ADVOCACY

Self-advocacy is the ability to communicate with others to acquire information and recruit help in meeting personal needs and goals. Supporting and encouraging students with disabilities to make choices on their own behalf is an integral part of any transition process. As students learn the skills to take charge of life decisions (home, work, recreation, relationships), they become empowered and find greater success in their endeavors. To learn more about Advocacy...

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Advocacy Skills and the Social Security Administration
Virginia Commonwealth University's Benefits Assistance Resource Center fact sheet shares information about techniques to prevent overpayments or underpayments and to present advocacy strategies for a successful relationship with the Social Security Administration.

Advocates in Action
The website for Advocates in Action.

California Department of Developmental Services Consumer Corner
Offers information about the Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC), materials developed by DDS and CAC for consumers, families and professionals, advocacy resources to help consumers ensure their rights are protected and links to other resources available to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Community Guide to Helping America's Youth
The Community Guide helps communities build partnerships, assess their needs and resources, and select from program designs that could be replicated in their community. It walks community groups through the steps necessary for building strong supports for youth. The Community Guide was developed by ten Federal agencies.

Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
FAPE is a strong partnership that aims to improve the educational outcomes for children with disabilities. It links families, advocates, and self-advocates to communicate the new focus of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The project represents the needs of 6 million children with disabilities.

iCan!
A place where people affected by disabilities can take advantage of the community building power of the Internet. A one-stop resource for information, guidance, conversation and companionship.

Institute for Community Inclusion
The Institute for Community Inclusion supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of the community.

Institute on Independent Living
The Institutes purpose is to promote the opportunities of persons with disabilities to gain more personal and political power, self-determination, full participation and equality through information, training materials, consultancy and technical assistance. The Institute works in cooperation with other organizations that support these aims at the local, national and international level, including self-help groups in developing countries.

Kids as Self-Advocates
We are teens and young adults with disabilities and health care needs speaking out. Some of us may not have disabilities or health care needs, but maybe a friend, brother or sister does and we care about them and want to learn more about what it's like. So, read up, join in and pass it on!

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Training students to become self-advocates encourages youth with disabilities to assert themselves and speak out for the accommodations they need to become full participants in society.

National Down Syndrome Society
Learn Play Connect - An interactive website for youth with disabilities.

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER)
The mission of PACER Center 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.

Placer Independent Resource Services (PIRS)
PIRS is a non-profit independent living center. Our mission is to advocate, empower, educate and provide services for people with disabilities enabling them to control their alternatives for independent living.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
PAI provides a variety of advocacy services, including information and referral, technical assistance, and direct representation.

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
S.A.B.E. goals are to make self-advocacy available in every state including institutions, high schools, rural areas and people living with families with local support and advisors to help;work with the criminal justice system and people with disabilities about their rights within the criminal justice system; and to close institutions for people with developmental disabilities label nationwide, and build community supports.

Self Advocates Connecting On Line
This is a mailing list for Self Advocates and other adults and with Developmental, Intellectual, Neurological or Learning Disabilities. I am a Self Advocate from Connecticut who created this list because even though there are alot of mailing lists for PARENTS of people like us, there are'nt any mailing lists for Self Advocates and other Mentally or Learning disabled people

Student-led IEP Outreach Project
An outreach project that promotes student-led IEPs

Through the Looking Glass (TLG)
A nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue.

World Institute on Disability
The World Institute on Disability is a nonprofit research, public policy and advocacy center dedicated to promoting the civil rights and full societal inclusion of people with disabilities.

Work Incentive Transition Network (WITN)
The purpose of this Network is to increase educators', family members', transition age students' and advocates' awareness of Social Security Work Incentives for school-aged youth with disabilities.