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Federal, State and General Disability Agencies
Administration
on Developmental Disabilities – Ensuring that individuals
with developmental disabilities and their families participate
in the design of and have access to culturally competent services,
supports and other assistance and opportunities that promote
independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion
into the community.
American
Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association is a full-service professional
organization representing the nation’s 2.6 million Registered
Nurses through its 54 constituent state associations and 13
organizational affiliate members. ANA advances the nursing
profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice,
promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the
workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing,
and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health
care issues affecting nurses and the public.
American Occupational
Therapy Association
The American Occupational Therapy Association is the nationally
recognized professional association of more than 40,000 occupational
therapists, occupational therapy assistants and students of
occupational therapy. These individuals work with people experiencing
health problems such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, cancer,
congenital conditions, developmental problems and mental illness.
Occupational therapy helps people regain, develop and build
skills that are essential for independent functioning, health
and well-being.
American Physical
Therapy Association
The mission of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA),
the principal membership organization representing and promoting
the profession of physical therapy, is to further the profession’s
role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of movement
dysfunctions and the enhancement of the physical health and
functional abilities of members of the public.
The Arc
of Virginia – Statewide advocacy organization composed
of individuals with disabilities, families and professionals
who care about people who have mental retardation and related
developmental disabilities.
Assistive
Technology Loan Fund Authority – Facilitates favorable
credit financing of assistive technology for Virginians with
disabilities
Child
Welfare League of America – The Child Welfare League
of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based
child welfare organization. It is committed to engaging people
everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth
and their families, and protecting every child from harm.
Council
for Exceptional Children – The Council for Exceptional
Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization
dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals
with exceptionalities, students with disabilities and/or the
gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies,
sets professional standards, provides continual professional
development, advocates for newly and historically underserved
individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals
obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional
practice.
CYFERNet
– CYFERnet is a national network of Land Grant university
faculty and county extension educators working to support
community-based educational programs for children, youth,
parents and families.
Department
for the Blind and Vision Impaired (Virginia) – Virginia
Web site: The mission of the Department for the Blind and
Vision Impaired is to enable blind or visually impaired individuals
to achieve their maximum level of employment, education and
personal independence.
Department
of Education: Department of Special Education & Rehabilitative
Services (OSERS) – U.S. Government agency committed
to imporoving results and outcome for people with disabilities
of all ages.
Disabled
Action Committee – Lists centers for independent
living located throughout Virginia.
Disability
Service Boards – A partnership of consumer, local
government and business working together to increase access
and develop consumer-oriented, community-based services for
persons with physical and sensory disabilities.
Division
of Early Childhood (DEC)
The Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional
Children is an international membership organization for individuals
who work with or on behalf of children (birth through age
eight) with special needs and their families. Founded in 1973,
the Division is dedicated to promoting policies and practices
that support families and enhance the optimal development
of children. Children with special needs include those who
have disabilities, developmental delays, are gifted/talented
or are at risk for future development problems.
Easter
Seals – Easter Seals Virginia has led the way in
creating solutions that positively impact the lives of people
with disabilities and their families.
Enhancing
Rehabilitation Research in the South (ERRIS) Project –
Designed to provide an infrastructure that will increase the
quality and quantity of rehabilitiation research in the region.
All etiologies and age groups are included, although there
is a relative focus on central nervous system injury and pediatric
through young adult populations.
Federal
Interagency Coordinating Council – The Federal Interagency
Coordinating Council facilitates successful outcomes for young
children with disabilities and young children at risk for
developing disabilities and their families.
Federal
Resource Center for Special Education – The FRC
supports a nationwide technical assistance network to respond
to the needs of students with disabilities, especially students
from underrepresented populations.
Gateway
to a World of Resources for Enhancing Mental Health in Schools
– This site, sponsored by UCLA, lists many links related
to mental health and education of people with mental health
issues.
Head
Start
Head Start and Early Start are comprehensive programs that
serve children from birth to age five, pregnant women and
their families. They are child-focused programs and have the
overall goal of increasing the school-readiness of young children
in low-income families.
IDEA
Practices Website – The IDEA Partnerships inform
professionals, families and the public about IDEA '97 and
strategies to improve educational results for children and
youth with disabilities.
Infant
& Toddler Connection – Virginia's Implementation
of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA).
IRSC
(Internet Resources for Special Children) – The
IRSC Web site is dedicated to improving the lives of children
with disabilities and other health-related disorders worldwide.
National Association
for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NAEYC is the nation’s largest and most influential organization
of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving
the quality of programs for children from birth through third
grade. Membership is open to all who share a desire to serve
and act on behalf of the needs and rights of young children.
National Association
of School Nurses
NASN’s core purpose is to advance the delivery of professional
school health services to promote optimal learning in students.
National
Association of School Psychologists
The mission of the National Association of School Psychologists
(NASP) is to promote educationally and psychologically healthy
environments for all children and youth by implementing research-based,
effective programs that prevent problems, enhance independence
and promote optimal learning. This is accomplished through
state-of-the-art research and training, advocacy, ongoing
program evaluation, and caring professional service.
National
Association of Social Workers
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest
membership organization of professional social workers in
the world, with more than 150,000 members. NASW works to enhance
the professional growth and development of its members, to
create and maintain professional standards, and to advance
sound social policies.
National
Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NIH) –
Designed to provide an infrastructure that will increase the
quality and quantity of rehabilitiation research in the region.
All etiologies and age groups are included although there
is a relative focus on central nervous system injury and pediatric
through young adult populations.
National
Clearinghouse for Careers in Special Education –
The National Clearinghouse for Careers in Special Education
(NCPSE) is committed to enhancing the nation’s capacity
to recruit, prepare and retain well-qualified, diverse educators
and related services personnel for children with disabilities.
National
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
National
Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
– NICHY is the national information and referral center
that provides information on disability-related issues for
families, educators, and other professionals. Our special
focus is on children and youth.
National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development –
The mission of NICHD is to ensure that every person is born
healthy and wanted, that children have the chance to fulfill
their potential for healthy and productive life, free of disease
or disability.
National
Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research
– NIDRR provides leadership and support for a comprehensive
program of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals
with disabilities. All of its programmatic efforts are aimed
at improving the lives of individuals with disabilities from
birth through adulthood.
The
National Institute of Mental Health – This offers
information from NIMH about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
of mental illnesses. Included are brochures and information
sheets, reports, press releases, fact sheets and other educational
materials.
National
Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) – Working
toward the prevention, treatment and cure of rare "orphan"
diseases.
Office
of Special Education Programs (OSEP) – OSEP is dedicated
to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth
with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership
and financial support to assist states and local districts.
Office
of Special Education Technical Assistance Dissemination (TA&D)
Network – The TA&D Network works closely with
the FRC and OSEP to coordinate special education technical
assistance efforts across regions and topical areas.
Office
of Career and Technical Education Services – Serves
secondary students in its programs. Supports many initiatives
and provides valuable resources that further enhance the value
of its educational offerings.
Partnership
for People with Disabilities – Partners with communities
to support, respect and include individuals with disabilities
and their families.
Protection
and Advocacy Agency
State
Department of Education: Special Education
Virginia Assistive
Technology System – The purpose of the system is
to increase the availability of technology to Virginians of
all ages.
Virginia
Board for People with Disabilities
Virginia
Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance
Center (TTAC) – Part of a statewide network of Training
and Technical Assistance Centers, VCU TTAC provides quality
training and technical assistance in response to local, regional,
and state needs.
Virginia
Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – VDDHH
works to reduce the communication barriers between persons
who are deaf or hard of hearing, their families and the professionals
who serve them. VDDHH operates with the full understanding
that communication is the most critical issue facing persons
who are deaf or hard of hearing.
ZERO
TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE’s mission is to provide the healthy development
of our nation’s infants and toddlers by supporting and
strengthening families, communities and those who work on
their behalf. We are dedicated to advancing current knowledge;
promoting beneficial policies and practices; communicating
research and best practices to a wide variety of audiences;
and providing training, technical assistance and leadership
development. ZERO TO THREE is a national non-profit organization.
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