Resources for Families

General Resources

• The Administration for Children & Families (of the Dept. of Health and Human Services)
  The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a federal agency funding state, territory, local, and tribal organizations to provide family assistance (welfare), child support, child care, Head Start, child welfare, and other programs relating to children and families.
• The Advocacy Center
  The Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization located in New York State that educates, supports, and advocates with people who have disabilities, their families, and circles of support.
• Assisted Living
  Assisted Living is a community organization that prioritizes helping those who are disabled and the elderly fully enjoy their healthy years and age gracefully.  Our organization creates and publishes comprehensive, unbiased, free web-based resources.  We have been featured on the Parkinson’s Foundation, US Department of Health and Human Services – Health Finder, Global Healthspan Policy Institute, and is referenced by many governmental agencies and organizations across the web.
• Birth Injury Guide
  The mission of Birth Injury Guide is to help answer the questions that parents and families have about birth injuries.
• Birth Injury Lawyers
  An experienced birth injury attorney will discuss all of the important details with you during your free consultation, including cerebral palsy causes, diagnosis, and symptoms. Whether your child has been diagnosed with CP or you are concerned your baby might be affected, your attorney can inform you of your legal rights and connect you with objective medical experts who can give you straight answers about your child’s condition.
• Center on Technology and Disability
  Since 2013, the CTD team has been pleased to provide free, high-quality resources and events on all aspects of assistive technology for persons with disabilities and the elderly. A U.S. Department of Education-funded project, CTD ended in May 2019. However, their resource-rich website will be available to through 2021
• Cerebral Palsy Guidance
  Cerebral Palsy Guidance was created to provide answers and assistance to parents of a child with cerebral palsy.  They cover cerebral palsy from all angles – from symptoms, causes, and treatment, to daily living information such as communication and transitioning to adulthood.
• Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York
  The Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York is a collaborative group of member voluntary agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities.
• Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Inc.
  Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. (DREDF) is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities.
• Exceptional Parent Magazine
  Providing information, support, ideas, encouragement & outreach for parents and families of children with disabilities, and the professionals who work with them.
• Home Improvement Assistance
  The Eldercare Locator is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources.
• Home Ownership for People with Disabilities
  Owning a home is a key part of the American dream. Unfortunately, if you have a disability, you may find it harder to afford to buy and retrofit a home to accommodate your needs. That’s because if you are unable to work or if you face significant medical expenses, you might not be able to qualify for a traditional mortgage or provide a 20% down payment.
• Kaiser Family Foundation
  An online resource for timely and in-depth coverage of health policy news, debates and discussions. This free and comprehensive multimedia service connects users to the events, people, information, and research that shape health policy.
• Moving Advice
  This guide has been designed to help educate seniors,  adults with disabilities, and their loved ones plan and execute a safe, well-organized, and stress-free move.
• Moving Tips for Seniors and People with Disabilities
  Life Storage has produced the publications “Moving Tips for Seniors and People with Disabilities.” The guide covers different aspects of moving for those who may encounter additional difficulties when transitioning to a new living situations. This includes tips for moving day, as well as how to plan for the move and the emotions that come along with such big change.
• National Organization on Disability
  In addition to keeping you up to date on the National Organization on Disability´s most recent developments, the N.O.D. web site provides you with the latest in disability-related news, information and resources.
• The New York Autism Network
  The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany (CARD Albany) is a community-based program that provides program development, training, and support for individuals, families, professionals and peers of people with autism and related disabilities.
• New York State Recreation and Park Society
  NYSRPS is the principal organization promoting quality recreation and park opportunities for all citizens of NYS through education, training, technical assistance and other support to local, county, state and federal recreation and park providers. Members include recreation and park professionals and therapeutic recreation specialists and activity coordinators working in health care facilities.
• Parent-To-Parent of NYS
  The mission of Parent to Parent of New York State is to connect and support families of individuals with special needs.
• World Institute on Disability (WID)
  WID is a nonprofit research, training and public policy center promoting the civil rights and the full societal inclusion of people with disabilities.
• CADRE (Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education)
  CADRE uses advanced technology as well as traditional means to provide technical assistance to state departments of education on implementation of the mediation requirements under IDEA ´97.
• Public Radio Disability Matters series
  Disability Matters is a project aired on North Country Public Radio. People with disabilities in rural communities face extraordinary challenges to lifelong wellness and well-being. This series, funded in part by Sound Partners for Community Health, is intended to promote understanding and to influence public policy through radio commentaries, audio diaries and a year-long series of documentaries and features.
• Kennedy Krieger Institute
  Kennedy Krieger Institute is a facility located in Baltimore, Maryland dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with pediatric developmental disabilities through patient care, special education, research, and professional training.
• online.maryville.edu/disabilities-guide/
  There are plenty of opportunities for students to continue their education after completing high school. Just as with any other student, students with disabilities have access to many of the same colleges and universities, as well as other vocational training. This site offers some good information and links to more sites dealing with this subject.
• Rental Housing Rights
  Under federal law, tenants and prospective tenants with a disability have the right to apply for and live in a rental unit regardless of their impairment.

Associations/Agencies

• ANCOR
  The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) is a national, nonprofit trade association representing more than 1,600 private community providers of services to people with disabilities. Combined, we support over one million individuals with disabilities

• Brain Injury Association of NYS
  The Brain Injury Association of New York State is a statewide non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with brain injury and their families, and promotes prevention.
• United Spinal Association
  United Spinal Association (United Spinal) is a membership organization that was incorporated in New York in 1947 under the name Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association. United Spinal has the expanded mission of advocacy for all individuals with a spinal cord injury or disease, regardless of their age, gender, or veteran status.
• NYSACRA – NYS Assn. of Community & Residential Agencies
  The New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies (NYSACRA) is a grassroots organization comprised of 200 voluntary agencies which provide services to people with developmental disabilities.
• NYS Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA)
  The New York State Rehabilitation Association is a statewide organization representing over 130 rehabilitation providers, that advocates on behalf of people with differing disabilities and the agencies who serve them.
• Self-Advocacy Association of NYS
  The Self-Advocacy Association is a strong voice for and by people with disabilities, promoting independence, empowerment, leading by example, communicating, networking and encouraging each other.
• New York State Elks
  With more than 1.1 million members in more than 2,100 local lodges nationwide, the Elks are one of the largest and most active fraternal organizations in the world!
• ACCSES
  ACCSES is a network of more than 80 organizations across this country with similar goals and purposes, providing a strong unified presence in Washington, D.C. Through this partnership, disability service providers are afforded a strong and experienced federal public policy voice, great opportunities to build meaningful relationships with policy-makers and up-to-date information to leverage our collective effort to enhance the quality and types of services benefiting people with disabilities.
• Self-Advocacy Association of NY
  The Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc. (SANYS) is a not-for profit, grassroots organization run by and for people with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to help create a person-centered and person-directed system of supports.
• The League of Women Voters of New York State
  The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Government

• Westchester Office for People with Disabilites
  The home page for the Westchester County Office for People with Disabilites. Includes a detailed listing of local services, including ParaTransit.
• New York State Home Page
  The home page of the official web site for the state of New York.
• New York State Department of Health
  Home page for the New York State Department of Health web site.
• NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)
  The New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council is a federally funded state agency. The DDPC is responsible for developing new ways to improve the delivery of services and supports to New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families.
• NYS Education Department – Adult Career & Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR)
  The Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) offers access to a full range of employment and independent living services that may be needed by persons with disabilities through their lives.
• Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
  People with special needs shall be protected from abuse, neglect and mistreatment. This will be accomplished by assuring that the state maintains the nation’s highest standards of health, safety and dignity; and by supporting the dedicated men and women who provide services.
• NYS Office of Mental Health
  The Office of Mental Health operates psychiatric centers across the state, and also regulates, certifies and oversees more than 2,500 programs which are operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies. These programs include various inpatient and outpatient programs, emergency, community support, residential, and family care programs.
• NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
  Home page for OPWDD, whose mission is to help people with developmental disabilities live richer lives.
• New York State Assembly
  Home page of the New York State Assembly´s web site.
• New York State Senate
  Home page of the New York State Senate´s web site.
• NYS Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
  The New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) is an independent, New York State government agency charged with improving the quality of life for New Yorkers with disabilities and protecting their rights by: promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life; ensuring programmatic and fiscal accountability in the State´s mental hygiene system; providing individual and systemic investigative and advocacy services; advancing the availability and use of assistive technology for persons with disabilities; and offering impartial and informed advice, training and recommendations on disability issues.
• Office of Children & Family Services
  The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York´s public by promoting the well-being and safety of our children, families and communities by setting and enforcing policies, building partnerships, and funding and providing quality services.
• Social Security Administration
  Home page for the web site of the U.S. Social Security Administration.
• US Dept of Labor
  Home page for the web site of the U.S. Department of Labor.
• US Dept. of Justice – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page
  U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) home page.
• U.S. Senate
  Home page of the U.S. Senate web site.
• U.S. House of Representatives
  Home page of the U.S. House of Representatives web site.

Health Care Resources

• Developmental Disabilities and Oral Health
  Developmental disabilities can impact a person’s general and oral health standing. This is because certain disorders impair learning, physical, language, and behavioral capabilities. In addition, practicing good oral hygiene at home may be difficult, which can lead to serious oral health issues over time.