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Abilities Network
Provides customized services to children, adults, and families of differing abilities that focus on one-on-one supports to foster broadened, more inclusive communities through education, training, and advocacy.
Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc.
As the federally designated Parent Training and Information Center for Washington DC, AJE’s mission is to empower families, youth, and the community to be effective advocates to ensure that children and youth, particularly those who have special needs, receive access to appropriate education and health services. AJE provides:
American Association of People with Disabilities
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities.
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
AAIDD promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. AAIDD's goals are to:
AAIDD's principles* (or core values) that guide the achievement of its goals relative to its mission are to:
ASAN's Toolkit for Advocates on Health Care and the Transition to Adulthood
ASAN is proud to announce the release of a comprehensive toolkit to empower people with disabilities and their families to manage their own health care as they transition to adulthood. Transition to Adulthood: A Health Care Guide for Youth and Families provides people with people with disabilities and their families with information on how to choose a source of health care coverage, create a health care support network, integrate health care transition goals into their educational plans, and manage their health care. It includes useful guides and worksheets for keeping track of health care records, making doctor's appointments, and talking to doctors about health concerns. The toolkit also includes Model Supported Health Care Decision-Making Legislation and its accompanying Questions and Answers resource. The model legislation, which ASAN developed in collaboration with the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, would enable people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to name a trusted person to help communicate with doctors, understand health care information, make informed decisions about health care, and/or carry out daily health-related activities. Advocates can use this model legislation when talking to their state legislators about ways to support people make independent health care decisions. ASAN's policy brief, The Transition to Adulthood for Youth with ID/DD: A review of research, policy, and next steps, discusses the range of challenges facing youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they approach adulthood, including potential loss of health care coverage, barriers to obtaining adult-oriented care, and lack of support in making health care decisions. It outlines several policy recommendations to eliminate these barriers, including expanding access to income-based Medicaid coverage, increased education and awareness of the importance of transition and decision-making supports, and increased research on best practices in transition planning.
Autism Society of Northern Virginia
Promotes the general welfare of children and adults with autism and provides support for their families; supports the education, vocational training and recreation of those with autism; aids in the collection and dissemination of information to parents, professionals and the general public and fosters and reinforces awareness and respect for the rights of parents as the prime case managers in their autistic family member’s life.
Bread for the City Legal Clinic NW
Volunteer and staff attorneys represent clients in landlord-tenant disputes, represent claimants who have been denied Social Security disability benefits, advocate in fair hearings for other public benefits, and represent clients in family law matters including child custody, civil protection orders, child support and divorce.
Crime Victims Compensation Program/The Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Washington, DC The Superior Court of the District of Columbia possesses experienced victim advocates, dedicated toward assisting innocent victims and their families who suffer hardship from extreme acts of violence. The Crime Victims Compenstation Program, CVCP, assists victims and their families, with crime-related expenses such as furneral and burial costs, medical and mental health costs, lost wages, loss of support and services, clean up of a crime scene and, for victims of domestic violence, the cost of temporary shelter.
DC Developmental Disabilities Council
The DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) advocates for the inclusion, empowerment, and independence of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) We are dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF)
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to provide critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military wounded—physically or psychologically—after defending our safety and our freedom. We achieve this mission by:
The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health
A grassroots coalition of family and advocacy organizations dedicated to improving services for children with mental health needs and their families and building a network of information and support for families across Maryland.
Mental Health and Mental Retardation Branch/DC Superior Court
The Mental Health and Mental Health Retardation Branch of the Family Court processes matters relating to the hospitalization and continued treatment of persons adjudicated mentally retarded or in need of mental health services. Contact this branch for a court appointed attorney.
National Center for Autism Resources & Education (nCARE) WE SUPPORT NATIONALLY:
THIS IS DONE THROUGH:
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) works to improve the lives of people with disabilities by guarding against abuse; advocating for basic rights; and ensuring accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems. NDRN is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
Native American Parent Technical Assistance Center (NAPTAC)
NAPTAC is a project within Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs (EPICS) to provide training and technical assistance to Parent Training Information Centers (PTI’s) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRC’s) nationwide on providing effective, culturally responsive services to Native American families of children with disabilities, as well as youth with disabilities. The NAPTAC will also provide differentiated, targeted and intensive technical assistance to parent centers requesting additional support to build their capacity to provide services to Native American parents of children with disabilities, as well as youth with disabilities. The staff and consultants of the NAPTAC are experienced professionals who are ready to provide each Parent Center with high quality services and supports. A Technical Assistance Specialist will be assigned a region as organized by the Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers (RPTACs). EPICS is a non-profit entity providing training, advocacy and supports to families of Native American children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. EPICS houses the Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) and the NAPTAC.
Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities is an advocacy organization that is an independent catalyst for change in the lives of people of all ages with developmental disabilities. Quality Trust advocates, monitors, provides legal education, training, and family navigation to residents of the District of Columbia.
TASH
TASH is a civil rights organization for, and of, people with mental disability, autism, cerebral palsy, physical disabilities and other conditions that make full integration a challenge. Although TASH 's work is often on a global level, equally, if not more significant, is the direct support we provide individuals with disabilities and their family members. We serve as a clearinghouse for the daily reporting of treatment that is unjust or that limits opportunity. We provide information, linkage with resources, expert assistance toward fighting inequities, legal expertise, and targeted advocacy. We bring to the assistance of individuals in need, the backing of our thousands of members worldwide and the support of a national organization committed to social justice for all people.
UDC-DCSL
UDC School of Law students and faculty supervisors in the Juvenile and Special Education Law Clinic represent children and parents (or guardians) primarily in special education matters. Over the past sixteen years, the clinic faculty pioneered and developed a nationally-acclaimed approach to addressing the problems of delinquency by supplementing traditional delinquency representation with, where appropriate, advocacy to address the special education needs of the children who are the subject of those delinquency proceedings.
University Legal Services
University Legal Services (ULS) is a private, non-profit organization that serves as the District of Columbia's federally mandated protection and advocacy system for the human, legal, and service rights of people with disabilities. Our services include information and referral; education and training; investigation of reported or suspected instances of abuse or neglect; individual advocacy; systemic litigation; and technical assistance regarding legislative and policy concerns. All services are offered free of charge to eligible individuals in accordance with ULS' available resources and policies.
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