Legal Advocacy Sources

The following list contains twenty one main items, some with sub-items, which supply references to legal resources for advocacy assistance to the Disability Community.

  1. Americans with Disabilities Act Here is the U.S. Department of Justice site for the complete information guide and access to order free copies of ADA Regulations and Technical Assistance Materials.
  2. ADA-LAW is a listserv for those with a knowledge of the law or interested in developing one. Get ready for lots of legal language and a notepad for any information you might find handy. To Join send an email with nothing in the subject line and type in the text - - subscribe ADA-LAW your firstname your lastname
  3. ADA Information Center Online
  4. ADVOCACY is a listserv forum which promotes self-advocacy by people with disabilities. To JOIN, send a message with a blank subject line. In the body, type: subscribe advocacy Firstname Lastname email address.
  5. The Americans with Disabilities Act Document Center contains copies of the ADA, ADA regulations, technical assistance manuals prepared by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Department of Justice, and other technical assistance documents sponsored by the National Institute on Disability Research and Rehabilitation (NIDRR). It also has links to other internet sources of information ranging from legal issues to health and safety and more
  6. Located in Chicago, The American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Mental and Physical Disabilities is a useful source of information. Established in 1973, they have a great deal of background and references for assisting the disability community.
  7. Assistance Animal Access Consulting Services and Disability Sensitivity Training Network provides an educational and consulting services to places of public accommodation on Assistance Animal Access issues as covered under ADA Title III Americans With Disabilities Act. You will also find a good links page.
  8. In 1994, the Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law established the Subcommittee on Member Benefits for Lawyers with Disabilities to make ABA member benefits and programs more accessible by and useful to members with disabilities.
  9. A full scope of legal documents useful to the disability community is available from Cornell University, located in New York State.
  10. DisabilityClaims.com provides some common sense do's and don'ts in an attempt to address the legal concerns of employees who have become or about to become disabled. This site DOES NOT provide nor offer legal advice or opinion which can only be rendered by an attorney retained to investigate your case.
  11. The Disability Law Center is located in the state of Arkansas. Mark Ramage is there with a wide range of valuable information for the disability community.
  12. The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc., (DREDF) is a leading national law and policy center in disability civil rights. DREDF was founded in 1979 by an alliance of adults with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities.
  13. DREDF -- The Supreme Court and Pending Cases Relevant to Disability Law - 2001-02 Term
  14. The Department of Justice - - ADA Home Page
  15. EDLAW, Inc., a full service provider of information on education law located in Potomac, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C. This page should provide a starting point for basic legal information of use to special educators, parents and their advisors in meeting federal and state requirements for the education of students with disabilities. The texts of statutes and regulations referenced here are public information.
  16. ERISA Michael A. McKuin practice is limited primarily to ERISA litigation involving medical benefits and long-term disability benefits. The site also contains links to many other legal sites.
  17. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) was created by the President's Committee on Employment of Persons With Disabilities. It is not a job placement service, but an international toll-free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations and the employability of people with disabilities. JAN also provides information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please take a few moments to surf around and find out about our free services.
  18. Protection and Advocacy Systems
    There is a federally mandated system in each state and territory which provides protection of the rights of persons with disabilities through legally based advocacy. P&As develop priorities, after receiving public comment which establish case selection criteria. Priorities must insure that the most vulnerable populations or those with complex advocacy needs are served before less vulnerable populations. P&As must reach out to unserved or underserved populations. The need to prioritize is necessary as the demand for representation often exceeds the resources of the P&A system.
    All states can be found on the NAPAS site for email addresses, snail mail addresses and telephone numbers.
    • National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) (formerly National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems [NAPAS]) is a national voluntary membership organization for the federally mandated nationwide network of disability rights agencies, protection & advocacy systems (P&As) and client assistance programs (CAPs). NDRN was created to: facilitate coordination of its members; represent the needs of members to federal agencies and Congress and provide technical assistance and training to member agencies which enhance their effectiveness on the state and local level.
    • The History of P&A Programs
  19. The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) is committed to promoting rights, protection and advocacy which focuses upon both the right to choose and the specific choices of those who request assistance. Therefore, NARPA's fundamental mission is to help empower people who have been labeled mentally disabled so that they may learn to independently exercise their rights.
  20. Social Security Sources
    • The National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) is a wonderful source for legal services in your area specific to SSI and SSDI cases. When choosing a lawyer, make sure the lawyer does these cases regularly.
    • Sheri R. Abrams, P.C., Attorney at Law Specializing in Social Security Disability Law and the Preparation of Wills, Living Wills, Health Care Proxies (Health Care Powers of Attorney), and Durable Financial Powers of Attorney, you will find you have Free Consultation with No Fee Unless Benefits are Awarded.
      SERVING VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, DC & MARYLAND
  21. Reed Martin, J.D., Special Education Law is a Special Education Informational Resource for Parents, Advocates, Attorneys and School Personnel Advocating for Children with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Behavior/Emotional Disorder, and More. The mission is Lessening Discrimination Against Children with Disabilities by Providing Parents and School Personnel Tools for Advocacy -- a service provided for decades, with precedent setting work.
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