Advocacy, Incorporated - The web site of Texas based Advocacy, Incorporated whose mission is “to advocate for, protect, and advance the legal, human, and service rights of people with disabilities”. This site provides information about Advocacy, Inc.’s priorities, services and publications. It also includes the most recent issue of their newsletter, handouts on a number of issues, and related web links. The web site and handouts are available in both English and Spanish.
Americans with Disabilities Act - This is the Americans with Disabilities Act home page maintained by the Department of Justice. The site includes ADA information, resources and web links; information on ADA enforcement and case settlements; regional status reports; and a toll free information hot line.
Americans with Disabilities Act Document Center - Contains copies of the ADA, ADA Regulations, technical assistance manuals and web links.
ADA Technical Assistance Program - This site provides information on ADA as well as federal contacts; supreme court decisions; ADA publications and other disability resources; and more.
ADAPT - (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today). ADAPT is dedicated to “fighting so people with disabilities can live in the community with real supports instead of being locked away in nursing homes and other institutions.” The site includes information about MiCASSA (the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act) and more.
CADRE - (Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education). It provides information on various dispute resolution options; state specific mediation information; a database of special ed. conflict resolution specialists; and more.
Center for an Accessible Society - The web site of the Center for an Accessible Society whose function is to focus public attention on disability and independent living issues by disseminating information developed through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Choices for Children
This is the web site for Choices for Children whose mission is “to educate policymakers, legislators, and the public about the unique educational needs of children who are blind or visually impaired.”
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates - COPAA is an “independent, non-profit, tax exempt organization of attorneys, advocates and parents established to improve the quality and quantity of legal assistance for parents of children with disabilities.”
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities - CTD is a grassroots, cross- disability organization advocating for the civil rights of Texans with disabilities.
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities - CCD “is a coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy” on behalf of people with disabilities. The site includes legislative issues, task forces, and CCD press releases and testimonies.
Disability Leadership Network of Houston
This web page describes Disability Leadership Network of Houston, a leadership training program for adults with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities and other community members in the Greater Houston area. “The goal of the program is for participants to gain the necessary competencies to become effective advocates who can create positive changes for people with disabilities by using their new skills in our local community.”
Texas Disability Policy Consortium - This is the web site of the Texas Disability Policy Consortium, “an independent group of statewide advocacy organizations working for progressive public policy on behalf of Texans with disabilities.” The site includes the DPC’s legislative platforms and publications; information on the Olmstead decision and its possible impact on Texans; legislative information; and web links to other resources.
DREDF - This is the web site of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF). They are a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education.
EDLAW Inc - This site provides information on EDLAW Inc. (a company that “provides information on legal developments in special education”) and its publications; the EDLAW Center (a non-profit organization that “develops and sponsors projects for systemic changes in public education”); COPAA (The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates) and texts of special education statutes, regulations and judicial decisions.
Families USA - This is the web site of Families USA, “a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans.”
Family Voices - This is the home page of Family Voices, “partnering with professionals and families to advocate for health care services that are family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, coordinated and culturally competent.” Related issues and resources are included on the web site.
Federal Resource Center for Special Education - The FRC supports a nationwide technical assistance network to “assist states in implementing various education reform initiatives and other federal programs”. The site includes information on IDEA and other major pieces of legislation, as well as web links to other federal agencies that affect the disability community.
Funding of Assistive Technology - This web site is entitled “Funding of Assistive Technology” and focuses on advocating for assistive technology through the public education system. It gives a detailed overview of IDEA, particularly how it pertains to assistive technology, and discusses specific court decisions.
Guide to Disability Rights Laws - Online “Guide to Disability Rights Laws” provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
Justice for All - This web page provides information on how to obtain the Justice for All alerts provided by the American Association of People with Disabilities. “AAPD works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of disability non-discrimination laws.” “One JFA goal is to work with national and state organizations of people with disabilities to get the word from Washington D.C. out to the grassroots.”
National Health Law Program - The home page of the National Health Law Program, a public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for Americans with disabilities and others. Their web site provides information on a number of different topics relevant to health care advocacy.
Not Dead YetYet - This is the web site of “Not Dead Yet” which advocates against assisted suicide and euthanasia of people with disabilities. “What we oppose is a public policy that singles out individuals for legalized killing based on their health status.”
Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights Center - This is the web site for the Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights Center whose mission is “to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents.”
Partners in Policymaking Program - This web site is for the Texas Partners in Policymaking Program. “Participants explore current developmental disability issues, best practices, and the policymaking and legislative processes at the local, state and federal levels in order to strengthen self-advocacy skills and increase personal empowerment.” Session topics and application information are included.
Ragged Edge Magazine - This is the online version of Ragged Edge Magazine who writes about “society’s ‘ragged edge’ issues: medical rationing, genetic discrimination, assisted suicide, long-term care, attendant services.”
Reed Martin - This is an information packed web site created by Mr. Reed Martin, an attorney with 30 years of experience in special education law. The mission of the site is “lessening discrimination against children with disabilities by providing parents and school personnel tools for advocacy”.
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered - Includes resource links, reports, the SABE newsletter, and information on the Project Leadership training program.
Speaking for Ourselves - This is the web site for Speaking for Ourselves. “Speaking for Ourselves, a non-profit organization, is a pioneer in self-advocacy for people with disabilities.” This site includes information on self-determination.
TASH - The web site of TASH, “an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm.” The site provides information about TASH including their mission statement, resolutions, and policy statements; conference information; publications; web links and more.
TASK (Texas Advocates Supporting Kids with Disabilities), a non-profit organization composed primarily of parents of children with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Their site includes legislative information and alerts, education issues, children’s health issues, web links, training events, and more.
Texas Education Week - This is the Texas page from the online newspaper, “Education Week”. It provides statistics on education in Texas; information on the Governor and Education Commissioner; web links to the Texas State Education Agency and other state educational associations; web links to Texas newspapers; legislative updates and more.
Texas Center for Disability Study - This is the home page for the Texas Center for Disability Study. Their mission is “to serve as a catalyst so that people with developmental, and other disabilities, are fully included in all levels of their communities and in control of their lives.” “All activities of the TCDS are guided by a belief in individualized supports, inclusion, self-determination, natural supports and collaboration with organizations to address policy issues and systems change.” Information also provided in Spanish.
THOMAS - This is the THOMAS web site, “Legislative Information on the Internet”, provided by the Library of Congress. It provides access to House and Senate directories, Congressional records, legislation, committee information, web links and more.
Transition Requirements - This online document is entitled “IDEA ’97 Transition Requirements – A Guide for States, Districts, Schools, Universities and Families.”
Versus Law - This is the Versus Law web site where for $8.95/month you can access their database for case law research.
World Institute on Disability - The home page of the World Institute on Disability, “a non-profit research, public policy and advocacy center dedicated to promoting independence and societal inclusion of people with disabilities.”
Wrightslaw is a library dedicated to special education law and advocacy. It also contains news alerts; free publications and online newsletters; disability-related topics; and a bookstore.
WWW RESOURCES - This web site is entitled WWW RESOURCES for Advocates of Individuals with Disabilities and provides web links and descriptions of a number of different web sites.
