Links to important resources

• American Association of People with Disabilities is the nation's largest disability rights organization. AAPD promotes equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities.
• Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living is a national grass roots, consumer controlled, nonprofit membership organization consisting of centers for independent living, their satellites and branch offices, statewide independent living councils, other organizations and individuals concerned with the independent living issues of people with disabilities living in rural America.
• Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies – Syracuse University is a network of academic programs, centers, student organizations, and affiliated faculty whose research, teaching, and advocacy seeks to promote the rights of people with disabilities locally, nationally, and globally, and to facilitate a critical examination of disability as an aspect of diversity in society.
• Cerebral Palsy Group is a national organization that was created so that it may serve the individuals and families who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We are here to provide information and support so that we may help provide resources and education to those affected by CP.
• Concrete Change is an international network whose goal is making ALL new homes visitable and accessible by influencing policy changes, "because the market alone is not enough to address the segregation, public health problems and fiscal waste of continuing to build houses with no access."
• Disability Resources for College Students - Nearly 80 percent of all high school students with disabilities list attending college as one of their goals, yet only 60 percent enroll and 41 percent complete degrees, according to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Although these figures have risen in recent decades due to the passage of inclusive disability rights laws, students with disabilities still lag behind their peers in terms of postsecondary education. While much is being done to empower these students and promote their rights, one of the most important components in the process is helping prospective students and their families self-advocate and be aware of the resources and provisions in place at colleges and universities to help them succeed.
• Disabled World: One of the key challenges for a person with a disability in today's world is to be seen by the public, to be portrayed in media outlets and treated by health care professionals as an individual with unique abilities, not stereotyped merely as a "disabled person." Disabled World provides informative articles, news services and educational videos.
• Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities.
• Fair Shake Network is an association of West Virginians dedicated to the belief that diversity makes our communities stronger, that people with disabilities have the right to live, work, and play in their own homes and communities. The Fair Shake Network provides training and systems advocacy on issues affecting people with disabilities through statewide, grassroots, cross-disability activities.
• Independent Living Research Utilization, founded in 1977, has a long history of providing research, education and consultation in the areas of independent living, the Americans with Disabilities Act, home and community-based services and health issues for people with disabilities.
• Independent Living USA maintains a community-created directory of resources for independent living which aims to serve as a vehicle for helping individuals with disabilities to develop online businesses and web-related opportunities.
• Mountain State Centers for Independent Living is a community-based organization providing advocacy, networking, and resources to people with disabilities and their families. The centers are a place where people with disabilities are free to meet, share, learn and plan lives of greater independence and self reliance.
• National Council on Disability is an independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect people with disabilities.
• National Council on Independent Living is proud to offer a national policy platform that advocates for the human and civil rights of all individuals. NCIL members directly determine our public policy priorities through regular survey, and by serving on our legislative and advocacy subcommittees.
• Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living is an advocacy resource center for persons with disabilites and the communities in which they live – ensuring that consumers have the skills and information they need to make informed choices, assisting communities to better meet the needs of their citizens with disabilities.
• Pathways to the Future is a collection of resources, tools and people to help students with disabilities, through the journey from youth to adulthood. Your future begins now! It's never too early to start planning for your future and exploring pre-employment transition services. Click on the icons below to explore jobs and careers, education/training after high school, independent living skills, and partners and programs to help you along the way.
• Center for Effective Government was founded as OMB Watch in 1983, with a primary focus on making the work of executive branch agencies more transparent and open to citizen input. The organization changed its name in January 2013 to reflect the fact that its work has expanded over the years and that it has a new goal: an effective government that reflects the needs and priorities of the American people.
• Refinance and mortgage guide for people with disabilities seeks to provide the most relevant and essential resources needed to navigate the myriad of red tape and sometimes rigid processes regularly associated with real estate purchases.
• Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention – Virginia Commonwealth University is a web portal that highlights our funded projects on many topics related to the employment of individuals with disabilities. This includes the RRTC on Employment of People with Physical Disabilities, Autism Center for Excellence, School 2 Work, and more.
• Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) oversees grant programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently through the provision of such supports as counseling, medical and psychological services, job training and other individualized services. RSA's major Title I formula grant program provides funds to state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to provide employment-related services for individuals with disabilities, giving priority to individuals who are significantly disabled.
• Social Security Online is the Social Security Administration's web platform for connecting with services provided through a nationwide network of more than 1,400 offices that include regional offices, field offices, card centers, teleservice centers, processing centers, hearing offices, the Appeals Council, and our State and territorial partners, the Disability Determination Services.
• State of West Virginia provides online access to information about state-managed services offered to all citizens.
• Technical Assistance & Continuing Education Center – Region 3 provides technical assistance and professional development to state VR agency staff and partners in the Mid-Atlantic region to enhance the employment outcomes of people with disabilities.
• Universal Design: What it means and how it works for everyone Universal design can be thought of as the broad spectrum of concepts for the creation of products, buildings and environments that feature accessibility for people who have disabilities as well as those who do not. This is an overview of its principles, with links to relevant resources.
• U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans. Among other responsibilities, the division enforces the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• U.S. Access Board is a federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostic equipment and information technology.
• World Institute on Disability, an internationally recognized public policy center founded in 1983 by leaders of the Independent Living Movement, focuses on issues and problems that directly affect people’s ability to live full and independent lives.
• WV ADA Office mission is to ensure ALL West Virginia Citizens have the opportunity to actively, fully and equally participate in all state government activities and programs.
• WV Bureau for Medical Services (Medicaid) is the designated single state agency responsible for the administration of the State's Medicaid program. BMS provides access to appropriate health care for Medicaid-eligible individuals.
• WV Bureau of Senior Services assists senior West Virginia residents in locating programs and services for themselves or their loved ones, and provides professionals with up-to-date information relating to the field of aging.
• WV Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing advocates for, develops and coordinates public policies, regulations and programs to assure full and equal opportunity for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing in West Virginia.
• WV Developmental Disabilities Council works to assure that West Virginians with developmental disabilities receive the services, supports, and other forms of assistance they need to exercise self-determination and achieve independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion in the community.
• WV Department of Health and Human Resources is the state agency responsible for programs that serve citizens' needs for mental and behavioral health services, child support enforcement, services for children and families, Medicaid and other medical services, and public health protection.
• WV Division of Rehabilitation Services is the primary resource for vocational rehabilitation in West Virginia. The primary goal for all DRS clients is to become productive working citizens.
• WV Legislature connects citizens to the legislative process in West Virginia by providing access to legislative representatives, information about proposed legislation and current law, and educational materials about state government.
• WV Olmstead Office develops, implements and monitors West Virginia’s Olmstead activities in compliance with Title II of the ADA; provides support to the Olmstead Council in carrying out their duties; manages grant funding to carry out Olmstead-related projects; facilitates the implementation of the Transition Navigator Program; and provides information, referral and assistance to West Virginia citizens about the Olmstead Plan, whose key components are informed choice, identification, transition, diversion, reasonable pace, eliminating institutional bias, self-direction, rights protection, quality, and community-based services.
• West Virginia State Rehabilitation Council, in partnership with the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services, assures that all West Virginians with disabilities are represented, informed and empowered; that they receive necessary, sufficient and timely individualized services; and that these services result in meaningful employment.
• WV Web provides an interactive online community for people to learn about West Virginia, its people and its businesses.
• WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities provides education and training to West Virginia University students in multiple disciplines; educates direct care providers who serve persons with disabilities; and provides policy makers with objective information about the status of disabilities services in West Virginia.