Resources for Differently Abled People

Quick-Start Essentials (U.S.)

Know Your Rights: 

• ADA.gov - Official ADA Rights & Standards
  
  • Access, employment, transportation, and public accommodations.
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) - Discrimination and Workplace Rights
  
  • How to request accommodations; file workplace discrimination charges.
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) – Protection & Advocacy
  
  • Find your state Protection & Advocacy (free legal advocacy for disabled people).

General Help:

• 211 Helpline
  
  • Free 24/7 referrals to local disability, housing, food, transport, and mental health services.

Benefits & Finances: 

• Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI)
  
  • Eligibility, applications, and appeals for federal disability benefits.
• ABLE National Resource Center
  
  • Compare state ABLE accounts to save without losing benefits.
• Ticket to Work
  
  • Employment supports for SSDI/SSI beneficiaries.
• Benefit Finder
  
  • Online tool that helps individuals quickly identify federal and state benefit programs they may be eligible for, including disability support.
• Food Stamps (SNAP)
  
  • Provides monthly funds on an EBT card to help low-income individuals, including those with disabilities, buy groceries.

Employment & Accommodations

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
  
  • Free expert guidance on workplace accommodations & ADA.
• ODEP - U.S. Dept. of Labor
  
  • Policy and resources to increase disability employment.
• State Vocational Rehabilitation
  
  • Job coaching, training, assistive tech; find your state VR agency.
• CareerOneStop
  
  • U.S. Department of Labor resource offering job search tools, training programs, resume help, and information on accommodations for job seekers with disabilities.
• Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN)
  
  • Provides free resources and guidance to help employers recruit, hire, retain, and advance employees with disabilities.
• What Can You Do?
  
  • Public education campaign that promotes positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by challenging stereotypes.
• U.S. AbilityOne Commission
  
  • Manages the federal program that creates employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities through government contracts.

Education

• Office for Civil Rights – Section 504
  
  • K‑12/college disability rights & complaint process.
• IDEA 
  
  • Special education rights for children with disabilities (IEPs, evaluations, dispute options).

Health, Mental Health, & Crisis

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  
  • 24/7 call/text/chat 988 for emotional distress, substance use, suicidal crisis.
• FindTreatment.gov (SAMHSA)
  
  • Search mental health and substance use treatment providers.
• Treatment Locators (SAMHSA)
  
  • Helplines and locator tools (DDH, 988 info, etc.).
• VA Disability Benefits
  
  • Benefits and supports for U.S. veterans with disabilities.

Housing

• HUD – Fair Housing & Reasonable Accommodations
  
  • How to request housing modifications and file complaints.
• Centers for Independent Living (via NCIL)
  
  • Find local CILs for peer support, skills training, and advocacy.

Legislation & Legal Rights

• National Council on Disability (NCD)
  
  • Independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and federal agencies on disability policy to improve laws, programs, and services.
• Administration for Community Living (ACL) - Protecting Rights & Preventing Abuse
  
  • Supports community living for older adults and people with disabilities; funds programs that protect rights and prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Voter Accessibility Laws 
  
  • Federal protections (such as the ADA and Help America Vote Act) that ensure polling places, ballots, and election systems are accessible to voters with disabilities.

Transportation

• NADTC
  
  • National Aging and Disability Transportation Center; find accessible transit options.
• FTA ADA Guidance (Paratransit)
  
  • Official ADA guidance for public transit & paratransit.

Assistive Tech & Digital Accessibility

• AT3 Center
  
  • Directory of State Assistive Technology Programs & device loan libraries.
• RESNA
  
  • Find Assistive Technology Professionals; ethics & standards.
• Apple Accessibility
  
  • Built‑in accessibility features & support.
• Google Accessibility
  
  • Assistive features across Android/Chrome/Workspace.
• Microsoft Disability Answer Desk
  
  • Free tech support incl. ASL via video relay for Microsoft products.
• Aira
  
  • On‑demand visual interpreting service.
• Be My Eyes
  
  • Free app connecting blind/low‑vision people with volunteers and pros.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

• National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
  
  • Civil rights, advocacy, legal resources, ASL info.
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
  
  • Find certified ASL interpreters.

Blind/Low Vision

• National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
  
  • Advocacy, training, scholarships, community.
• AFB – VisionAware (APH ConnectCenter)
  
  • Practical tips & directory of services for vision loss. 
• Hadley
  
  • Free practical learning & peer groups for adults with vision loss.

Mobility, Spinal Cord Injury & Amputation

• United Spinal Association
  
  • Peer support, advocacy, wheelchair skills & accessible travel.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
  
  • Paralysis Resource Center: info specialists, grants, support groups.
• Amputee Coalition
  
  • Peer support, prosthetics info, patient rights.

Neurodivergence & Developmental Disability

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
  
  • Self‑advocacy, policy, and inclusive guides by autistic people.
• The Arc
  
  • Advocacy and services for people with intellectual & developmental disabilities.

Recreation & Community

• Move United 
  
  • Adaptive sports network & local clubs.
• Special Olympics
  
  • Year‑round sports & health programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

Family & Caregivers

• Family Caregiver Alliance 
  
  • Education, support groups, and state-by-state services.
• ARCH National Respite Locator
  
  • National Respite Locator & how to pay for respite.

International

• WHO – Disability & Health
  
  • Global facts, policy guidance, and disability data.
• UN CRPD
  
  • International treaty on disability rights & implementation resources.
• UK: Scope
  
  • UK disability helpline, benefits, work & education advice.
• Accessible Canada
  
  • Federal accessibility resources & legislation overview.
• Australia: NDIS
  
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme supports, eligibility, planning.