422
Consumer Review: Zephyr-TEC's eLearnSpeech Program
by Alma Almanza, Central Coast Center for Independent Living
When I lost most of the use of my hands, I thought I would not be able to produce a typed document again. At first I was ignorant about how assistive technology could make my life easier and more productive. Later I learned about speech recognition software. It helped me get my job and, most importantly, be independent.
Assistive technology equipment and training are expensive. Speech recognition software programs, for example, require hours of training, especially for people who have difficulty breathing because sometimes they require one-to-one assistance.
I discovered a less expensive training option through a company called Zephyr-TEC. They have an innovative program called eLearnSpeech that provides speech recognition software training via the Internet. During Zephyr-TEC sessions, trainer and trainee work together in real time over the Internet and on the phone. If the trainee has difficulty with the program, the trainer intervenes and assists the student from his/her remote location. This program is a good alternative to costly home or office visits.
Issues
ADA and Accessible IT Center has expanded number of documents available in Spanish
The US Department of Justice has expanded the number of documents available on their web site that have been translated in Spanish:
- ADA Questions and Answers: La Ley para Personas con Discapacidades - Preguntas y Respuestas
- Commonly Asked Questions About Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Preguntas Comunes de la Ley para Personas con Discapacidades y Centros de Cuidar de Ninos
- Access for 9-1-1 and Telephone Emergency Services: Acceso a los Servicios de Emergencia Telefonica y de 9-1-1
- Questions and Answers: the ADA and Persons with HIV/AIDS: Preguntas y Respuestas sobre la Ley para Personas con Discapacidades y las Personas con HIV/SIDA
- ADA Designated Investigative Agencies : ADA Agencias Investigatorias
- A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment: ADA Guía para Personas con Discapacidades que Procuran Empleo
- ADA Technical Assistance Documents in Spanish: ADA Documentos de Asistencia Tecnica en Español
Know Your Rights
California residents can visit the State Attorney General's website to request a copy of a handbook that summarizes state and federal laws designed to protect the rights of people with disabilities. "Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities" is the fourth edition of the publication. The new issue provides updates on the latest changes in legal protections.
A Model for Accessibility
The University of Hawaii produced a well-developed manual for providing adequate accommodations for people with disabilities. It covers employment and instructional issues. The "accessibility checklist" and "requirements for meeting setup" are particularly helpful. Visit the Center on Disability Studies for more information or to download a copy.
Create Access for People with Disabilities in Your Organizations
This Alliance for Technology Access has made a guide available that is designed to help professionals identify where and how they can begin to make their organization more accessible. The "Access Aware" manual contains detailed information to help community-based organizations acknowledge the presence of people with disabilities in their community and welcoming everyone to participate in their programs and services. The guide is a companion piece to the publication "Access Aware: Extending Your Reach to People with Disabilities."
National Council on Disability Posts Spanish Version of Progress Report
In keeping with Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and the National Council on Disability's long-standing policy of outreach to people with disabilities who are culturally diverse and have limited English proficiency (LEP), NCD has posted a Spanish translation of the National Disability Policy: A Progress Report, December 2000-2001 titled Política Nacional sobre Discapacidad: Un Informe del Progreso, Diciembre 2000-Diciembre 2001.
National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research
NCDDR's website offers a portal which allows users to browse and search through web-based resources located on NCDDR's grantees' websites.
Travel and Disability Publication
A how-to travel book for people with disabilities, Survival Strategies for Going Abroad: A Guide for People with Disabilities, focuses on academic, volunteer, short-term work and other types of cross-cultural exchange for a cross-disability audience. It compiles tips and stories from 20 individuals with disabilities who have traveled extensively in many parts of the world. The book addresses disability-related aspects of international exchange such as choosing a program, applying, preparing for the trip, adjusting to a new country and returning home. For information or to place a book order, contact Mobility International USA. http://www.miusa.org/publications
New Definition of Family-Centered Care
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, has developed a new definition and principles of family-centered care and an explanation of how cultural competence should be integrated throughout family-centered care. Go to the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center to download a print copy.
Multicultural Issues in Rehabilitation and Allied Health
This new book includes articles on topics such as "Ethical Issues in Diversity," "Addressing the Independent Living Needs of Ethnic/Racial Minority Groups" and "Rehabilitation Research From a Multicultural Prospective." The volume was edited by Paul Leung, Carl Flowers, William B. Talley and Priscilla Sanderson. Contact Jason D. Andrew, Ph.D. CRC/R NCC, Aspen Professional Services, 63 Duffers Drive, Linn Creek, MO 65052, (573) 317-0907 office, (573) 286-0418 cell to order.
The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
This book by Judith Rogers is based on intimate, in-depth interviews with ninety disabled women with 22 different types of disabilities. Thoroughly researched and informative, this book is a practical guide for both disabled women planning for pregnancy and the health professionals who work with them. The author supports the right of all women to choose motherhood.
Parent Briefs Available in Spanish
National Center on Secondary Education and Training (NCSET) announced that three Spanish-language editions of their Parent Brief publications are now available online. They include:
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (Centro Nacional de Diseminación de Información para Niños con Discapacidades)
NICHCY offers their publications and website in both English and Spanish. The publications are both specific to certain disabilities and general in nature, providing guides for parents and others who are interested in issues pertaining to children and youth (up to age 21) with disabilities. The website also includes a searchable database of national and local organizations focused on disabilities. For more information contact: National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, P.O. Box 1492,Washington, DC 20013-1492, (800) 695-0285, (202) 884-8200, (202) 884-8441 (Fax), nichcy@aed.org
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Fact Sheets addressing medical research on Autism are available from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in English and Spanish. The Spanish Fact Sheets can be found by scrolling down the page. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm?from=autism
A to Z of Blindness and Vision Loss Online
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) added information and resources to its website for the 10 million Americans who are blind or have low vision. All the site's content is either new or updated to reflect the growing demand for current and reliable information for a population that is expected to grow dramatically as the baby boomers age. New features on the site include a glossary of eye conditions, "etiquette tips" for interacting with a person who is blind, and a home page function called "Where can I find?," allowing visitors to locate organizations in their state that provide services--from dog guide training to newspaper reading services to education services.
Brain Injury Information
Last year the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) produced an information pamphlet called Facts About Concussion and Brain Injury. The pamphlet, available in English and Spanish (Información Acerca de la Lesión Cerebral Leve), explains what can happen after a concussion, how to get better and where to go for more information. It goes over danger signs in adults and children, as well as symptoms of brain injury, getting better and where to get help.
AIDTAC
The American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC) has information for American Indian tribes and Alaskan Native villages about disability policy and legislation, education, transition to adult life, independent living and more.
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