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Viking Union Box 222
516 High St.
Bellingham, WA 98225

info@wwusda.org

Students for Disability Awareness

Non-Governmental Organizations Resources

By: Brittany Otter and Corwin Hoffman
Students for Disability Awareness
Western Washington University

Published on August 17, 2008

PDF | MS Word

Viking Union Box 222
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9106

info@wwusda.org
http://www.wwusda.org

American or National Non-Governmental Organizations:

Council for Disability Awareness

http://www.disabilitycanhappen.org/

What they do:

The Council for Disability Awareness (CDA) is a non-profit group formed in 2005 to help the American workforce become aware of the growing instances of disability and its financial consequences. The CDA engages in communications, research and education to provide information and helpful resources to wage earners, their families, the media, employers and others who are concerned about disability and the impact it can have on wage earners and their families. The Council for Disability Awareness will empower working Americans with the information they need to make responsible decisions to prepare for and maintain financial security should they become disabled and unable to earn a living.

Goals:

• To expand public awareness of the growing likelihood of disability occurring among the working population;
• To increase public knowledge about the financial hardship that disability can have on wage earners and their families;
• To demonstrate the value of planning responsibly in the event disability prevents one from earning a living.

Relevance to SDA:
CDA has general resources and info available at http://www.disabilitycanhappen.org/resources/default.asp.

National Council for Support of Disability Issues                                       

 http://www.ncsd.org/

What they do:

The National Council for Support of Disability Issues shall help advance public attitudes, awareness, respect, consideration and advance the success of people with all types of disabilities.

Goals:

• Provide a means for sharing information, resources, ideas and support between people with all types of disabilities.
• Encourage and support people with disabilities to reach economic independence through opportunities in education, information and employment.
• Provide information on current legislative issues that affect civil rights, accessibility and the safety of people with disabilities.
• Encourage voting for whatever candidate supports their own interests.
• Advance the attitudes, consideration, respect and awareness of the general public toward people with all disabilities, by demonstrating their abilities, talents, skills and capability.
• Increase self-esteem and strive for perfection in their own manner within their disability.
• Increase enjoyment of life through sports, recreation and social interaction.

Relevance to SDA:

NCSD has scholarship resources that can be found at http://www.ncsd.org/scholar/scholarship.htm.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities               

http://www.nichcy.org/

What they do:

We are the center that provides information to the nation on: disabilities in children and youth; programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities; IDEA, the nation's special education law; No Child Left Behind, the nation's general education law; and research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities. 

Relevance to SDA:

NICHCY has a list of disability-related vocabulary (accessibility, autism, blindness, etc.) with extensive information on each that can be found at http://www.nichcy.org/resources/default.asp. 

DB-LINK

http://www.dblink.org

What they do:

DB-LINK's extensive resources and personalized service are available to anyone needing information about, or for, deaf-blind children. Our goal is to help parents, teachers, and others by providing them with information to foster the skills, strategies and confidence necessary to nurture and empower deaf-blind children. DB-LINK is a federally-funded service that identifies, coordinates, and disseminates, at no cost, information related to children and youth from birth through 21 years of age. DB-LINK is a vehicle through which access to information about children and youth who are deaf-blind is made available to individuals who are deaf-blind, their families, the service community, and the general public. DB-LINK strives to provide access to information through a balanced presentation of resources to meet the unique informational needs of individuals. People who are deaf-blind have a right to lead fulfilling lives. We believe an informed populace is essential to the realization of this right.

Goals:

• DB-LINK responds to requests for information. Our staff of information specialists will help you find the articles, books, videos or consultants that you need.
• DB-LINK serves as a centralized hub of information about deaf-blindness through our extensive library of materials and our website (www.dblink.org), home to in-depth information on numerous topics and comprehensive information about research in the field.
• DB-LINK develops and disseminates products that showcase current knowledge and practice. Our products include Deaf-Blind Perspectives, 10 topical publications and materials developed and disseminated in collaboration with researchers and practitioners.

Relevance to SDA:

Many resources are available to assist deaf-blind individuals, families, and service providers. These links provide up-to-date information about these community resources. For other kinds of information on deaf-blindness, consult http://www.dblink.org/lib/lib.htm.

HEATH Resource Center

http://www.heath.gwu.edu

What they do:

The HEATH Resource Center of The George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, is an online clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities. Support in part from Lumina Foundation for Education enables the clearinghouse to serve as an information exchange about educational support services, policies, procedures, adaptations, and opportunities at American campuses, career-technical schools, and other postsecondary training entities.

In operation since 1984, HEATH was acquired by The George Washington University on October 1, 2001, and responds annually to thousands of electronic, mail, and telephone inquiries. HEATH resource papers, fact sheets, guides, and directories focus on topics such as accessibility, career, development, classroom and laboratory adaptations, financial aid, independent living, transition resources, training and postsecondary education, career-technical education, and rehabilitation.

The HEATH Resource Center gathers and disseminates information to help people with disabilities reach their full potential through postsecondary education and training.

Goals:

• Participate in:
• National conferences
• Training sessions
• Workshops
• Develop training modules
•  Publish:
• Resource papers
• Fact sheets
• Directories
• Website information
• Foster a network of professionals in the arena of disability issues

Relevance to SDA:

HEATH is an online information and resource for students with disabilities, their families, and professionals. HEATH staff and contributors write research papers, fact sheets, and other materials to assist its visitors in learning about postsecondary options for students with disabilities.  Periodically they will announce scholarships and grants at http://www.heath.gwu.edu/taxonomy/term/3.

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition

http://www.ncset.org

What they do:

The National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) coordinates national resources, offers technical assistance, and disseminates information related to secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities in order to create opportunities for youth to achieve successful futures. NCSET was established to create opportunities for youth with disabilities to achieve successful futures. NCSET provides technical assistance and disseminates information focused on four major areas of national significance for youth with disabilities and their families.

Goals:

• Providing students with disabilities with improved access and success in the secondary education curriculum.
• Ensuring that students achieve positive postschool results in accessing postsecondary education, meaningful employment, independent living and participation in all aspects of community life.
• Supporting student and family participation in educational and postschool decision making and planning.
• Improving collaboration and system linkages at all levels through the development of broad-based partnerships and networks at the national, state, and local levels.

Relevance to SDA:

NCSET has a list of publications that would be relevant to research papers on disability-related issues. This list can be found at http://www.ncset.org/publications/default.asp.

United States International Council on Disabilities

http://www.usicd.org

What they do:

USICD catalyzes and helps focus the energy, expertise and resources of the US disability community and the US government to optimize their impact on improving the lives of and circumstances of people with disabilities worldwide. USICD is viewed by the US disability community and the US government as a key coordinating body and an indispensable resource in achieving their goals in support of people with disabilities internationally.

Goals:

• To champion the international disability agenda within the United States disability community by raising grassroots awareness of global disability issues, promoting understanding of their relevance to our national disability rights movement, and facilitating opportunities to participate in efforts to improve the lives and circumstances of people with disabilities worldwide.
• To have a measurable impact on US government policy, plans and programs by communicating effectively with government agencies and decision-makers involved in international work, promoting disability awareness and establishing USICD as a critical collaborating partner in their ongoing operations:
• Identifying strategic priorities and assisting in the planning and development of international policy, legislation and programs.
• Facilitating collaboration between government agencies and USICD members who  can provide crucial technical assistance, especially at the program implementation level.
• To strengthen USICD’s presence as a key member of the global disability rights community and contribute to the planning and success of international advocacy campaigns by engaging actively in the international disability movement, in particular, in the work of RI and DPI, and the IDA/CRPD forum.
• To be a reliable information resource for the US disability community on current plans, activities and initiatives with respect to international disability issues within the US government, international institutions (United Nations, World Bank, etc.) and the global disability movement.

Relevance to SDA:

USICD has a list of current publications that could easily be used for research papers on disability-related issues. This list can be found at http://www.usicd.org/publications.htm.

American Association of People with Disabilities

http://www.aapd.com

What they do:

AAPD was launched on July 25 1995 by some 550 individuals from all 50 states to represent the 50 million Americans with disabilities and help them achieve economic and other benefits from private-sector organizations for full inclusion in American society. They believe in unity, leadership, and impact where people with disabilities unite under the same cause and take lead. The purpose of AAPD is to further independence and inclusion, foster leadership, support nondiscrimination laws and measures, to educated public and government policy makers on disability issues, and create programs to enhance the lives of people with disabilities, like poverty reduction and unemployment.

Goals:
                                                             

• Exercise power through civic engagement and participation
• Work with cross-disability coalitions
• Make voting accessible
• Advocate timely implementation of Americans with Disabilities Act and Help America Vote Act
• Promote civic and public community service of people with disabilities
• Achieve economic success
• Transform public and private disabilities benefits and insurance policies
• Aggregate disability market for stronger case in Universal Design
• Leverage partnerships so there are more financial opportunities to live independently
• Transform society by changing attitudes and improving access
• Work with policy makers to enforce civil rights and accessibility laws in US
• Launch an public awareness campaign
• Develop and market disability awareness materials for variety of audiences
• Collaborate with like-minded organizations
• Grow mentoring and career explorations programs
• Support Children with disabilities and their families
• Build disability pride and culture identity
• Growing support of disability pride parades and campaigns
•  Collaborate with leaders to spread information about disability history

Relevance to SDA:

Students for Disability Awareness can play an integral role in educating public policy makers by rallying behind policies that we support or opposing those that we do not. For instance, AAPD is very supportive of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which we can spread awareness and support of. Group and corporate membership for AAPD is available. Individual membership is $15.00 annually per person.

American Council of the Blind

http://www.acb.org

What they do:

Founded in 1961, ACB aims to “improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people” through providing services such as toll-free information, scholarship assistance, public education and awareness training, and leadership and legislative training. ACB hopes to elevate the cultural, social, and economic lives of the blind as well as enhance their overall quality of life. They focus on improvements in educational and rehabilitation facilities and cooperating with public and private institutions and organizations. They support a large array of issues, for instance, improved healthcare and training for airlines personnel on how to serve blind passengers.

Goals:

• Promote and encourage a greater level of understanding and awareness regarding visual impairments
• Encourage greater self-determinations and discussion amongst visually impaired people
• Work to significantly improve Blind Rehabilitation Services and improve access to all other services
• Inform and educated visually impaired people of the local and national legislative issues

Relevance to SDA:

Some services that ACB provides, like toll-free information and alternative format texts can be incorporated into Students for Disability Awareness services and programs. SDA can also partner with ACB in advocating the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Randolph-Sheppard Act (preservation and expansion of employment in fast-food services). Informational meetings and public advocacy can bring attention to the issues and continual conversation with government policy makers can bring about some of the necessary change. When allying with ACB we also align with many State organizations and special interest organizations, like the National Alliance of Blind Students.

ABILITY Awareness

http://www.abilityawareness.org/

What they do:

ABILITY’s programs and projects are committed to ensuring accessibility and visibility for people with disabilities in society. They offer many volunteer opportunities for people with disabilities to become active in their community and build towards homes that are accommodating to their owners. The website has many great links and resources to education, housing, employment, advocacy, health and wellness, and many other issue areas.

Relevance to SDA:

ABILITY is looking for volunteers and donations to continue their house building. Students for Disability Awareness could partner with ABILITY Awareness in a fundraiser or benefit for the organization since their materials and funding is non-profit and not federally funded. SDA could create an all campus event to raise money for materials for building accessible houses that directly impact the lives of people with disabilities. The benefit would be valuable also in the sense that it would spread awareness of accessibility issues and the actual needs of people with disabilities.

Abilities!

www.abilitiesonline.org

What they do:

The vision of Abilities! is to pursue an equal opportunity world where people with disabilities will retain respect and dignity and have access to all the benefits in our society. Abilities! works toward independence, active involvement, and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities. They aim to do this through "education, training, leadership, and example” and by influencing policies and legislation. They provide learning and technology centers to elevate quality of education and rehabilitation, as well as research operations to enhance knowledge on practices and programs that lead to inclusion and opportunity.

Relevance to SDA:

Students for Disability Awareness can partner with Abilities! to provide the “education, training, leadership, and example” they advocate to carry ideas forward. SDA can hold educational seminars, lead events and become active in helping people with disabilities in our community be more independent and active members of Western.

SHHH Hearing Loss Association of America

www.shhh.org

What they do:

HLAA is nationally and globally active, impacting accessibility, public policy, awareness and research everywhere. The mission of HLAA is “to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy, and support.” Through the website and the online newsletter, Hearing Loss, HLAA provides information to family members, consumers, business professionals, and policy makers and brings them together to learn about hearing loss and accessibility issues at national and regional conventions. HLAA values education, advocacy and self-help as methods to fulfilling their mission.

Goals:

• Education-HLAA’s  wants to educate ourselves, our families, friends, coworkers, teachers, hearing health care providers, industry, government, and others about hearing loss
• To make the best informed decision when dealing with hearing loss
• Advocacy- improving communication access for those who experience hearing loss
• Help implement state and federal laws
• Testify before state, federal, and legislative bodies on issues concerning people with hearing loss
• Encourage research on improving technology of hearing aids, assistive hearing devices and other technology
• Promotes new technology, media research, and legislation
• Advocates for communication access in workplace, hotels, and other public areas
• Self-Help- HLAA believes that people who have hearing loss can help themselves to improve their lives and live independently
• Provides support in setting up local support groups

Relevance to SDA:

Students for Disability Awareness can partner with HLAA to bring awareness of hearing loss and accessibility issues that are of top priority. Workshops and seminars as well as advocating for training and education on worksites can assist HLAA in their advocacy work.

International Non-Governmental Organizations also in the United States:

Adaptive Environments

http://www.adaptenv.org/index.php?option=Home

What they do:

Adaptive Environments is an international organization that focuses on the aspects of universal design to meet legally required accessibility whether it is interior design, industrial design, architecture, landscape, or media. Their core belief is that design plays an important role in our daily lives influencing “our sense of confidence, comfort, and control.” AE promote design that works for everyone no matter their age or ability, offers easy-to-access information on civil rights and liberties, and education and consultation about best practices that go beyond the legally required accessibility to improve the lives of everyone.

Relevance to SDA:

AE is looking for interns and volunteers to help showcase their new location. Contact Maura Parente at mparente@adaptiveenvironments.org to apply and see the website for more information.

Disabled Peoples’ International

http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/

What they do:

DPI is a collaboration of national organizations and assemblies dedicated to promote human rights of people with disabilities through full participation and inclusion, economic and social integration, and equalization of opportunities. It was established in 1981 and works with assemblies in over 130 countries across the globe. One of DPI’s goals is to see the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities ratified and the website offers a Ratification Toolkit and Implementation Toolkit that provides information about the CRPD and how to push your country forward into its ultimate ratification and implementation of the convention.

Inclusion International

http://www.inclusion-international.org/

Inclusion International is a network of family-based organizations to improve the lives and promote human rights of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. They work toward inclusion and participation of people with intellectual disabilities into their societies, as valued neighbors and citizens of their community. II takes part in the Global Campaign for Education, advocating equal education for people with intellectual disabilities.

International Council for Caring Communities

http://www.international-iccc.org/

What they do:

ICCC works to bring organizations, universities, the government, and the United Nations together to work towards inclusion and activity. Their focus areas are transportation, communication, urban design, tourism, education and training, health, housing, technology, public-private partnerships, and recreation.

International Federation of Hard of Hearing People

http://www.ifhoh.org/

What they do:

IFHOH was founded in 1977 to promote greater understanding and cooperation, supports and takes part in research and investigation into hearing problems and their solutions, and solutions to such problems as communication, employment and education for hard of hearing people.

Landmine Survivors Network (Survivor Corps)

http://www.landminesurvivors.org

What they do:

LSN was founded in 1997 by two landmine survivors and has since been dedicated to link landmine survivors to healthcare and rehabilitation, work to ban landmines, and provide social and economic reintegration programs. They work to help landmine survivors recover physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. LSN has provided more than 60,000 home and hospital peer visits and has reached out to survivors in 43 of the 87most landmine infested countries of the world.

Goals:

• Health: Deliver peer counseling and trauma recovery services to improve the health of survivors.
• Opportunity: Build economic independence for survivors and their communities.
• Rights: Empower survivors to promote the fundamental rights of all people with disabilities.

Mental Disability Rights International

http://www.mdri.org/mdri-message.html

What they do:

MDRI is dedicated to promoting the full human rights of people with mental disabilities and their inclusion into society. The website has great resources on both the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other mental disability resources. Their most recent report from Serbia, Torment not Treatment: Serbia’s segregation and abuse of children and adults with disabilities (November 2007) is a shocking revelation of abuses of people with mental disabilities in institutions and elsewhere. Revealing conditions like these brings awareness to the need for larger and more abundant implementation of disability rights around the world.

Rehabilitation International

http://www.riglobal.org/

What they do:

RI was founded in 1922 and is made of people with disabilities, service providers, government agencies and advocates, and researchers promoting and advocating the implementation of the inclusion of people with disabilities. There are over 700 affiliate organizations in 100 countries that make RI and actively participates in the International Disability Alliance (IDA). RI works toward better implementation of services and programs to enhance rehabilitation and inclusion for people with disabilities. They support and promote international collaborations such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. RI provides training and technical assistance to governments, professionals, and persons with disabilities, works with UN to implement and advocate for existing international agreements, implements projects, particularly in developing countries, publishing comprehensive periodical and reports, organizing World Congresses and Regional Conferences, and distributing information and audiovisual materials  for education to more than 150 countries.

Goals:

• To fulfill RI’s Vision and Mission through projects together with RI member organizations, Regions, and Commissions
• To follow international developments in the disability field and represent RI at global meetings and at the United Nations
• To provide services to RI members, including networking, information resources and organization of Governing Assemblies, Executive Committee meetings, Regional Conferences, and World Congresses

Support Coalition International

http://www.mindfreedom.org

What they do:

MindFreedom International is a nonprofit organization that unites 100 sponsor and affiliate grassroots groups with thousands of individual members to win human rights and alternatives for people labeled with psychiatric disabilities.

In a spirit of mutual cooperation, MindFreedom leads a nonviolent revolution of freedom, equality, truth and human rights that unites people affected by the mental health system with movements for justice everywhere.

The majority of MindFreedom's members are people who have experienced human rights violations in the mental health system, or psychiatric survivors. However, everyone who supports human rights is invited and encouraged to join and become active leaders. Mental health professionals and workers, advocates and attorneys, family members and the general public are all active as equal members and leaders in the MindFreedom International family. Our sponsor and affiliate groups are among the key leading organizations to change the mental health system.

Goals:

• Win human rights campaigns in mental health.
• Challenge abuse by the psychiatric drug industry.
• Support the self-determination of psychiatric survivors and mental health consumers.
• Promote safe, humane and effective options in mental health.

Relevance to SDA:

MindFreedom has a directory of information about mental health, psychiatry, human rights & alternatives. These are items gathered by MindFreedom with background about the mental health system, the psychiatric profession, advocacy, humane alternatives and more. This can be found at http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb.

References:

American Non-Governmental Organizations:

www.shhh.org. Hearing Loss Association of America. 26 May 2008. <http://www.shhh.org>