Other Offices & Organizations

Youth Power is a New York State network hosted by Families Together in NYS that is run for and by youth and young adults. Youth Power works to ensure young people have meaningful involvement on all levels of the services they receive. They ensure the availability of Peer Support through persistent advocacy, technical assistance and by offering training and education opportunities.

Youth voice is critical for systems change. Youth Power provides a venue for youth to have their voices heard and work for systems change.

Youth Organizing (YO!) connects, organizes and educates youth with disabilities! YO! gives youth leadership opportunities, social networks, resources and more. YO! is for youth with disabilities to be PROUD of who we are and what we can achieve!

Youth in Progress is comprised of youth in care in New York State that promote positive youth development and support adult/youth partnerships and adolescents in achieving successful outcomes. 

Their mission is to enhance and advance the lives of today’s and tomorrow’s foster youth by supporting our sense of self and responsibility. To do this, they pledge to educate everyone involved in the various systems Youth In Progress members represent, to the realities of this experience.

YAI supports people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving the fullest life possible by creating new opportunities for living, loving, working and learning. YAI is a network of agencies with programs that empower and enhance the lives of thousands of people we support and their families. 

Wrightslaw strives to provide accurate, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy on Wrigthslaw.com.

Wrightslaw began on November 9, 1993, when the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on Shannon Carter’s behalf in Florence County v. Shannon Carter.  To learn more, read Three Generations at the Supreme Court and The Untold Story.

Pete Wright is an attorney who represents children with special educational needs. Pete struggled with learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dysgraphia and ADHD. His determination to help children grew out of his own educational experiences.

Pam Wright is a psychotherapist who has worked with children and families since the 1970’s. Her training and experience in clinical psychology and clinical social work give her a unique perspective on parent-child-school dynamics, problems, and solutions. Pam has written extensively about raising, educating, and advocating for children with disabilities.

Pete and Pam Wright live on Stingray Point, Deltaville, Virginia. Read more about Pete & Pam – Up Close and Personal.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), WorkforceGPS is an interactive online communication and learning technical assistance (TA) platform that was designed to communicate with and build the capacity of the public workforce investment system to develop and implement innovative approaches to workforce and economic development in the 21^st Century economy. This website, which offers resources and peer-to-peer connection, supplements other TA provided by ETA’s national and regional staff to help the public workforce system, education professionals, and business.

On WorkforceGPS you will find:

• A committed community of public workforce system stakeholders;
• TA resources, online learning opportunities, and space to connect and collaborate with peers on topics that interest you;
• A tool for all your TA tools as you search, save, share, and navigate to success today!

The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) is a caring and comprehensive community resource for almost 5,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 350 vulnerable children.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the nation’s primary income security agency. It administers the federal retirement, survivors and disability insurance programs, as well as the program of supplemental security income (SSI) for the aged, blind and disabled, and performs certain functions with respect to the black lung benefits program. SSA also directs the aid to the aged, blind and disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) promotes inclusion, ensures equity and creates opportunity to improve results and outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, youth and adults with disabilities to actively participate in all aspects of life.

The mission of OSERS is to provide leadership to achieve full integration and participation in society of people with disabilities by ensuring equal access to, and excellence in, education, employment and community living.  OSERS supports programs that help educate children and youth with disabilities, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.

The Office of Head Start (OHS) manages grant funding and oversees local agencies providing Head Start services. Head Start promotes school readiness of children under 5 from low-income families through education, health, social and other services. OHS also provides federal policy direction and a training and technical assistance (T/TA) system to assist grantees in providing comprehensive services to eligible young children and their families.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was authorized by Congress in the Department of Labor’s FY 2001 appropriation. The ODEP works to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated into the 21st Century workforce. The ODEP develops and influences disability employment-related policies and practices and sponsors numerous policy and technical assistance resources. ODEP is a sub-cabinet level policy agency in the Department of Labor. 

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) administers federal government job training and worker dislocation programs, federal grants to states for public employment service programs, and unemployment insurance benefits. These services are primarily provided through state and local workforce development systems.

The US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). EAC is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as audits the use of HAVA funds. Other responsibilities include maintaining the national mail voter registration form developed in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. HAVA established the Standards Board and the Board of Advisors to advise EAC. The law also established the Technical Guidelines Development Committee to assist EAC in the development of voluntary voting system guidelines. The four EAC commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. EAC is required to submit an annual report to Congress as well as testify periodically about HAVA progress and related issues. The commission also holds public meetings and hearings to inform the public about its progress and activities.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees home ownership, low-income housing assistance, fair housing laws, homelessness, aid for distressed neighborhoods, and housing development.

The Disability Rights Section works to achieve equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the United States by implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Through its multi-faceted approach toward achieving compliance with the ADA, this Section works to make this goal a reality. The Section’s enforcement, certification, regulatory, coordination, and technical assistance activities, required by the ADA, combined with an innovative mediation program and a technical assistance grant program, provide a cost-effective and dynamic approach for carrying out the ADA’s mandates. The Section also carries out responsibilities under Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, and Executive Order 12250.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) works to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. They fulfill that mission by providing for effective health and human services fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services.

The mission of the US Department of Education (ED) is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED’s 4,400 employees and $68 billion budget are dedicated to:

• Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
• Collecting data on America’s schools and disseminating research.
• Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
• Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is made up of 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees who provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services that promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities with partnerships, funding, guidance, training and technical assistance.

The United Way of New York State (UWNYS) originated in 1975 to give United Ways a voice in state government. The UWNYS works to advance public policy and oversees shared grant initiatives like 2-1-1 and EITC and supports many other shared projects.

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

The Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, medical diagnostic equipment, and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

The Transitions Research and Training Center (RTC) is located within the SPARC, and its offices are fully ADA compliant. One of the most innovative aspects of the Transitions RTC is its strong history of recruiting and employing youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions; currently 8 of the 14 staff positions are held by youth and young adult staff members with lived mental health experience.

The Prevention Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (ECCPASA) delivers research-driven education, prevention, intervention programs, and services to promote and support the health and wellness of individuals, families and communities by focusing on solutions to alcohol and other drug misuses, addiction, and unhealthy behaviors.

ECCPASA provides leadership to fight the stigma associated with addiction through public education, policy awareness, liaison with health professionals and recovering communities, and by providing objective information, referral, and linkages to those in need.

The Shield Institute works in partnership with families and communities to enable children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual/developmental disabilities to lead meaningful lives.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network was established to improve access to care, treatment, and services for traumatized children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events.

Vision

For all young people to reach adulthood healthy, supported, and with full opportunity to thrive in life.

Mission

To improve foster care and end youth homelessness.

The Medicaid Reference Desk is a tool to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find out what Medicaid can offer them.

The Legal Aid Society is a private, not-for-profit legal services organization, the oldest and largest in the nation, dedicated since 1876 to providing quality legal representation to low-income New Yorkers. It is dedicated to one simple but powerful belief: that no New Yorker should be denied access to justice because of poverty.

The Society handles 300,000 individual cases and matters annually and provides a comprehensive range of legal services in three areas: the Civil, Criminal and Juvenile Rights Practices. Unlike the Society’s Criminal and Juvenile Rights Practices, which are constitutionally mandated and supported by government, the Civil Practice relies heavily on private contributions.

The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

Core Values

People First – The Arc believes that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are defined by their own strengths, abilities and inherent value, not by their disability.

Equity – The Arc believes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are entitled to the respect, dignity, equality, safety, and security accorded to other members of society, and are equal before the law.

Community – The Arc believes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities belong in the community and have fundamental moral, civil and constitutional rights to be fully included and actively participate in all aspects of society.

Self-determination – The Arc believes in self-determination and self-advocacy.  People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with appropriate resources and supports, can make decisions about their own lives and must be heard on issues that affect their well-being.

Diversity – The Arc believes that society in general and The Arc in particular benefit from the contributions of people with diverse personal characteristics (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, age, geographic location, sexual orientation, gender and type of disability)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

Student Advocacy promotes a more complete understanding educational needs and then advocates for maximum educational benefits under the law. Their goal is to change the youth’s services and supports at school, to the extent that the law supports, so that the school becomes a positive place for the child’s development and education.

Starbridge partners with people who have disabilities, their families, and others who support them, to realize fulfilling possibilities in education, employment, health, and community living. They provide an array of supports and services to individuals and families across the lifespan including:

• Family and Youth Education
• Family Advocacy
• Community Living
• Employment Services
• Service Coordination
• Benefits Advisement
• Fiscal Intermediary Services
• Family Reimbursement

Starbridge provides supports in Monroe and other counties in the Finger Lakes and Western NY regions (varies by program). Starbridge’s Parent Training & Information Center (PTIC) serves all of New York State except the five boroughs of New York City and Long Island.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States. The SUNY system consists of 64 institutions, including research universities, academic medical centers, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, colleges of technology and an online learning network. SUNY serves nearly 1.3 million students, including nearly 600,000 in credit bearing courses and programs and more than 700,000 through continuing education and community outreach programs. 

Sinergia works with people with disabilities and their families. Sinergia has a longstanding reputation for working with underserved families, many with limited English proficiency, who may be homeless or impoverished, or who may be struggling with insecure housing and income, lack of services and discrimination based on ethnicity, language status, immigration status, gender or poverty.

This website promotes self-advocacy by providing tools and resources for individuals with disabilities. It offers online presentations about different topics including healthy living, relationships, and the importance of staying organized. Additionally, it features videos from self-advocates, as well as an interactive map that identifies self-advocacy groups in each state.

• Set up local Self-Advocacy chapters, re-energize existing groups, and share information on local and national Self-Advocacy issues. SANYS also assists individuals in joining local Self-Advocacy Groups.
• Members of SANYS’ AmeriCorps project provide free presentations, titled Our Experience is the Best Teacher, to educate our peers, communities, and staff about our lives and what we have to offer.
• SANYS’ Speakers Bureau offers presentations that stress no community is complete unless everyone has the opportunity to be involved. SANYS’ Speakers Bureau speaks to community groups, schools, faith organizations, and agency boards of directors.
• SANYS provides training and support for self-determination and provides guidance to help individuals discover new ways to create the life they envision.

Search for college scholarships by academic major, athletics, art, ethnicity, first in family, GPA, minority, music, state, name or type. You can also search for grants, financial aid info, and more. 

Safer Society Foundation grew out of the work of Fay Honey Knopp who saw that effective responses to sexual violence occurred at the societal level. Today sexual abuse is viewed as a public health issue. Safer Society works to engage survivors, treatment professionals, persons with sexual behavior problems, family members, friends, policy makers, researchers and educators in creating evidence-based strategies for preventing sexual abuse, supporting those who have been abused, and managing those who have abused. We believe in the ability of people to make positive changes in their lives. 

View Map of SUNY and CUNY locations. Our maps provide links to disability information for each school.

Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris systemically disrupts the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do – helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate.

Prevent Child Abuse New York (PCANY) provides leadership and works with state and local officials to develop laws and programs that protect children.

PCANY partners with dozens of organizations across the state to train thousands of volunteers and professionals to support parents and families. PCANY also helps people find parenting courses, support groups, medical and legal aid and abuse treatment.

Prevent Child Abuse New York is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1980, as the Federation on Child Abuse and Neglect.

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids was founded in 1986 as an anti-drug advertising campaign and formerly known as the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. the Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing teen substance abuse and helping families impacted by addiction.

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids translates the science of teen drug use and addiction for families, providing parents with direct support to prevent and cope with teen drug and alcohol abuse.

Parent to Parent of NYS is where families of individuals with special needs and the professionals who serve them can meet and share information.

Parent Network of WNY is a not-for-profit agency that provides education and resources for families of individuals with special needs (birth through adulthood) and for professionals.

Parent Network of WNY provides 1-on-1 Support and education through resources, workshops and support groups to assist families of individuals with disabilities to understand their disability and navigate the support service system. 

The majority of Parent Network of WNY’s staff and board members are parents of children with disabilities, which provides a unique perspective, personal experience and empathy to the families we reach.

The mission of PACER Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) 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. Founded in 1977, PACER Center was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents and families facing similar challenges. PACER is staffed primarily by parents of children with disabilities and works in coalition with 18 disability organizations.

The Office of Health Disparities Prevention (OMH-HDP) works with individuals, communities, government, and public/private partners. The mission of OMH-HDP is to ensure high quality, affordable and accessible health care for all New Yorkers.

In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded Upstate New York with a four year, four million dollar grant to support broad-scale operation, expansion and integration of Systems of Care (SOC) through the creation of sustainable infrastructure.

Originally called the Upstate New York System of Care Expansion Project is now a permanent cross-county collaborative network known as NYS Success: Connecting Systems of Care with Children and Families. With the assistance of a designated implementation & planning team, all 55 upstate counties are expected to successfully integrate and sustain the SOC philosophy within their own communities. 

Over the course of four years (beginning in 2012), each county in New York State will be brought into the NYS Success Network as a member of one of four learning collaborative phases. Each year, the team and existing mentor counties (those who previously received their own local SOC grant from SAMHSA) within the NYS Success Network will work together with the learning collaborative phases to assist in the building and strengthening of their own System of Care.

Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides cash benefits and/or medical care for workers who are injured or become ill as a direct result of their job.

Employers pay for this insurance, and shall not require the employee to contribute to the cost of compensation. Weekly cash benefits and medical care are paid by the employer’s insurance carrier, as directed by the Workers’ Compensation Board. The Workers’ Compensation Board is a state agency that processes the claims. If Board intervention is necessary, it will determine whether that insurer will reimburse for cash benefits and/or medical care, and the amounts payable.

In a workers’ compensation case, no one party is determined to be at fault. The amount that a claimant receives is not decreased by his/her carelessness, nor increased by an employer’s fault. However, a worker loses his/her right to workers’ compensation if the injury results solely from his or her intoxication from drugs or alcohol, or from the intent to injure him/herself or someone else.

A claim is paid if the employer or insurance carrier agrees that the injury or illness is work-related. If the employer or insurance carrier disputes the claim, no cash benefits are paid until the workers’ compensation law judge decides who is right. If a worker is not receiving benefits because the employer or insurance carrier is arguing that the injury is not job-related, he or she may be eligible for disability benefits in the meantime. Any payments made under the Disability Program, however, will be subtracted from future workers’ compensation awards.

If you can return to work but your injury prevents you from earning the same wages you once did, you may be entitled to a benefit that will make up two-thirds of the difference. You may also return to work in light or alternate duty before you are fully healed.

The NYS Special Education Task Force (NYSETF) was originally formed as a local task force in the Capital Region and focused on improving the educational outcomes of students with disabilities. The task force purposefully promotes participation and collaboration among all stakeholders, including parents, advocates, attorneys, school personnel, service providers, educators, government representatives and individuals with disabilities. 

The NYS Parent Network is a coordinated group of organizations that provide support and information for parents of children with disabilities via a seamless delivery system throughout New York State.

The State of New York’s commitment to its innocent victims of violent crime began with the creation of the Crime Victims Compensation Board in 1966, now named the Office of Victim Services (OVS). The enabling legislation to establish this Board was in response to public outcry over a particularly horrendous crime in which a young man was murdered in a subway, leaving behind a widow and a fifteen-month old child. In fact, the New York State Crime Victims Board was one of the first independent state agencies established for crime victim compensation. As of June 22, 2010, the Crime Victims Board (CVB) became the Office of Victim Services (OVS) and has been providing compensation and other services to one of the most vulnerable populations in our State – innocent victims of crime – for more than 40 years.

The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals.

OTDA’s functions include: Providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State’s child support enforcement program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations.

Benefits and services are offered through the social services districts. Please use this following link to contact your county department of social services office.

The Office of Special Education is part of the NYS Education Department. It The Office of Special Education, including its eight regional offices, works to promote educational equity and excellence for students with disabilities through its roles and responsibilities to: oversee the implementation of federal and State laws and policy for students with disabilities; provide general supervision and monitoring of all public and private schools serving New York State preschool and school-age students with disabilities; establish a broad network of technical assistance centers and providers to work directly with parents and school districts to provide current information and high quality professional development and technical assistance to improve results for students with disabilities; ensure a system of due process, including special education mediation and impartial hearings; and meet with stakeholders through the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for Special Education Services. Within the regional offices, Regional Associates, who are employees of the State Education Department, are assigned to specific school districts and special education programs. The Regional Associate oversees preschool and school-age special education services, and serves as a resource to parents, school district personnel and private providers.

New York State has a large, multi-faceted mental health system that serves more than 700,000 individuals each year. The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) operates psychiatric centers across the state, and also regulates, certifies and oversees more than 4,500 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.

For questions about mental health services, to find a mental health service provider or to make a complaint, call OMH Customer Relations toll-free at 1-800-597-8481.

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) serves New York’s public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of our children, families and communities. They achieve results by setting and enforcing policies, building partnerships, and funding and providing quality services.

OCFS is dedicated to improving the integration of services for New York’s children, youth, families and vulnerable populations; to promoting their development; and to protecting them from violence, neglect, abuse and abandonment. The agency provides a system of family support, juvenile justice, child care and child welfare services that promote the safety and well-being of children and adults. Among the operating principles across all program areas are that services should be developmentally appropriate, family-centered and family-driven, community-based, locally responsive, and evidence and outcome based.

The Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) works with individuals, communities, government, and public/private partners. The mission of OASAS is to improve the lives of all New Yorkers by leading a comprehensive premier system of addiction services for prevention, treatment, and recovery.

New York City Office
501 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10018-5903

The mission of the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence is to improve New York State’s response to and prevention of domestic violence with the goal of enhancing the safety of all New Yorkers in their intimate and family relationships.

The New York State Office for the Aging’s (NYSOFA’s) home and community-based programs provide older persons access to a well-planned, coordinated package of in-home and other supportive services designed to support and supplement informal care. The NYSOFA’s overall goal is to improve access to, and availability of, appropriate and cost-effective non-medical support services for older individuals to maximize their ability to age in their community and avoid higher levels of care and publicly financed care. NYSOFA achieves this through our network of 59 local Offices for the Aging.

The NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is responsible for coordinating services for more than 128,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurological impairments. It provides services directly and through a network of approximately 750 nonprofit service providing agencies, with about 80 percent of services provided by the private nonprofits and 20 percent provided by state-run services.

The Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs (Justice Center) was established in 2013 by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act. The agency was created to restore public trust in the institutions and individuals charged with caring for vulnerable populations by protecting the health, safety, and dignity of all people with special needs.

The NYS Office for New Americans (ONA) provides free services to all immigrants in New York State. To locate ONA services and providers near you visit: www.newamericans.ny.gov or call the New York State New Americans Hotline: 1-800-566-7636 (Monday to Friday 9 am – 8 pm). All call information is confidential. Assistance is available in 200+ languages.

Opportunity Centers

ONA’s statewide network of community-based Opportunity Centers provides free and confidential services including Naturalization support & civics test preparation; Free legal services through the ONA Legal Counsels; Informational community workshops & seminars. 

ONA Community Navigators

ONA Immigrant Community Navigators are a grassroots network of individuals who help to link immigration-related services and information to those most in need.

Golden Door

The Golden Door program offers mental health support groups for immigrant families across the state and connects to other free resources.

Ramirez June Initiative

The ONA Developmental Disabilities Navigator builds the capacity of ONA’s community partners to provide targeted assistance to new Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). If you would like to connect with this initiative or schedule a presentation contact NewAmericans@dos.ny.gov

Cell-Ed

ONA offers Mobile English Language Learning through Cell-Ed, a program that allows you to learn English on the go, anywhere, anytime on your mobile device. Cell-Ed is a free and confidential English-language learning program for all language levels available on any type of cell phone.

Legal Services

ONA Legal Counsels regularly hold legal consultation days at each ONA Opportunity Centers and can provide you with support for naturalization as well as other legal services.

The Liberty Defense Project (LDP) provides legal services to all immigrants, regardless of their status. LDP partners across New York State provide the following: Free legal services including consultations and direct representation for all immigrants, including those facing deportation; Urgent legal assistance through the LDP Regional Rapid Response program; Know Your Rights trainings; Law-related support to families of those who are in removal proceedings or have been deported.

The NYS Independent Living Council (NYSILC) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, consumer controlled organization. The Council is composed of 25 appointees from around the state, a majority of whom have disabilities, representing diverse cultures and needs in the state. NYSILC is responsible for jointly developing, monitoring and evaluating the 3-year Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The State Plan partners include NYSILC, the NYS Education Department/Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services/NYS Commission for the Blind (NYSCB).

Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) are established under Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. NYSILC conducts surveys, develops reports, and has an active committee structure that addresses significant issues impacting New Yorkers with disabilities. Council meetings are held quarterly in Troy and are open to the public.

The mission of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is to build, preserve and protect affordable housing and home ownership across the state.

HCR is comprised of five agencies:

• HCR Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR)
  The largest employer of the five HCR agencies, DHCR is an executive branch agency responsible for the supervision, maintenance, and development of affordable low-and moderate-income housing in New York State.
• HCR Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HFTC)
  HTFC is a public benefit corporation managed by DHCR staff. HTFC has experienced significant staff growth since 2013 with the creation of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR).
• HCR Housing Finance Agency (HFA)
  HFA’s mission is to create and preserve high quality affordable multifamily rental housing that serves communities across the State of New York. HFA is the #1 affordable housing issuer in the nation.
• HCR State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA)
  Offers five mortgage programs to assist first-time homebuyers with the purchase of a home in New York State.
• HCR Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC)
  Creates homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families by providing grants to local governments, not-for-profits, and charitable organizations; thus helping subsidize the cost of newly constructed houses and the renovation of existing housing.

The Higher Education Services Corporation is a New York State agency that helps people pay for college by administering the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and guaranteeing student loans.

The NYS Executive Chamber is the Office of the Governor of New York State. Governors retain sovereign police power, are not subordinate to the federal authorities except by laws provided by the enumerated powers section of the federal constitution, and serve as the political and ceremonial head of the state. Many of the functions of the Governor’s office include: policy development, legal counsel, legislative relations, communications, appointments, scheduling, intergovernmental relations, and emergency management/homeland security.

New York is the first state in the nation to enact a Human Rights Law, which affords every citizen “an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life.” This law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, credit, place of public accommodations, and non-sectarian educational institutions, based on age, race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status disability, military status, and other specified classes.

The NYS Division of Human Rights was created to enforce this important law. The mission of the agency is to ensure that ” every individual . . . has an equal opportunity to participate fully in the economic, cultural and intellectual life of the State.” It does so in many ways, including the following:

• Through the vigorous prosecution of unlawful discriminatory practices;
• Through the receipt, investigation, and resolution of complaints of discrimination;
• Through the creation of studies, programs, and campaigns designed to, among other things, inform and educate the public on the effects of discrimination and the rights and obligations under the law; and
• Through the development of human rights policies and proposed legislation for the State.

The mission of the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) is to ensure customers – those who live, work and travel in New York State – have a safe, efficient, balanced and environmentally sound transportation system. To attain its mission the responsibilities, functions and duties of the Department of Transportation include:  

The NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYSDDPC) is a federally-funded, New York State agency working under the direction of the Governor. The NYSDDPC is one of 55 Councils on Developmental Disabilities which exist in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and American Samoa.

The NYSDDPC does not provide direct support services to individuals. The agency indirectly benefits individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and family members by developing and funding innovative, disability-related demonstration projects designed to identify new ways to improve the lives of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families.

The NYS Department of Labor vigorously enforces state labor laws to give businesses that obey the law an even break. They work aggressively to ensure a fair wage for all workers and protect the safety and health of workers and the public. They also help the unemployed via temporary payments (unemployment insurance). In addition, they link job seekers with employers and guide workers to training that will keep New York strong in the world economy.

The mission of the NYS Department of Health is:

To protect, improve and promote the health, productivity and well being of all New Yorkers.

The vision of the NYS Department of Health is:

New Yorkers will be the healthiest people in the world – living in communities that promote health, protected from health threats, and having access to quality, evidence-based, cost-effective health services.

The NYS Education Department is part of the University of the State of New York (USNY), one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States.

The mission of the NYS Education Department is to raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity of all the people in New York and provide leadership for a system that yields the best educated people in the world.

The Department of Civil Service acts as the central personnel agency for New York State. Their goal is to promote best practice personnel systems by providing innovative, cost-effective and efficient solutions to ensure hiring and promotion based on fitness, merit and equality of opportunity.

The Department:

• partners with State agencies to offer personnel recruitment and placement services, including developing minimum job qualifications, classifying positions, salary level determinations, developing examinations and administering performance assessment tests;
• ensures the State’s policy of full and equal opportunity for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans at all occupational levels of State government;
• administers the Governor’s programs to hire persons/veterans with disabilities to place individuals with disabilities in State jobs;
• assists local governments by providing technical assistance to over 100 State municipal civil service agencies covering over 387,000 local government employees;
• administers the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) which provides health insurance benefits to over a million enrollees and their families;
• provides access to workforce management and merit system administration information.

During its 30-year history, the Council on Children and Families (Council) has served as a broker, innovator and change agent among the state’s health, education and human services agencies. The unique value of the Council is its ability to provide a comprehensive, cross-systems perspective critical for the development and implementation of strategies impacting the availability, accessibility and quality of services for children and families.

The mission of the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) is to enhance the lives of New Yorkers with Developmental Disabilities and their families through programs that promote self-advocacy, participation, and inclusion in all facets of community life.

The New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition (NYSCRC) is a partnership of dedicated organizations and individuals committed to supporting the millions of informal caregivers throughout the state. The coalition and its members are passionate about helping connect caregivers with the information, training and support services critical to successfully caring for a loved one at home.  NYSCRC members are committed to addressing the current and future needs of those engaged in family caregiving across the lifespan.

Because statistics show that the number of traditional caregivers are decreasing in many parts of the state, a more innovative approach to supporting those who care for our most frail and vulnerable population is needed.  With the help of the Lifespan Respite Grant, NYSCRC is working to develop a comprehensive, sustainable program with the goal of training hundreds of volunteer respite providers throughout the state.  Greater availability to respite services will give caregivers more frequent breaks while helping them better manage the physical and emotional stresses that come with caring for an aging and/or disabled loved one. 

NYSCRC is committed to helping caregivers of all types across the age and disability spectrum.  By supporting important initiatives like the volunteer respite program while sharing best practices from across New York, NYSCRC will take an active role in improving the lives of informal caregivers throughout their community, and the over four million family caregivers across the state. 

Funded with a federal grant for Lifespan Respite awarded by the Administration for Community Living to the New York State Office for the Aging.

The National Wraparound Initiative (NWI) works to build the capacity of states, communities, organizations and individuals to contribute to the provision of high quality wraparound. NWI provides:

• support for community-level planning and implementation;
• promotes professional development of wraparound staff;
• ensures accountability; and
• sustains a more vibrant and interactive national community of practice.

The NWI is a collaboration among three research institutions:

• Portland State University serves as host of the NWI, convener of the community of practice, and a primary locus of research and policy on wraparound implementation support.
• The Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, in Baltimore, is the hub of training and workforce support for the National Wraparound Implementation Center (NWIC).
• The University of Washington School of Medicine, which serves as the accountability “wing” of the NWI, development and dissemination center for the tools of the Wraparound Fidelity Assessment System, and primary evaluation partner.

The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) was created in 1996 to provide the City of New York with high-quality youth and family programming. Our central task is administering available city, state, and federal funds to effective community-based organizations. 

DYCD supports New York City youth and their families by funding a wide range of high-quality youth and community development programs, including:

• Working as the Community Action Agency for New York City, which is the local grantee for the Federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). CSBG funding supports a wide variety of programs that address the conditions of poverty.
• Building and expanding on partnerships that generate innovative and practical programs for youth, their families and communities. 

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the leading 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States advocating on behalf of and supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Reaching millions every year, we campaign for prevention, improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders. We work with partners and volunteers to develop programs and tools to help everyone who seeks assistance.

The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to an improved world for individuals with Down syndrome. Founded in 1973, NDSC is the leading national resource of support and information for anyone touched by or seeking to learn about Down syndrome, from the moment of prenatal diagnosis through adulthood.

The purpose of the NDSC is to promote the interests of people with Down syndrome and their families through advocacy, public awareness, and information. By empowering individuals and families from all demographic backgrounds, NDSC reshapes the way people understand and experience Down syndrome.

The National Disability Institute (NDI), a nonprofit corporation, works to drive social impact to build a better economic future for people with disabilities and their families. Their priorities include:

• Improving collaboration across federal agencies to advance a better economic future for individuals with disabilities.
• Aligning public policy to promote work, saving, and asset accumulation.
• Developing and documenting pathways to improved economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities.

National Autism Association (NAA) New York Metro works to educate and empower those in the autism community in the New York Metro area.

This organization no longer exists, but their publications are still useful to our audience.

Description:The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve all youth, including youth with disabilities and other disconnected youth. The NCWD/Youth, created in 2001, is composed of partners with expertise in education, youth development, disability, employment, workforce development and family issues. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the NCWD/Youth is housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, D.C. NCWD/Youth offers a range of technical assistance services to state and local workforce investment boards, youth councils and other workforce development system youth programs.

The mission of the National Autism Association is to respond to the most urgent needs of the autism community, providing real help and hope so that all affected can reach their full potential.

The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) will work with states, federal partners, and stakeholders to promote wellness, recovery, and resiliency for individuals with mental health conditions or co-occurring mental health and substance-related disorders across all ages and cultural groups, including youth, older persons, veterans, and their families, and people under the jurisdiction of the court. NASMHPD informs its members on current and emerging public policy issues, educates on research findings and best practices, provides consultation and technical assistance, collaborates with key stakeholders, and facilitates state-to-state sharing.  NASMHPD’s vision is that mental health is universally perceived as essential to overall health and well-being with services that are available, accessible, and of high quality. Wellness, resiliency, and recovery are the overall goals and certain fundamental values guide NASMHPD in its mission:

• Human rights and health equity
• Health and wellness
• Recovery-oriented and person-centered system
• Empowerment
• Community education
• Least restrictive and most integrated setting
• Zero suicide
• Working collaboratively
• Effective and efficient management and accountability
• Culturally and linguistically responsive
• High-quality workforce capacity

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is a professional association that represents more than 25,000 school psychologists, graduate students, and related professionals throughout the United States and 25 other countries. The world’s largest organization of school psychologists, NASP works to advance effective practices to improve students’ learning, behavior, and mental health. Their vision is that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and throughout life.

The National Council for Behavioral Health is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and addictions treatment and services. Together with our 3,000 member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First Aid USA and more than 1.5 million Americans have been trained.

LGBT Foundation, formerly known as The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (The LGF), is a national charity delivering a wide range of services to lesbian, gay and bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.

​The Long Island Advocacy Center, Inc. (LIAC) is a private, non-for-profit agency dedicated to protecting the legal rights of students and individuals with disabilities.

LawHelpNY is an online tool for helping low-income New Yorkers solve their legal problems. 

LawHelpNY is a comprehensive source of legal referral information in the state and includes:

• More than 600 free legal service projects & organizations with their contact & intake information.
• Over 4,000 Know Your Rights and self-help resources covering 16 areas of law.
• Extensive links to social service, advocacy and government organizations, information about the court system.
• Spanish mirror website and legal rights resources in more than 30 languages.

The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) is composed of representatives from 20 federal departments and agencies that support programs and services focusing on youth. The IWGYP seeks to promote achievement of positive results for at-risk youth through the following activities:

• Promoting enhanced collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels, including with faith-based and other community organizations, as well as among families, schools and communities, in order to leverage existing resources and improve outcomes;
• Disseminating information about critical resources, including evidence-based programs, to assist interested citizens and decision-makers, particularly at the community level, to plan, implement, and participate in effective strategies for at-risk youth;
• Developing an overarching strategic plan for federal youth policy, as well as recommendations for improving the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of youth programs, using input from community stakeholders, including youth; and
• Producing a federal website to promote effective community-based efforts to reduce the factors that put youth at risk and to provide high-quality services to at-risk youth.

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the statistics, research, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education. IES is independent and non-partisan. Their mission is to provide scientific evidence on education practice and policy and to share this information in formats that are useful and accessible to educators, parents, policymakers, researchers, and the public.

IncludeNYC, formerly Resources for Children with Special Needs, provides free help to families and young people through age of 26, with any disability, in all five boroughs in NYC. Specifically, IncludeNYC helps in the following areas: learning and school; parenting and advocacy; family support; working and adult life; and friendship and activities.

Healthy Transitions NY Teaches New York youth with developmental disabilities (ages 14-25 years) skills for transitioning from pediatric to adult health care and provides tools for care coordination, keeping a health summary and setting priorities during the transition process.

Healthy Families America (HFA) is a nationally recognized evidence-based home visiting program model designed to work with overburdened families who are at-risk for adverse childhood experiences, including child maltreatment. This home visiting model is best equipped to work with families who may have histories of trauma, intimate partner violence, mental health and/or substance abuse issues. HFA services begin prenatally or right after the birth of a baby and are offered voluntarily, intensively and over the long-term (3 to 5 years after the birth of the baby).

Friends of Recovery – NY is comprised of NYS residents who are in long-term recovery from addiction, their families, friends and allies. They represent all sectors of the community, all regions of the state, and the numerous and diverse paths to recovery. They actively organize and mobilize the recovery community so as to speak effectively with one voice. 

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling. There are no dues or fees for Gamblers Anonymous membership; they are self-supporting through members contributions. Gamblers Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause. Their primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.

FosterClub is dedicated to providing a peer support network for children and youth in foster care. FosterClub website, publications, and events provide a youth-friendly network which helps the voices of young people to be heard.

FosterClub provides the tools, training, and a forum to help young people secure a brighter future for themselves and the foster care system.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a bipartisan federal agency with a unique dual mission to protect consumers and promote competition. The primary FTC functions are: developing policy and research tools through hearings, workshops, and conferences; protecting consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketplace through conducting investigations, suing companies and people that violate the law, developing rules to ensure a vibrant marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities; and promoting market competition by enforcing antitrust laws.

The mission of the Family Caregiver Alliance – National Center on Caregiving is to improve the quality of life for caregivers and those they care for through information, services, and advocacy.

Families Together in NYS (FTNYS) is a statewide, parent-governed, non-profit organization, that grew out of the efforts of many people who were concerned about children’s mental health services in New York State and across the nation. A 1990 study estimated that of the general population of children in the U.S., about 14% (between 9.5 and 13.6 million children), have an emotional, behavioral or mental disorder. In that same year, the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) reported 19,000 children being served, and another 19,000 waiting for services in state operated programs alone. These were alarming numbers.

DocTranslator provides a free document translating service using Google Translate. This website currently supports 104 language translations from multiple formats including Word, PDFs, PowerPoint, Excel and text files. Accuracy is not guaranteed, but documents should be understandable for individuals with a primary language other than English.

Disability Rights New York (DRNY) is the Protection & Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program (P&A/CAP) for persons with disabilities in New York. As the P&A/CAP for New York, DRNY advocates for the civil and legal rights for New Yorkers with disabilities.

DRNY provides free legal and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities. Working tirelessly to protect and advance the rights of children and adults with disabilities, DRNY is committed to enabling those we serve to exercise their own life choices and fully participate in community life. New York residents with disabilities can contact DRNY for assistance with problems directly related to their disabilities. DRNY investigates complaints and provides direct assistance to callers with disability-related issues under the terms of its federal grants and its annual goals and priorities.

Disabled-World.Com is an independent health and disability news source. The primary focus of Disabled World is to provide up to date information through informative articles, disability news and educational videos. 

The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. The mission of DREDF is to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.

The DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through technology and education. It promotes awareness and accessibility—in both the classroom and the workplace—to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities and make our communities more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive.

The Department of Community Mental Health plans, oversees and coordinates services for individuals – and their families – with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

Community, Work & Independence, Inc. offers innovative supports and services empowering people with differing abilities and needs to discover their potential and pursue the lives they envision.

The goal of the AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org website is to be the comprehensive accreditation resource for anyone in the process of selecting a college. Today’s higher education marketplace offers a mind-boggling array of opportunities ranging from community colleges to online PhD programs. Accredited schools are recognized by employers, other schools, and the federal government, which controls financial aid dollars. Information provided on this site will help students make informed decisions about which accredited colleges to attend.

The City of New York is a government entity for New York City. City of New York operates many programs, initiatives and mobile apps.

The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.

The Children’s Trust leads statewide efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect by supporting parents and strengthening families. Supported by private, state, and federal funding, the Children’s Trust invests in Massachusetts’ most precious resources – children and families.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides credible information on all aspects of protecting and improving quality of health and wellness.

Center for Online Education (COE) developed OnlineColleges.net in 2009 as a response to the global surge in online education. As the demand for resources grew, OnlineColleges.net began creating more original content and funding proprietary research. In early 2016 OnlineColleges.net relaunched as the Center for Online Education to better reflect the breadth of knowledge and information on our site.

The Center for Online Education’s team of internal experts and collaborative partners is dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date, accurate information about the online learning experience. COE provides resources like online college rankings, student guides, and in-depth analyses of current online education trends fill a gap in the resources available to help students, instructors, and parents. These include resources and tips on topics ranging from financial aid and accreditation, to study skills and career planning.

The Center for Disability Rights, Inc. (CDR) is a not-for-profit, community-based advocacy and service organization for people with all types of disabilities. Incorporated as an all volunteer organization in 1990, CDR began providing services and grew throughout the 1990s. CDR became an independent organization on September 1, 1998.  

Catholic Family Center (CFC) services include family strengthening programs, refugee resettlement, emergency housing and shelters, aging and adult, adoption and foster care, substance abuse treatment, behavioral health services and advocacy.

Because CFC is able to continually change to meet the needs of our community, CFC serves more than 33,000 people each year throughout Monroe and Wayne counties.

Casey Family Programs is the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America. Their mission is to provide and improve — and ultimately prevent the need for — foster care.

The Bravehearts are a youth movement founded in Westchester County, NY by young adults who have struggled with a variety of issues and have had experience with foster care, residential placement, substance abuse, homelessness, mental health and/or the juvenile justice systems. They are determined to rise above their situations and Motivate Others through Voices of Experience (M.O.V.E). The Bravehearts are currently working side-by-side with those in county government and private agencies to change the very programs and services they participated in, and despite difficult circumstances, ask for nothing in return, but to make a better future for those who will follow in their footsteps.

The Bravehearts work with the Westchester County Department of Social Services and a cross-system Steering Committee in Westchester Building Futures, a federally funded planning grant aimed at redesigning the current service system to keep youth who are in or have returned from foster care from becoming homeless.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a nonprofit organization run by and for Autistic people. ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the Autistic community run by and for Autistic Americans, advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of Autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power. ASAN’s members and supporters include Autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators and friends. Organization’s activities include public policy advocacy, the development of Autistic cultural activities, and leadership trainings for Autistic self-advocates, and providing information about autism, disability rights, and systems change to the public through a number of different educational, cultural, and advocacy related projects.

Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

The Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region promotes the active and informed involvement of family members and the individual with autism in the planning of individualized, appropriate services and support.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety and mood disorders, OCD, and PTSD and to improving the lives of all people who suffer from them through education, practice, and research.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) is devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children at risk of poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes. As a private philanthropy based in Baltimore and working across the country, AECF provides grants that help federal agencies, states, counties, cities and neighborhoods create more innovative, cost-effective responses to the issues that negatively affect children: poverty, unnecessary disconnection from family and communities with limited access to opportunity.

The mission of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is to remove barriers, create solutions, and expand possibilities so people with vision loss can achieve their full potential. AFB activities:

• Connect families to knowledge and support
• Guide the creation of more accessible products
• Offer publications and eLearning courses to educate professionals in the field
• Help make landmark legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act a reality

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network consists of 10 regional centers and an ADA Knowledge Translation Center. The regional centers are distributed throughout the United States to provide local assistance and foster implementation of the ADA. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), the ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of business, government and individuals at local, regional and national levels. The Network is not an enforcement or regulatory agency, but a helpful resource supporting the ADA’s mission to “make it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality.”

The mission of the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is to advance health promotion and wellness initiatives for children and adults with disabilities. AAHD accomplishes its mission through advocacy, education, public awareness, and research efforts at the federal, state, and community levels.

AAHD is a cross-disability national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to promoting health and wellness initiatives for children and adults with disabilities.

AAHD is the only national organization specifically dedicated to integrating public health and disability into the overall public health agenda.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a catalyst for children’s health. The Alliance works with schools, companies, community organizations, healthcare professionals and families to transform the conditions and systems that lead to healthier kids.

The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and to empower kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. Founded by the American Heart Association and Clinton Foundation, we are collaborative change-makers working to create a nation where children thrive. We collaborate with and empower people and leaders to transform the environments that can make a difference in a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities.

Alcohol Rehab Guide is an online resource created to help people struggling with an alcohol addiction find treatment when they need it most. The team at ARG is made up of recovering addicts and industry professionals who are dedicated to helping everyone find hope in recovery.

The Albany County Department of Social Services is responsible for addressing the social service needs of the poor and the near poor, as well as those who are unable to care for and protect themselves, while at the same time upholding the laws that govern the Department.

It is their mission to improve the quality of life in Albany County by helping people to help themselves and to help those incapable of acting on their own behalf. They do this by offering a broad range of protective, preventative, social and financial services. It is their hope that by offering citizens employment and training services, child support services and effective case management, they will be able to leave the Public Assistance rolls and move to independence.

Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) leads the charge for access to quality education for ALL New York City students, focusing on the children and youth who are most likely to experience failure or discrimination in school because of poverty, disability, race, ethnicity, immigrant or English Language Learner status, homelessness, sexual orientation, gender identity, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

The AFC staff of attorneys and education specialists help families by providing free legal and advocacy services, including representation at school-related hearings and appeals, and teaching families what they need to know to stand up for their children’s educational rights. AFC also works to change education policy so that the public school system serves ALL children of New York City effectively.

The Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York was founded in 1975 as the New York State Citizens Coalition. The Coalition provides support, information and advocacy for foster, kinship and adoptive families in the Empire State and the professionals who serve them.

ACR Health is a not-for-profit, community-based organization providing a range of support services to individuals with chronic diseases, including HIV/AIDS, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma, substance use disorders, and serious mental illnesses, with the goal of positive health outcomes.

Furthermore ACR Health provides a wide variety of targeted prevention and sexual health services to individuals, from youth through adulthood, as well as to community groups and organizations, with the goal of informed and responsible decision making. ACR Health, a legacy of AIDS Community Resources, serves the counties of Cayuga, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence in New York State.

ACR Health offers its services to anyone without discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, political affiliation, marital status, or mode of transmission.  ACR Health is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) starts with the presumption that all individuals with disabilities can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services and should have opportunities to work in jobs integrated within their communities. Vocational rehabilitation counselors guide individuals through service programs they need to reach their employment goal.

ACCES-VR assists individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development.