Resources and Publications

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Healthy Aging and Physical Disability conducts research and training activities to promote healthy aging for people with long-term physical disabilities, including muscular dystrophy (MD), multiple sclerosis (MS), post-polio syndrome (PPS), and spinal cord injury (SCI). The site also offers training materials and information, including articles and user-friendly fact sheets.

WGBH works to bring media access to television, movies, home video, and the Internet. They offer a variety of products and services related to captioning and/or video description for television programs and live broadcasts, web casts, theatrical releases, videos and DVDs for education and home entertainment.

The Institute promotes accessible and universal design of environments and products.

NOND works with students, nurses with disabilities, nursing programs and educators, and boards of professional regulation to promote the inclusion of students and nurses with disabilities in the nursing profession.

AAHD offers a portal to a wide variety of information on health care, including best practices, news and research, public policy and legal issues, and more.

WID offers a variety of information and training materials on health and wellness issues for medical providers, individuals with disabilities, and families.

This site offers information about some of the issues and risks faced by people with disabilities, and how health care providers, through appropriate interactions and services, can help address these issues. The CDC features information on preparedness for biological, chemical, and radiological threats. Information is posted in several languages.

The DOJ regulates and enforces Titles II and III of the ADA (except the public transportation provisions, which are enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation). Title II covers programs, activities, and services of state and local governments (also called public entities). Title III covers public accommodations (private businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores) and commercial facilities.

Toll Free ADA Information Line:
800-514-0301 Voice
800-514-0383 TTY

This publication from the American Foundation for the Blind is designed to help ensure access for patients who are blind, deaf-blind, or have other vision disabilities.

This checklist is designed to help identify some common exterior structural barriers at existing health care facilities.

DREDF offers publications and training on transportation and disability issues.

This agency provides information about the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and disability issues in air travel, and accepts consumer complaints.

Toll-Free Hotline For Air Travelers With Disabilities
7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time
1-800-778-4838 (Voice)
1-800-455-9880 (TTY)

AccessIT promotes the use of electronic and information technology (E&IT) for students and employees with disabilities in educational institutions at all academic levels. The web site features the “AccessIT Knowledge Base”, a searchable database of questions and answers regarding accessible E&IT, and the “Accessible University” mock site, a tool for demonstrating web accessibility principles.

This project, at the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland, promotes the development of accessible information and telecommunications technologies.

The IDEA Center is within the School of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo. It is dedicated to improving the design of environments and products so that they are more usable, safer, and more appealing to a broad range of people.

The HUD site includes information about the Fair Housing Act and other Federal laws that affect housing, as well as a variety of housing programs and funding assistance that may be available to people with disabilities.

This project, funded by HUD, provides training programs, materials, and technical guidance on the Fair Housing Act and its design and construction requirements.
Toll Free Telephone: 1-888-341-7781 V/TTY

This project promotes aging in place and independent living. The web site includes a National Directory of Home Modification Resources that can help locate sources of assistance across the country.

Search the Directory of Professionals with Home Building Designations (narrow your search by state or city) for those with the designation “CAPS” (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) to find builders with the skills to work with older and maturing adults to remodel their homes for aging-in-place.

  • 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.

This Center offers a wealth of information on IDEA and other areas of interest to students, parents, and professionals. Many publications are available in Spanish.

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.