Advocacy Resources

LAWS AND MANDATES

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to address and eliminate the major forms of discrimination faced daily by people with disabilities.  In order to qualify to receive the protections of the ADA, a person must satisfy at least one of three following conditions: Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as hearing, seeing, walking, breathing or speaking; Have a record of a substantially limiting impairment to a major life activity or; Be misperceived as having a substantially limiting impairment, which in reality is not substantial. For more information about Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) visit www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm.

ADA Information Line
(800) 514-0301 (voice)
(800) 514-0383 (TTY)
www.ada.gov

ADA and IT Technical Assistance Centers
(800) 949-4232 (voice/TTY)
www.adata.org

 

No Child Left Behind
President Bush has made education his number one domestic priority. On January 23, 2001, he sent his No Child Left Behind plan for comprehensive education reform to Congress. At that time, he asked members of Congress to engage in an active bipartisan debate on how we can use the federal role in education to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged and minority students and their peers. The result, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, embodies the four principles of President George W. Bush's education reform plan: stronger accountability for results, expanded flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work.

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml 

 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.

http://idea.ed.gov/

 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

 

ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

The Advocacy Center www.advocacycenter.com
The Advocacy Center provides consumer-driven services to support people with disabilities and their families in achieving their goals. Through information-sharing, individual advocacy support, independent service coordination and educational workshops, the Advocacy Center advances people's knowledge of resources and helps them to build life-long advocacy skills.  Their leadership development programs prepare individuals to help others as volunteer lay advocates, to influence policy, and to promote understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities.

590 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
Voice and TDD: (585) 546-1700
Toll Free (N.Y.S. only): (800)-650-4967
Fax: (585) 546-7069

Advocates for Children of New York - www.advocatesforchildren.org
For over 35 years Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. (AFC) has worked in partnership with New York City's most impoverished and vulnerable families to secure quality and equal public education services.  AFC works on behalf of children from infancy to age 21 who are at greatest risk for school-based discrimination and/or academic failure.  These include children with disabilities, ethnic minorities, immigrants, homeless children, foster care children, limited English proficient children and those living in poverty.  AFC provides a full range of services: free individual case advocacy, technical assistance, and training for parents, students, and professionals about children's educational entitlements and due process rights in New York City.

866-427-6033
151 W. 30th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-947-9779
Fax: 212-947-9790
Email: info@advocatesforchildren.org

 

American Arts Alliance - http://www.americanartsalliance.org
The American Arts Alliance and its member organizations advocate for federal policies that recognize and strengthen the performing arts.  The American Arts Alliance also educates elected officials and policy makers in Washington, DC on issues of importance to the performing arts community.  

1112 16th Street, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Tel:  202.207.3850
Fax: 202.833.1543
info@americanartsalliance.org

 

Americans for the Arts – www.artsusa.org
Americans for the Arts is a national organization for advancing the arts in America.  AFTA is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.

Washington, DC Office
1000 Vermont Avenue, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
T 202.371.2830
F 202.371.0424                                                   

New York City Office
One East 53rd Street
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
T 212.223.2787
F 212.980.4857

 

Autism Society of America - http://www.autism-society.org
Autism Society of America (ASA) provides resources and a voice for the autism community in education, advocacy, services, research, and support.  The ASA is committed to meaningful participation and self-determination in all aspects of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.  ASA accomplishes its ongoing mission through close collaboration with a successful network of chapters, members, and supporters.

Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3067
Phone: 301.657.0881 or 1.800.3AUTISM (1.800.328.8476)

 

Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) - http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/
The Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) works to increase the nation’s capacity to effectively resolve special education disputes, reducing the use of expensive adversarial processes.  CADRE works with state and local education and early intervention systems, parent centers, families and educators to improve programs and results for children with disabilities.  

P.O. Box 51360
Eugene, OR 97405-0906
3411-A Willamette Street
Eugene, OR 97405-5122
(541) 686-5060 (Voice)
(541) 686-5063 (FAX)
(541) 284-4740 (TTY)

 

DeafCensus - www.deafcensus.org
DeafCensus works to improve the quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing individuals by providing individuals, agencies and organizations access to a comprehensive statistical database that provides a multitude of services and resources for individuals with hearing loss.

PO Box 121889
San Diego, CA 92112

 

Early Childhood Direction Centers
The Early Childhood Direction Centers (ECDCs) provide information about programs and services for young children, ages birth through five, who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities and help families obtain services for their children.  Find an Early Childhood Direction Center near you by visiting http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/ecdc/locations.htm.

 

Early Childhood Research Institute on Inclusion - www.fpg.unc.edu/~ecrii
The Early Childhood Research Institute on Inclusion facilitates and presents barriers to the inclusion of disabled young children with typically developing peers.  They do so by developing, testing and disseminating strategies for supporting the participation of young children with disabilities and their families in classrooms and communities.

 

Families Together in New York State, Inc. - www.ftnys.org
Families Together is a non-profit, family-run organization that strives to establish a unified voice for children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and social challenges.  They work to ensure that every family has access to needed information, support, and services.  Families Together in NYS, Inc. is the state chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health and a 501c3 nonprofit corporation.

737 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
888.326-8644 (toll free information & referral line)
518.432-0333 office
518.434-6478 fax
info@ftnys.org

 

Family to Family - www.familytofamilynetwork.org
Family to Family Network has a vision for ALL children where education and families working together are making dreams become realities.  

 

IncludingAllKids.org - www.includingallkids.org
The IncludingAllKids.org website was created to assist youth organizations in actively engaging young people of all abilities.  Visitors to the site will find materials to help make the case for inclusion, understand the laws regarding inclusion, improve recruitment of program leaders and participants, evaluate inclusion programs, and draw on best practices.

 

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) - www.ldanatl.org
The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) is a non-profit grassroots organization whose members are individuals with learning disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them.  LDA and its state and local affiliates work with school systems to assure quality programs and better services for students with learning disabilities.  LDA also provides information and recommends action on pending legislation which may affect individuals with learning disabilities and/or their families.

 

Living Resources - www.livingresources.org
Living Resources works to promote and provide life enhancing services to individuals with disabilities in a safe and secure environment.

2176 Guilderland Avenue
Schenectady, NY  12306
(518) 346-8888

 

National Arts and Disability Center - http://nadc.ucla.edu
The National Arts and Disability Center (NADC) promotes the full inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community. The information provided by NADC is aimed at artists with disabilities, arts organizations, museums, arts administrators, disability organizations and agencies, performing arts organizations, art centers, universities, arts educators, and students. The NADC web site offers free resource directories, and annotated bibliographies on a wide array of subjects.

National Arts and Disability Center
Tarjan Center University of California Los Angeles
300 UCLA Medical Plaza Suite #3310
Los Angeles, CA 90095-6967
Phone: (310) 794-1141
Fax: (310) 794-1143

 

National Art Education Association - http://naea-reston.org/
The National Art Education Association promotes art education through professional development, service, advancement of knowledge, and leadership.  NAEA is a non-profit, educational organization.

National Art Education Association
1916 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1590
703-860-8000
Fax: 703-860-2960

 

National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities - http://www.nacdd.org
NACDD is a national organization for Developmental Disabilities Councils that advocates and works for change on behalf of people with developmental, as well as other disabilities and their families.  NACDD promotes national policy to enhance the quality of life for all people with Developmental Disabilities.

225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 650-B
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.739.4400
Fax: 703.739.6030
info@nacdd.org

 

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - www.nichcy.org
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities 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.  NICHCY offers bilingual services.

NICHCY
P.O. Box 1492   
Washington, DC 20013
1.800.695.0285 (Voice/TTY)
202.884.8200 (Voice/TTY)
202.884.8441 (Fax)
Email: nichcy@aed.org

 

New York State Alliance for Arts Education - www.nysaae.org
Advocacy is at the core of the NYSAAE mission.  NYSAAE has developed tools to support local, regional, and statewide advocacy for arts education.  Whether at a community meeting or at the state legislature, advocates can use the NYSAAE toolkits, position papers, research summaries and other resources to make the case for supportive policies.  In addition, NYSAAE provides advocacy alerts and e-newsletter to inform constituents on funding, policy issues and important changes in the state and national arenas.

P.O. Box 2217
Albany, NY 12220-0217
Phone: 518.473.0823
Toll Free: 1.800.ARTS.N.ED
TTY: 800.877.8973
Fax: 518.486.7329
AIM Screen Name: nysaae 

 

New York State ARC - http://www.nysarc.org
NYSARC, Inc. not only provides services, but as a parent and family led organization, is an advocate.  Local advocates work to provide services in New York State communities while NYSARC's State Office, located in suburban Albany, advocates with the State Legislature, the Governor, key State agencies and with advocates in Washington for laws, rules and regulations to promote equal rights, dignity and full citizenship for the individuals we serve.  To find the Arc near you, visit http://www.nysarc.org/chapters/nysarc-chapters-locator.asp.

NYSARC, Inc.
393 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054
(518) 439-8311
(518) 439-1893 (fax)
Email: info@nysarc.org
http://www.nysarc.org

 

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services - http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is committed to improving results and outcomes for people with disabilities of all ages.  In supporting President Bush's No Child Left Behind agenda and the New Freedom Initiative, OSERS provides a wide array of supports to parents and individuals, school districts and states in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation and research.

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-7100
Phone: (202) 245-7468

 

Parent to Parent of New York State - http://www.parenttoparentnys.org/
Parent to Parent of NYS is a place where families of individuals with special needs and the professionals who support them can meet and share information.

Parent to Parent of New York State
PO Box 1296
Tupper Lake, NY 12986
(518) 359-3006
1-866-727-6970
Fax: (518) 359-2151
Email: ed@parenttoparentnys.org

 

Partners in Policymaking - http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities created a training program called Partners in Policymaking® to teach parents and self-advocates the power of advocacy to change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work.  Partners in Policymaking offers online and classroom courses throughout the country.

590 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
585-546-1700 voice/tty
585-546-7069 fax
steel@advocacycenter.com

 

VSA - www.vsarts.org
VSA is an international, nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts.  

818 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20006
(P) 202-628-2800, 800-933-8721
(F) 202-429-0868
(TDD) 202-737-0645

 

Wrightslaw - http://www.wrightslaw.com
Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.  The site contains Advocacy Libraries and Law Libraries where you will find thousands of articles, cases, and free resources about dozens of topics, including working with people with certain disabilities, laws protecting people with disabilities, and how to obtain advocacy materials.

webmaster@wrightslaw.com