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The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal
agency that makes recommendations to the President and Congress to improve the quality
of life for Americans with disabilities and their families. NCD first proposed a
civil rights law for people with disabilities, and the Americans with Disabilities
Act was signed into law in 1990. The purpose of NCD is to promote policies, programs,
practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with
disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower
individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent
living, inclusion and integration into society. For information, resources and
related links, go online to www.ncd.gov.
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit
membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A)
Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities.
The P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services for
people with disabilities in the U.S. The NDRN serves a wide range of people with
disabilities, including (but not limited to) those with cognitive, mental, sensory
and physical disabilities. For specific resources and assistance, go online to
www.ndrn.org.
The U.S. Department of Education provides training and information
to parents of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities, and to people
who work with parents to enable them to participate more fully and effectively with
professionals in meeting the educational needs of their children with disabilities.
For more information, visit www.ed.gov.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Fair Housing
and Equal Opportunity offers resources and answers questions about the housing rights
of people with disabilities, and the responsibilities of housing providers and
building and design professionals according to the federal law. For more information,
go online to www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/disabilities.
| Services and Resources for Consumers with Disabilities
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Relay Services
Telecommunications relay services link telephone conversations between
individuals who use standard voice telephones and those who use text
telephones (TTYs). Calls can be made from either type of telephone to the
other type through the relay service.
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Local Relay Services
States provide relay services for local and long distance calls. Please
consult your local telephone directory for information on the use, fees
(if any), services, and dialing instructions for that area.
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Federal Relay Service
The FRS, a program of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA),
provides access to TTY users who wish to conduct official business
nationwide with and within the federal government. The toll-free number
is 1-800-877-8339.
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For more information on relay communications or to obtain a brochure on
using the FRS, please call toll-free 1-800-877-0996.
Other Services
Consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who have a speech impairment,
and use a TTY may receive operator and directory assistance for calls by
calling toll-free 1-800-855-1155.
Check the introductory pages of your local telephone directory for
additional TTY services.
For a copy of the U.S. Government TTY Directory, please visit
www.gsa.gov/frs or write Federal
Citizen Information Center, Department TTY, Pueblo, CO 81009.
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National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542
202-707-5100, Fax: 202-707-0712
Toll free: 1-800-424-8567
E-mail: nls@loc.gov
Website: www.loc.gov/nls
NLS offers the free loan of recorded and braille books/magazines, music scores in
braille and large print, and specially designed playback equipment to residents of
the U.S. who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or
physical impairment. Service is also extended to eligible American citizens residing
abroad. While NLS administers the program, direct service is provided through
cooperating libraries. Contact NLS for application forms and addresses of
cooperating libraries.
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