Legal Assistance

General legal resources

American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) The ABA Standing Committee on LAMP manages Operation Enduring LAMP, a consortium of state and local bar associations that recruits volunteer attorneys to assist military Legal Assistance Attorneys with civil law cases affecting service members.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information Line The Department of Justice provides information about the ADA through a toll-free ADA Information Line. This service permits businesses, State and local governments, or others to call and ask questions about general or specific ADA requirements including the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The ADA Information Line can be reached at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY).

Consumer Sentinel/Military Consumer Sentinel/Military is a joint initiative by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Defense (DoD) designed to help improve consumer protection for service members, their families, and DoD civilians. The Consumer Sentinel website allows service members, DoD civilians, and their families to file consumer complaints, which are used by over 500 law enforcement organizations to target cases for prosecution and other enforcement measures. The Consumer Sentinel/Military website contains separate sections for each branch of Service and allows members of the military community to file a consumer complaint.

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) COPAA is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization of attorneys, special education advocates, and parents. COPAA's mission is to be a national voice for special education rights and to promote excellence in advocacy. The COPAA website provides information on the organization, public policy, awards and scholarships, training, and contact information for the organization. The website also contains tools for locating an attorney/advocate and locating additional resources.

Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights The Office for Civil Rights ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. Included in the rights enforced by the Office for Civil Rights are those that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance and in public entities. The Office for Civil Rights website provides information on programs and initiatives, office contacts, reports and resources, news, summaries of rights, prevention and answers to frequently asked questions.

Independent living

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) The Office of FHEO administers and enforces federal laws and establishes policies that make sure all Americans have equal access to the housing of their choice. The Office of FHEO also operates the Housing Discrimination Hotline, available by email, or at 1-800-669-9777 (Voice) or 1-800-927-9275 (TTY).

International Association for Life Quality (IALQ) IALQ is an initiative of the Training, Education, and Research Institute (TERI Inc.) that helps educate, advocate and propagate programs and services focusing on quality of life issues without being hindered by geographical boundaries.  The IALQ website provides information on the initiative, resources related to the awareness campaign, and a description of life span services.

Over the Rainbow Association Over the Rainbow Association is an Illinois not-for-profit association dedicated to providing independent living solutions and employment opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities. The Over the Rainbow website contains a description of the organization, a newsletter, descriptions of the organization's apartments and programs, and a listing of upcoming events.

Self-Advocacy Online Self-Advocacy Online in an educational and networking website for those involved in making change for people with disabilities. The Self-Advocacy website contains a learning center and provides a tool to locate self-advocates.

National and state resources

Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice enforces the law and defends the interests of the United States according to the law, ensures public safety against threats foreign and domestic, provides federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seeks just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and ensures fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) DRA is a nonprofit legal center whose mission is to ensure dignity, equality and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities throughout the United States and worldwide. The DRA website provides information on the organization, news, an events calendar, publications, resources and a newsletter.

Family Voices Through a national network, Family Voices provides families with children with special health care needs and/or disabilities with tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, and serve as a trusted resource on health care. The Family Voices website contains information on policy, resources, current projects and partners, and contact information for state Family Voices programs.

Florida State Elks Association (FSEA) The FSEA is the association of the 107 member Elk Lodges in Florida. Among other programs, the FSEA Children's Therapy Services provides in-home physical and occupational therapy to Florida children who are in need of such services. These services are provided when rehabilitation services are not available locally or are not available because of the patient being medically infirmed at home. Children who do not have ready access to therapy as a result of financial considerations are given priority for the program.

National Center for Medical Home Implementation The National Center for Medical Home Implementation is a cooperative agreement between the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that works in conjunction with federal agencies and other partners and stakeholders to ensure that all children and youth, including children with special needs, have access to a "medical home."

National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) The NCVC is a resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. The NCVC website contains information on conferences, training, and victim assistance, as well as support for service providers, a resource library, news, speeches, testimony, editorials and articles.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) State Resources The NICHCY provides information about disabilities in children and youth; programs and services for infants, children and youth with disabilities; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the nation's special education law; and No Child Left Behind, the nation's general education law; NICHCY also provides research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities. The state resources website allows users to view information from the various disability-related state-level offices.

North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (MHDDSAS) MHDDSAS provides residents of the state of North Carolina who live with or are at risk of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse problems and their families with the necessary, prevention, intervention, treatment, services and support they need to live successfully in communities of their choice. The MHDDSAS website provides state facility information, a local contact database, and a services locator tool.

Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) RESNA is a professional society for individuals and organizations interested in technology and disability that contributes to the public welfare through scientific, literary, professional and educational activities supporting the development, dissemination, and utilization of knowledge and practice pertaining to rehabilitation and assistive technology. The RESNA website provides certification information, professional development resources, membership information, and assistive technology standards.

TelAbility TelAbility is an innovative, community-oriented, interdisciplinary program from the University of North Carolina Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation that uses telecommunication technology to improve the lives of children with disabilities. Using real time video-conferencing and internet technologies, TelAbility provides comprehensive, coordinated, family centered care to children with disabilities across North Carolina and offers education, training, and peer support for people who care for them