Disability Helpline

Self Help Clearinghouse

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.
Write:
Special Needs Advocate for Parents
3029 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Voice: 1-888-310-9889 or 310-452-3759
Website: http://www.snapinfo.org
E-mail: info@snapinfo.org
Verified: 7/12/2007

Provides free publications on the American Disabilities Act. A new publication will be available each month in a limited supply.
Write:
US Dept. of Justice CR Division
950 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20530
Voice: 1-800-514-0301
TDD: 1-800-514-0383
Website: http://www.ada.gov
Verified: 7/12/2007

Information on accommodations for people with disability. Sponsored Office of Disability Employment Policy and Dept. of the Labor.
Write:
Job Accomodation Network
P.O. Box 6080
Morgantown, WV 26506-6080
Voice: 1-800-526-7234
TDD: 1-877-781-9403
Website: http://www.jan.wvu.edu
E-mail: jan@jan.wvu.edu
Verified: 7/12/2007

Provides disability resource packets for children and adults with disabilities. Online directory available.
Write:
Easter Seals Nat'l Headquarters
230 W. Monroe St., Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60606-4802
Voice: 1-800-221-6827
Website: http://www.easterseals.com
Verified: 7/12/2007

Information and referrals on post-secondary education and adult training programs for people with disabilities. Sponsored by U.S. Deptartment of Education.
Write:
GW Univ. / HEATH Resource Center
2121 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20037
Voice: 1-800-544-3284
Fax: 202-994-3365
Website: http://www.heath.gwu.edu
E-mail: ASKHEATH@gwu.edu
Verified: 7/12/2007

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.
Write:
Abledata
8630 Fenton St., Ste 930
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Voice: 1-800-227-0216
Website: http://www.abledata.com/
E-mail: abledata@orcmacro.com
Verified: 7/12/2007

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.
Write:
National Accessible Apartment CH
291 N. Union St., Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
Voice: 1-800-421-1221
Fax: 703-248-9440
Website: http://www.accessibleapartments.org
E-mail: clearinghouse@naahq.org
Verified: 6/13/2007

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.
Write:
Nat'l Library Blind and Phys. Handicapped
1291 Taylor St. NW
Washington, DC 20542
Voice: 1-800-424-8567
TDD: 202-707-0744
Website: http://www.loc.gov/nls
E-mail: nls@loc.gov
Verified: 6/12/2007

Information, speakers, technical assistance, training and referrals regarding enforcing ADA and prohibiting discrimination in employment of disabled persons.
Write:
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
1801 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20507
Voice: 1-800-669-4000
TDD: 1-800-669-6820
Website: http://www.eeoc.gov
Verified: 7/17/2007

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.
Write:
Rural Institute on Disabilities
52 Corbin Hall, Univ. of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
Voice: 1-800-732-0323
E-mail: rural@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
Verified: 7/12/2007

Support and education for families of children with any disability. Advocates for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Literature, training sessions, information and referrals.
Write:
Pacer Center
8161 Normandale Blvd
Bloomington, MN 55437
Voice: 1-888-248-0822
TDD: 952-838-0190
Website: http://www.fape.org
E-mail: fape@pacer.org
Verified: 7/12/2007

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.
Write:
NICHCY
P.O. Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013-1492
Voice: 1-800-695-0285 or 202-884-8200
E-mail: nichcy@aed.org
Verified: 7/17/2007

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.
Write:
Disabled American Veterans
P.O. Box 14301
Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301
Voice: 1-877-426-2838
Website: http://www.dav.org
E-mail: feedback@davmail.org
Verified: 11/1/2007

Provides information and referrals to independent living centers.
Write:
National Council on Indept. Living
1710 Rhode Island Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20026
Voice: 1-877-525-3400 or 202-207-0334
TDD: 202-207-0340
Website: http://www.ncil.org
E-mail: ncil@ncil.org
Verified: 7/12/2007

Information and referrals to families of children (birth to 5). Provides training for childcare providers and other early childcare professionals.
Write:
Childcare Plus / Rural Inst., UOM
634 Eddy Ave.
Missoula, MT 59812-6696
Voice: 1-800-235-4122
Website: http://www.ccplus.org
E-mail: ccplus@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
Verified: 7/12/2007

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.
Write:
Life Services for the Handicapped
61 Broadway, Suite 510
New York, NY 10006
Voice: 1-800-995-0066 or 212-532-6740
Website: http://www.disabledandalone.org
E-mail: info@disabledandalone.org
Verified: 7/13/2007

Phone support, newsletter, information and referrals for disabled parents or parents of disabled children.
Write:
Through the Looking Glass
2198 Sixth St., Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710-2204
Voice: 1-800-644-2666 or 510-848-1112
TDD: 1-800-804-1616
Website: http://www.lookingglass.org
E-mail: tlg@lookingglass.org
Verified: 7/17/2007

Trains dogs to assist people with physical and developmental disabilities. Also has opportunities for people interested in volunteering to raise puppies.
Write:
Canine Companions For Independence
P.O. Box 205
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Voice: 1-800-572-2275
Website: http://www.cci.org
Verified: 7/12/2007

Advocates for accessibility. Provides publications and forms to press charges against agencies that are not accessible.
Voice: 1-800-872-2253 or 202-272-0080
TDD: 1-800-2822 or 202-272-0082
Website: http://www.access-board.gov
E-mail: info@access-board.gov
Verified: 7/12/2007

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.
Write:
Nat'l Institute Rehab Engineering
P.O. Box 1088
Hewitt, NJ 07421
Voice: 1-800-736-2216
E-mail: nire@warwick.net
Verified: 7/12/2007