Education & Employment

Education

U.S. Department of Education

The pages for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) include information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires that a free and appropriate public education be provided to children with certain types of disabilities. OSERS also includes information on the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program, which oversees grant programs to assist people with disabilties obtain employment and live more independently.
The pages for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) include information on how the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act apply in educational settings, including institutions of higher education.
The pages for the Office for Federal Student Aid (FSA) include information on various financial aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study programs.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

This Center (formerly the National Information Center for Handicapped Children and Youth) offers information and publications on IDEA and other areas of interest to students, parents, and professionals. Several of the publications are available in Spanish. The web site also features a "State Resources" section listing state government offices, disability-related organizations, and parent groups.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

The CEC is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC offers professional development opportunities and resources, conferences, discussion forums, and journals and newsletters on classroom practices that work. CEC also operates the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education, and the National Clearinghouse on Careers in Special Education.

Employment

Locate your local One-Stop Employment Center

One-Stop Career Centers are designed to provide a full range of assistance to job seekers under one roof. The centers offer training referrals, career counseling, job listings, and similar employment-related services. You can also find a center by calling the Employment and Training Administration's toll-free help line at (877) 872-5627.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

ODEP (formerly the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities) provides information to assist businesses in implementing the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) for College Students with Disabilities is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the Department of Defense. The WRP aims to provide summer work experience, and in some cases full-time employment, for college students with disabilities.

CareerOneStop

This site is the nation's publicly funded resource for jobseekers, students, employers, and human resource professionals. It includes a comprehensive collection of links and information on training, jobseeking skills, employment law, local service providers and one-stop centers, and much more. It also provides a searchable database and facilitates on-line posting of resumes for jobseekers, and job openings for employers.