Introduction
People with disabilities, young and old, who live in rural areas where essential services are often limited or non-existent face difficulties seldom encountered in urban areas. Access to housing, transportation, employment, educational programs, and specialized health care are some of the challenging issues found throughout rural America. It is said that where there is a will there is a way. Communities can help people with disabilities by looking for ways to partner and creatively use limited resources to provided needed services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments
Web site
A technical assistance document designed to assist state and local officials to improve compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their programs, services, activities, and facilities.
ADA Business Connection
Web site
Provides technical assistance and information to help businesses comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
ADA Home Page
Technical assistance
Information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Web site includes many publications on ADA topics. A toll-free information line is also available:
800-514-0301 (voice)
800-514-0383 (TDD)
ADA Technical Assistance Program
Web site
A comprehensive resource for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center
Technical assistance
Provides information and technical assistance to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages that helps their members with disabilities live healthy, integrated lives within their communities.
Americans with Disabilities Act and You: Frequently Asked Questions on Taxicab Service
Web site
A list of FAQs that answer several important questions about taxi service for customers with disabilities.
Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (B.E.S.T.)
Web site
A tool to find out if a person could be eligible for benefits from any of the programs Social Security administers.
Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004
Web site
A web site that provides resources and information regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a law which ensures services to children with disabilities throughout the nation.
CAP: Wounded Service Members Initiative
Web site
Provides information, resources, and assistive technology to wounded service members and their families.
Children with Special Needs: Internet Guide for Parents and Professionals
Web site
Lists and describes web sites that address topics relevant to children with special needs. Covers topics like sibling relationships, adaptive toys, general disability sites, and much more.
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)
Web site
Provides assistive technology and services to people with disabilities, Federal managers, supervisors, and IT professionals. CAP increases access to information and works to remove barriers to employment opportunities by eliminating the costs of assistive technology and accommodation solutions.
Directory of Independent Living Centers and State Independent Living Councils
Web site
State-by-state directory of independent living centers, with address, phone and email contact information.
Disability Counts
Web site
Contains rural data for each U.S. county. Data topics include people with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), metro & non-metro county maps, urban and urbanized area maps, congressional district maps, and disability statistics resources.
Disability Rights and Resources
Web site
Designed to answer frequently asked questions on the housing rights of people with disabilities and the responsibilities of housing providers and building and design professionals under federal law.
Disability State Resources
Database
Lists organizations and agencies in each state that address disability-related issues. Includes state agencies, state chapters of disability organizations, and independent living resources.
Disability Statistics
Web site
An online Resource for U.S. Disability Statistics.
DisabilityInfo.gov
Web site
Comprehensive Federal website of disability-related government resources. Resources are listed on topics including employment, education, housing, transportation, health, income support, technology, community life, and civil rights.
DoD Special Needs Parent Toolkit
Web site
A guide from the Department of Defense (DoD) to help military families with special needs children navigate the maze of medical and special education services, community support, and benefits and entitlements.
DoD TransPortal
Web site
Assists service members leaving active duty by providing information and resources. To be used as part of a comprehensive program of transition and employment assistance.
Dynamic Community Connections Project: A Process Model for Enhancing Public Awareness & Child Find in Rural Areas
Web site
Project to enhance public awareness about early intervention services and the referral process for the services for young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families in Montana.
Easter Seals Project ACTION National Accessible Travelers Database
Web site
A searchable database by state and city to assist travelers with disabilities seeking accessibility in transportation at destinations across the U.S. Contains thousands of accessible transportation services reported to ESPA by providers.
Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN)
Web site
A free service that connects employers looking for quality employees with skilled job candidates who are disabled. A one-stop source for disability employment information including: recruiting services, tools and resources, and employer success stories. Website includes a toll free number (Voice & TTY).
Find State and Local Education Resources
Web site
Users can select a state or territory from the map or list of states to find education resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Find State and Local Employment Resources
Web site
Users can select a state or territory from the map or list of states to find employment resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Find State and Local Housing Resources
Web site
Users may select a state or territory on the map or list of states to find housing resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Find State and Local Public and Private Health Care Resources
Web site
Users may select a state or territory on the map or list of states to find health related resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Find State and Local Technology Resources
Web site
Users can select a state or territory from a map or list of states to find the technology resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Find State and Local Transportation Resources
Web site
Users can select a state or territory from the map or list of states to find transportation resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Foundation Funding Guide: Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Web site
Lists state and national foundations with an interest in birth defects, developmental and physical disabilities.
Guidelines: Making Health Settings & Information Accessible
Web site
Information on developing guidelines for making health venues, events and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.
Information for People with Disabilities
Web site
A one-stop resource for People with Disabilities that includes a directory of links from the HUD site as well as outside sites.
Knowledge Path: Children and Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs
Web site
A collection of resources about caring for children and adolescents with special health care needs for health professionals, policymakers, program administrators, and families.
Medicaid Benefits: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services
Web site
State-by-state listing of non-emergency transportation coverage for Medicaid recipients.
Medicaid Waivers and Demonstrations List
Web site
State-specific Medicaid waiver and demonstration programs. Includes 1915(c), home and community-based services waivers. Users can access fact sheets, copies of proposals, approval letters, and other documents related to specific programs.
Medicare Interactive Counselor
Web site
A one-stop source for information about health care rights, options and benefits. Helps older and disabled Americans, their caregivers and the professionals who serve them, understand their health care rights and benefits.
National Rehabilitation Information Center's Instant Disability Information Center
Database
Searchable database of organizations, publications and web sites on disability issues. Includes guides on many topics.
National Respite Locator Service
Database
Helps parents and caregivers locate respite services. Search for respite care providers by state, age and condition.
Office of Disability Employment Policy Disability Data Resources
Web site
Provides statistical and research resources regarding people with disabilities.
Parent to Parent Programs
Web site
A national non-profit organization committed to assuring access and quality in Parent to Parent support across the country. Provides a state-by-state list of support programs that connect parents of children with disabilities with other parents. Includes contact information for state and local programs.
Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers
Web site
Directory of parent centers in each state that provide training and information to parents of infants, toddlers, school-aged children and young adults with disabilities, and to the professionals who work with their families. Includes phone, address, email and web site information.
Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation)
Technical assistance
Provides technical assistance to members of the disability and transportation communities to help address diverse accessibility issues. Also provides a clearinghouse of free publications and a database of available transportation services that can be searched by town or zip code.
REALifelines
Web site
Recovery and employment assistance for wounded and injured service members and their families when they return to the homes and lives they left prior to their service to the United States. Contact toll free: 888.774.1361.
Rural Health Research: Disabilities
Web site
Provides summaries of current and completed rural health research projects and related publications addressing the topic of disabilities, produced by the Office of Rural Health Policy's funded rural health research centers.
SEEDS: Empowering Rural Students with Disabilities through Assistive Technology
Web site
Discusses assistive technology needs for school-age children with disabilities. Describes legal requirements for rural schools to meet students' needs. Lists resources and funding sources.
Shaping Mental Health Services Toward Recovery: Supported Employment
Web site
Helps people with mental illnesses and other disabilities find and keep competitive employment within their communities.
State Employment Specialists in Vocational Education
Web site
A list of state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies to assist individuals with disabilities to become employed.
Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers
Technical assistance
Assists and coordinates parent training and resource centers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The project has one national and six regional TA centers. Site includes publications and other resources, as well as links to parent centers in each state.
Ticket to Work
Web site
Information on the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program, an employment program for people with disabilities. Includes a database of Employment Networks that provide vocational rehabilitation services, searchable by ZIP code, city, county and state.
Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students with Disabilities
Web site
A compilation of current information including research briefs and resources designed to improve instruction, assessment, and accountability for students with disabilities to help states move forward in improving results for all students with disabilities. The Tool Kit will assist state personnel, schools, and families in their efforts to ensure that all students with disabilities receive a quality education.
U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program: Veteran Service Organizations & Resources
Web site
An annotated list of congressionally chartered and non-profit organizations that support the health care, employment and rehabilitation needs of veterans.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
Web site
Presents information about the services that the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program provides to veterans with service-connected disabilities, to active duty service members and veterans who have recently separated from active duty, and to dependents of veterans who meet certain program eligibility requirements.
What to Expect from your VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service
Print publication
Describes prosthetic & orthotic devices and services available to veterans.
Work Site: Employment Support for People with Disabilities
Web site
Information about work incentives and other programs and services that facilitate entry into the workforce for people with disabilities.
Maps & Map Collections
Disability Status
Geographic coverage: United States
Printable map that shows the percent of population with disabilities. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, 2000.
Date: 2000
Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents
Accessibility of State and Local Government Websites to People with Disabilities
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Justice
Describes simple steps to help government agencies meet the requirements of providing accessible features on their websites for people with disabilities.
Date: 06 / 2003
Adapting Motor Vehicles for People with Disabilities
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Information on purchasing and modifying a vehicle with adaptive equipment.
Aging Out of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT): Issues for Young Adults with Disabilities
Author(s): Bob Williams, Jennifer Tolbert
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Discusses Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) coverage offered through the Medicaid program, which has played an important role for low-income children with disabilities. Discusses the challenges and implications for young people with disabilities when they become adults and lose their EPSDT benefits.
Date: 01 / 2007
Americans with Disabilities Act: A Primer for Small Business
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Overview of employer requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including information on hiring do's and don'ts, reasonable accommodations, and related issues. Intended for businesses with 15-100 employees.
Date: 02 / 2004
Americans with Disabilities Act: ADA Guide for Small Towns
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Justice
Presents an informal overview of some basic ADA requirements and provides cost effective tips on how small towns can comply with the ADA.
Date: 12 / 2005
Building Mobility Partnerships for People with Disabilities: Opportunities for Federal Funding and Promising Practices
Sponsoring organization: Easter Seals Project ACTION
Guide designed to help transportation providers, metropolitan planning officials, disability service providers, and individuals with disabilities identify the federal programs and services available to them.
Date: 01 / 2007
Child Care and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Opportunities and Resources for Child Care Providers and Families
Sponsoring organization: Center for Children with Special Needs
Overview of child care access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Includes a list of publications and other resources to help child care providers meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Date: 2004
Consumer Voice in Medicaid Managed Care: State Strategies
Author(s): John Barth
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
Outlines successful state strategies for engaging consumers and advocates in the planning, implementation, and oversight of managed care programs for people with disabilities.
Date: 03 / 2007
Creating Livable Communities
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
A report that identifies barriers to developing livable communities for people with disabilities and presents potential methods for overcoming these barriers.
Date: 10 / 2006
Current State of Transportation for People with Disabilities in the United States
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
Report developed to provide a better understanding of access to transportation and mobility for people with disabilities, including access to traditional public transportation systems, private transportation services, alternative transportation initiatives, and the pedestrian environment; to identify transportation barriers as well as promising practices and models; and to develop recommendations in keeping with the goals of the New Freedom Initiative to expand transportation opportunities for people with disabilities.
Date: 06 / 2005
Demystifying the Rehabilitation Act: What Faith-Based and Community Organizations Need to Know About Using Federal Financial Assistance to Serve People with Disabilities
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
Provides information for faith-based and community organizations that received financial assistance to serve people with disabilities from the United State Department of Labor. Includes a list of national resources that can help organizations deliver services to people with disabilities.
Date: 2008
Developing and Expanding a Statewide Parent to Parent Program
Author(s): Betsy Santelli
Sponsoring organization: Beach Center on Disability
Describes how to establish Parent to Parent programs, which provide emotional and informational support to parents of children who have special needs by matching them with trained and experienced parents in a 1-to-1 relationship.
Date: 2000
Disability and the Digital Divide: Comparing Surveys with Disability Data
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Discusses how surveys consistently report that people with disabilities have only half the rate of Internet access of people without a disability. Despite regular increases over time, people with disabilities have not caught up, and still face a significant digital divide.
Date: 06 / 2006
Disability Burdens among Older Americans Associated with Gender and Race/Ethnicity in Rural and Urban Areas (Executive Summary)
Author(s): James N. Laditka, Sarah B. Laditka, Bankole Olatosi, Keith T. Elder
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Reports on the measure of the years an individual can expect to live free of serious
disability and the measure of years a person can expect to live with disability, commonly referred to as inactive life expectancy or disabled life expectancy.
Date: 09 / 2005
Emergency Evacuation of People With Physical Disabilities From Buildings: 2004 Conference Proceedings
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Education
Summarizes the proceedings from the 2004 Conference on Emergency Evacuation of People With Physical Disabilities From Buildings.
Date: 10 / 2005
Emergency Evacuation: Safe Egress of Persons with Disabilities from Transit Systems
Author(s): Elizabeth Davis
Sponsoring organization: Easter Seals
Provides information for transit agencies on planning for safe evacuation of people with disabilities in an emergency situation.
Date: 08 / 2004
Entering the World of Work: What Youth with Mental Health Needs Should Know About Accommodations
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
A fact sheet that provides information on disclosure and examples of reasonable accommodations for youth with mental health needs entering the workforce.
Date: 2007
Expanding Mobility Options for People with Disabilities: A Practitioner's Guide to Community-Based Transportation Planning
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
A tool for communities to use in their own efforts to undertake planning activities when improving transportation options for people with disabilities. Provided is a model approach for community-based transportation planning that incorporates methods and activities communities can implement.
Date: 04 / 2005
Faith Based Organizations: Potential Partners in Rural Transportation
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Reports on a survey of rural Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) to assess their interest in providing local transportation for people with disabilities and their capacity to do so.
Date: 05 / 2007
Federal Disability Assistance: Wide Array of Programs Needs to be Examined in Light of 21st Century Challenges
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
Examines the multitude of federal agencies and programs that serve people with disabilities in a multifaceted and complex manner. Half of these
programs serve only people with disabilities, while the rest serve people both with and without disabilities. These programs provide a
wide range of assistance such as employment-related services, medical care, civil protections or legal services, education, and monetary support. Multiple agencies administer programs that provide similar types of assistance, but these programs often serve different populations of people with disabilities because of varying eligibility criteria.
Date: 06 / 2005
Growing Crisis in Health and Long-Term Services and Supports for Midlife and Older Persons with Disabilities: Changes from 2002 to 2005
Author(s): Mary Jo Gibson
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Presents data from interviews with a group of persons 50 years or older with disabilities who were originally interviewed in 2002 for AARP's Beyond 50.03: A Report to the Nation on Independent Living and Disability. This follow-up report identifies differences and similarities between 2002 and 2005 in the respondents' perceptions of their quality of life, need for assistance with everyday activities and other supports that permit independent living and health care.
Date: 12 / 2006
Guideposts for Success
Sponsoring organization: National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
Publication designed to help youth with disabilities through the process of transitioning from school to higher education or the workforce.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), Public Law 108-446 as printed in the Federal Register. This is the nation's law that works to improve results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.
Journal citation: Federal Register Pages: 118
Date: 12 / 2004
Information Gaps on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Population: A Background Paper
Sponsoring organization: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Presents the relevant issues regarding the mental health information needs of deaf and hard of hearing populations, particularly in rural America.
Date: 06 / 2006
Knocking Down Access Barriers
Author(s): Nicole Crawford
Sponsoring organization: American Psychological Association
Discusses how to give rural people with disabilities better access to mental health care, including telehealth and other methods of providing services.
Journal citation: APA Monitor on Psychology Volume 34 Issue 6 Pages: 64
Date: 06 / 2003
Models of Rural Transportation for People with Disabilities: Rural Practice Guideline
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Describes five rural transportation model categories: (1) public transit, (2) agency-focused, cooperatives, (3) volunteer/voucher, (4) public-private partnerships and (5) personal ownership to help transportation providers begin to develop new programs in response to the most recent Transportation Act (2005), the "Safe, Accountable, Efficient, Flexible Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" or SAFETEA-LU.
Date: 02 / 2007
Navigating Medicare and Medicaid, 2005: A Resource Guide for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates
Author(s): Bob Williams, Henry Claypool, Jeff Crowley
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Explains the role of Medicare and Medicaid for the roughly 20 million children, adults and seniors with disabilities. Offers a basic introduction to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Date: 02 / 2005
New Horizons: Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Transportation
Designed to offer travelers with disabilities a brief but authoritative source of information about the Air Carrier Access rules: the accommodations, facilities, and services that are now required to be available. It also describes features required by other regulations designed to make air travel more accessible.
Date: 02 / 2004
Nutrition for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
Author(s): Kathleen Humphries, Meg Traci, Tom Seekins
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Nutrition standards of care for use by personal assistants, service providers, healthcare providers,
nutrition professionals, and family members.
Date: 10 / 2005
Preparing the Workplace for Everyone: Accounting for the Needs of People with Disabilities
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
A framework of emergency preparedness guidelines
for federal agencies that supports safety and security for individuals with disabilities.
Date: 2005
Priced Out in 2006: The Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities
Author(s): Ann O’Hara, Emily Cooper, Andrew Zovistoski, Jonathan Buttrick
Sponsoring organization: Technical Assistance Collaborative
Documents the continued lack of affordable, accessible housing for individuals with significant long-term disabilities.
Date: 2007
Role of Health Coverage for People with Disabilities: Findings from 12 Focus Groups with People with Disabilities
Author(s): Michael Perry, Adrianne Dulio, Kristina Hanson
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Findings from focus groups conducted with people with a range of disabilities. Covers challenges they face and their experiences in the health-care system. Discusses types of insurance coverage and gaps in coverage.
Date: 08 / 2003
Rural Women with Disabilities and Depression, Part One: Characteristics and Treatment Patterns
Author(s): Rosemary Hughes
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
An analysis of a study testing the effectiveness of a peer-led depression self-management intervention for rural women with physical disabilities.
Date: 07 / 2007
State by State Comparison: 3 Ways to Count Rural People with Disabilities
Author(s): Alexandra Enders, Zach Brandt
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Provides statistics and comparisons of the national distribution of Americans with disabilities using three different rural definitions.
Date: 03 / 2007
Tele-Health Promotion for Rural People with Disabilities: Toward a Technology Assisted Peer Support Model
Author(s): Craig Ravesloot
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Looks at the usability of Internet health promotion programs by rural people with disabilities.
Date: 09 / 2007
Tele-Health Promotion for Rural People with Disabilities: Toward a Technology Assisted Peer-Support Model
Author(s): Craig Ravesloot
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Explores ways in which people with disabilities will utilize an Internet health promotion program.
Date: 09 / 2007
Text of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Senate
Text of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, PUBLIC LAW 101-336, JULY 26, 1990, 104 STAT. 327. An Act to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.
Date: 07 / 1990
Transportation Services for People with Disabilities in Rural and Small Urban Communities (Summary Report)
Sponsoring organization: Easter Seals Project ACTION
A summary of an in-depth report studying rural transportation challenges. Identifies challenges in meeting the transportation needs of people with disabilities in rural and small urban areas and offers innovative and effective solutions through the presentation of case studies.
Date: 08 / 2006
Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations: Actions Needed to Clarify Responsibilities and Increase Preparedness for Evacuations
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
Provides discussion on preparing for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations. Includes the challenges state and local emergency management officials face in identifying and locating these populations, determining their transportation needs, and providing for their transportation.
Date: 12 / 2006
Update on the Demography of Rural Disability, Part One: Rural and Urban
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Discusses the definitions of rural and disability. Includes statistics on rural and urban people with disabilities.
Date: 04 / 2005
Update on the Demography of Rural Disability, Part Two: Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Discusses metropolitan and non-metropolitan county definitions and provides references, statistics, and documents on people with disabilities.
Date: 04 / 2005
Organizations
2-1-1
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis.
American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD)
National organization
A national nonprofit cross-disability member organization in the United States, dedicated to ensuring economic self-sufficiency and political empowerment for the more than 56 million Americans with disabilities. AAPD works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of disability nondiscrimination laws, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES)
National organization
Organization of special educators, general educators, related service providers, administrators, teacher trainers, researchers, and parents who are committed to the enhancement of services to students and individuals living in rural America.
Arc of the United States (ARC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to include all
children and adults with cognitive, intellectual, and
developmental disabilities in every community.
ARCH National Respite Network
National organization
Assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs and helps families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities.
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
National organization
The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) is a national network of rural centers for independent living (CILs) and other organizations and individuals concerned with the unique aspects of rural independent living. APRIL is organized to promote independence and strive for full rights and benefits for individuals with disabilities living in rural environments.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
National organization
Promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC).
Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)
National organization
Works to maintain and enhance a strong, effective and efficient national program of public vocational rehabilitation services which empowers individuals with disabilities to achieve employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion and integration into our communities.
Courage Center
Nonprofit/Foundation
Empowers people with physical disabilities to reach for their full potential in every aspect of life.
Easter Seals
National organization
Provides services to children and adults with disabilities and other special needs, and support to their families. Easter Seals has 450+ service sites nationwide.
Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
National organization
Provides information and training to families and advocates on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal special education law.
Family Voices
National organization
Grassroots network of families and friends, advocates for health care services that are family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, coordinated and culturally competent for all children and youth with special health care needs.
Hire Heroes Program
National organization
Designed to help military veterans who were wounded find careers within the healthcare industry after serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations around the world.
Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU)
Academic/Research
A national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance in independent living.
Institute for Family-Centered Care (IFCC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Promotes family-centered care, an approach to health care where health care providers and the family are partners, working together to meet the needs of infants, children, adolescents, and family members of all ages.
Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities (LEAD)
National organization
Addresses the declining number of employees with targeted disabilities in the federal workforce. The goal of this initiative is to increase the population of individuals with disabilities employed by the federal government.
MUMS Parent-to-Parent Network
National organization
A national Parent to Parent Network to help parents who have a child with any disorder, medical condition, mental or emotional disorder or rare diagnosis make connections with other parents whose children have the same or similar condition. If possible matches are made according to age, geographical location, gender, and severity of the symptoms.
National AgrAbility Project
National organization
Assists people with disabilities involved in production agriculture who work both on small and large operations.
National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH)
National organization
Works to develop and enhance rural mental health and substance abuse services, and to support mental health providers in rural areas.
National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NADDDS)
Nonprofit/Foundation
A nonprofit organization, established in 1964, to improve and expand public services to people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
National organization
Promotes, protects, and preserves the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD)
National organization
Information center concerned with physical activity and disability
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD)
National organization
Assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve youth with disabilities.
National Council on Disability (NCD)
Federal government
An independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress on issues affecting Americans with disabilities. Promotes policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities.
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
National organization
Advances the independent living philosophy and advocates for the human rights of, and services for, people with disabilities to further their full integration and participation in society.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NDCCD)
National organization
Provides information on disabilities in children and youth, including information on federal legislation, programs and services, and research.
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
Federal government
Provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. Part of the U.S. Department of Education.
National Organization on Disability (NOD)
National organization
Provides information on the latest in disability-related news, information and resources.
Native American Research Training Center (NARTC)
Academic/Research
Conducts research and training projects to help improve the quality of life for Native Americans with disabilities. Serves as a national resource for Native American communities and people working with Native American populations, especially those with chronic diseases or disabilities.
North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD)
State/regional organization
Conducts a wide range of projects serving the disability community, including many projects that address rural issues. NDCPD is a University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Services located at Minot State University.
ODEP Alliance Initiative
Federal government
A cooperative program that enables organizations committed to improving disability workplace practices to work with The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to develop and implement model policies and initiatives that increase recruiting, hiring, advancing, and retaining workers with disabilities.
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
Federal government
Dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. Part of the U.S. Department of Education.
Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Inc. (PYD)
National organization
Committed to empowering young people with disabilities to reach their full potential for personal development through one-to-one and group mentoring programs.
Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC)
Academic/Research
Conducts research on issues of access to transportation and housing, employment and self-employment, independent living services, health and wellness facilities, and inclusion in community planning and activities of people with disabilities. Provides information and training to rural communities on disabilities.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Federal government
Administers the Social Security programs (retirement, survivors and disability) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
United Way of America
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to improve people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. Includes contact information and links for local United Way organizations.
United Way y la Comunidad Latina
Nonprofit/Foundation
La misión de United Way es mejorar la calidad de vida por medio de la movilización de la capacidad humanitaria y caritativa de las comunidades.
Women With Disabilities (WWD)
National organization
Provides information for women with disabilities, caretakers, health professionals, and researchers about critical health issues affecting women with disabilities.
Terms & Acronyms
Accessibility The extent to which facilities are barrier free and usable by persons with disabilities. Equal access to information and the ability to complete a task with supporting tools or assistive technologies.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of employment, transportation, telecommunications, and public accommodation.
Flexroute Transit route that combines aspects of a fixed route with paratransit.
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Federal law that spells out broad mandates for services to all children with disabilities.
Independent Living The belief that people with disabilities should have the same civil rights, options, and control over choices in their own lives as people without disabilities.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) A written education plan for a child with a disability that is developed by a team of professionals and the child's parents. It is reviewed and updated yearly and describes how the child is doing, what the child's learning needs are, and what services the child will need.
Paratransit Comparable transportation service required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for people with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route transportation systems.
Reasonable Accommodation Reasonable accommodations are adjustments or modifications provided by an employer to enable people with disabilities to enjoy equal employment opportunities.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) Provides need-based cash benefits to individuals 65 and older and individuals with disabilities, including children.
Ticket to Work The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) A program funded by the Department of Energy that reduces heating and cooling costs for low-income families, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, by improving the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety.
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