General information websites and resources for care providers and their clients
TACA (Talk About Curing Autism)
http://www.tacanow.org
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating, empowering and supporting families affected by autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA helps to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and the professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help improve the quality of life for people with autism.
The AUTSPOT
The AUTSPOT is an online autism resource for parents, families, and specialists whose lives are touched by the autism spectrum disorders. Join TheAUTSPOT online community for FREE to read and share inspirational autism stories with the autism society of America and individuals across the globe. Take advantage of our AUTSPOT library to learn more information on autism characteristics, early signs of autism in infants, diagnosis, and all the different therapies and diets to help kids with autism. Be sure to browse our resources section, which contains over 15,000 autism resources (therapists, doctors, support groups, schools for students with autism, lawyers, dentists, diet providers, summer camps, etc.). Feel free to add your own resources to the resources section as well. We know that with your help, TheAUTSPOT.com can grown into a strong, international autism community that will work together to help children with autism and find the causes behind the great prevalence of autistic children in our society.
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Their longtime friend Bernie Marcus donated $25 million to help financially launch the organization. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Adapt
This is a national website to get informed and participate in the fight for legislation that provides home care instead of institutions. “There’s no place like home; and we mean real homes, not nursing homes. We are fighting so people with disabilities can live in the community with real supports instead of being locked away in nursing homes and other institutions.”
All County Letters
http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/lettersnotices/PG931.htm
All County Letters (ACLs) for California sorted by year.
CUHW California United Homecare Workers
CUHW is a statewide labor organization representing over 20,000 home care workers within California’s IHSS program in 25 counties. We have fought to secure and improve the social, economic and political conditions of those who provide care for California’s most vulnerable population, the elderly and persons living with disabilities. Our local offices have won wage increases and medical benefits for home care providers throughout California.
AT Network
Provides access to and information on assistive technologies and related services. Assistive technologies can be anything from eyeglasses and hearing aids to sophisticated power wheelchairs or computer equipment.
California Department of Aging
This site contains information on services and support for individuals needing or providing homecare including; Adult Day Care, Alzheimer’s Day Care, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, Legal Assistance, Nutrition Services, Respite Program, Senior Companion Program, and more.
California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN)
The CDCAN website is a virtual meeting place for disability/aging news and networking. They host “Town Hall Meetings” by teleconference that can be participated in by anyone, and listened to afterwards by going to their Audio Archives. These meetings have valuable information on specific issues. CDCAN also has a great email alert network that you can sign up to free of charge.
“TheCalifornia Disability Community Action Network, is a non-partisan link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries, the Blind, the Deaf, their families, community organizations and providers, direct care, homecare and other workers, and other advocates to provide information on state (and eventually federal), local public policy issues.”
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
http://www.cfilc.org/site/c.ghKRI0PDIoE/b.695113/k.CB59/Home.htm
“The entire focus of the Independent Living Movement is the realization that freedom to make choices and the ability to live in the community is a basic civil right that should be extended to all people, regardless of disability. With this framework, Independent Living Center staff work with and for the consumer to promote his or her independence in the community.”
Directory of Regional Centers
Regional Centers functions as a leader and advocate in promoting the continuing entitlement of individuals with developmental disabilities to all services that enable full community inclusion. http://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/rclist.cfm
Disability Benefits 101
http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org/index.htm
This site contains invaluable information for caregivers who are helping their clients transition to work, or for clients who need to research how work will effect their government benefits. Additionally, there are many other resource links and information on disability benefits: “DB101 brings together rules for health coverage, benefit, and employment programs that people with disabilities use. These programs may be administered by the state, the federal government, or private organizations; here, we discuss them under one roof, in plain language.” Make sure to check out their forum, where you can actually get answers to individual or specific questions!
Disability Resources
http://www.disabilityresources.org/
This site is a virtual library of information about website’s serving the disability community. It includes thousands of the best disability resources on the Internet, selected and annotated by the staff of Disability Resources Monthly and alphabetically arranged by subject for easy access. This is a wonderful site because it provides helpful reviews of the sites, not merely links.
Energy Bill Assistance
If you are low-income and are having difficulty paying your energy bill, the Low Income HEAP program (LIHEAP) may be able to help.
Family Caregiver Alliance; National Center on Caregiving
Includes pages with info and advice for care providers, public policy and research concerning care providers, fact sheets and publications, newsletters, groups, and much more. This is a very extensive collection of information and resources.
Grants – The Disability Resources research page
http://www.disabilityresources.org/GRANTS.html
This is the starting place for you to research Grant opportunities for individuals or organizations.
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
Phone Number: 1-800-434-0222
Provides information and assistance with Medicare, managed care (HMO’s), long-term care insurance and other related health insurance issues. Trained volunteer counselors offer objective information to help seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries make good health care decisions.
Health Coverage in California (Foundation for Health Coverage Education)
Phone Number: l-800-234-1317
Simplifying public and private health insurance eligibility information in order to help more people access coverage. This is the site to get you help in finding alternative coverage if you have no health benefits for workers in your county through IHSS.
ICan
Everything from news and opinions to disability radio shows and transportation.
In-Home Supportive Services Coalition
The IHSS Coalition is a group comprised of stakeholders in the California IHSS program. A diversity of perspectives is represented in our coalition: consumer, worker, advocacy, and program administration. Our common goals are maintaining necessary funding for the program, and working together to improve the home care system in a manner that will make it more functional for all.
Institute for Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org/
The Independent Living Institute is an non-profit private foundation based in Sweden. This site was included because it has an extensive library, and sponsors many projects including listings for accessible vacation home exchange and global networking.
National Alliance for Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving is dedicated to providing support to family caregivers and the professionals who help them. They have a resource collection for finding the perfect book, video, or website on caregiving issues.
National Center on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
http://www.disabilitypreparedness.com/
This organization is focused on helping ensure that all individuals are included in the development of and inclusion in plans for protection from both natural and man-made emergencies.
National Council on Independent Living
NCIL is a membership organization that advocates for the human rights of, and services for, people with disabilities to further their full integration and participation in society.
National Organization on Disability
The mission of the N.O.D. is to expand the participation and contribution of the 54 million persons in America with disabilities in all aspects of life.
National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities
http://www.proyectovision.net/
Resources, news, opportunities, success stories, and more, as well as specific links to Hispanic/ Latino community information & resources.
Network of Care
http://networkofcare.org/home.cfm
A comprehensive, Internet-based resource is for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as their caregivers and service providers. Network of Care also has local information on individual Counties within California.
Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK)
Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) is a Parent Training and Information Center that Parents & Professionals can turn to for assistance in seeking and obtaining needed early intervention, educational, medical or therapeutic support service for children.
The Center for An Accessible Society
http://www.accessiblesociety.org/
A national organization designed to focus public attention on disability and independent living issues, and specializing in disability information for journalists.
UDW Homecare Providers Union
UDW Homecare Providers Union is a labor union founded in 1979 to represent in-home care providers. These are the dedicated people who cook, clean, and provide domestic chores and personal care to the elderly, blind and disabled; those who are too sick, frail, or disadvantaged to care for themselves.
United Long Term Care Works
SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW) is California’s leading long term care organization dedicated to providing and protecting quality care for some of our most vulnerable residents. SEIU ULTCW represents 180,000 in-home care providers and nursing home workers throughout California, making it the largest union of long term care givers in California and the second largest SEIU local in the nation.
Wakanow.com – Accessible Travel
http://www.wakanow.com/ng/pages/Accessible-Travel:-Resources-for-the-Disabled-Explorer
Accessible Travel: Resources for the Disabled Explorer
World Institute on Disability
This organization is dedicated to promoting the civil rights and full societal inclusion of people with disabilities. They have an e-newsletter which you may sign up for (at no charge), and that has very helpful and specific information for those dealing with disabilities or the care of the disabled/elderly.
If you need any assistance, you are welcome to join our support group at: IHSS Advocacy Group