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The Action Starts Here (TASH) is an international membership association of people with disabilities, their family members, and other disability advocates, based in Maryland. Members of TASH are strong advocates of people who have traditionally been denied access to education, work, and community living. The TASH website provides the assistance people need to effectively advocate for their rights, including linkage with resources, expert assistance toward fighting inequities, legal expertise, and targeted advocacy. For more information or to learn more about becoming a member, call the Maryland Chapter at (410) 828-8274.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) "is a coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration, and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. CCD does this by:

• Identifying and researching public policy issues, developing testimony and policy recommendations and encouraging innovative solutions to public policy concerns.
• Educating members of Congress in an effort to improve public policies and programs that foster independence, productivity, integration and inclusion of people with disabilities.
• Encouraging people with disabilities and their families to advocate for themselves and coordinating grass roots efforts to support these advocacy efforts."

Disability Rights Advocates is a non-profit legal center dedicated to protecting the civil and human rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States and the world. They offer a national advocacy service which includes class -action litigation and negotiation on behalf of people with all types of disabilities, including mobility, hearing, vision, learning and psychological disabilities. They also offer a number of useful publications that provide individuals with disabilities much information on legislation. For more information, call (510) 451-8644 (Voice) or 510-451-8716 (TTY).

Disability Advocacy Work With Networking (DAWWN) is an online resource offering valuable information to those interested in taking part in the legislative process. More specifically, the site discusses voter registration and election and candidate information. The site also offers links to various related disability resources.

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities. Their website offers a discussion of disability policy and legislation, links to helpful articles and newsletters, a listing of relevant publications as well as links to various disability-related organizations. For more information on their advocacy services, call (510) 644-2555 (Voice/TTY) or e-mail dredf@dredf.org.

MoveOn is working to bring ordinary people back into politics. MoveOn builds electronic advocacy groups. Examples of advocacy group issues are campaign finance, environmental and energy issues, media consolidation, or the Iraq war. Once a group is assembled, MoveOn provides information and tools to help each individual have the greatest possible impact. Their website also features the latest political news. Visit their website today to learn how you can become involved.

National Disability Rights Network offers a complete listing of protection and advocacy agencies located throughout the United States on their website. The site also provides links to many helpful disability resources and offers much information on disability rights relating to abuse and neglect, employment, education, technology, SSI and SSDI benefits, community integration, and health care. The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States. Through training and technical assistance, legal support, and legislative advocacy, the National Disability Rights Network works to create a society in which people with disabilities are afforded equality of opportunity and are able to fully participate by exercising choice and self-determination. We have listed many of these nonprofit organizations below by state. For more information, visit the NDRN website or fill in your state at P & A by state or download the P & A by state printable version.

National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) works for youth (aged 16 - 24) with disabilities by:

• Promoting leadership development, education, employment, independent living, and health and wellness among young leaders representing the diversity of race, ethnicity and disability in the United States.
• Fostering the inclusion of young leaders with disabilities into all aspects of society at national, state and local levels.
• Communicating about issues important to youth with disabilities and the policies and practices that affect their lives.

NYLN offers youth with disabilities an opportunity to take charge of their lives through self-determination and leadership. They host an annual conference in Washington DC which helps prepare the next generation of disability leaders and also provides an opportunity to for young people to develop recommendations on policy and service improvements. For more information, e-mail contact@nyln.org.

Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) is the federally mandated, statewide, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) program serving eligible individuals with disabilities throughout Alabama. The primary purpose of ADAP is to respond to allegations of abuse, neglect and violations of rights of persons with disabilities or discrimination based on their disability. They offer several programs serving people with mental illness, physical disabilities, as well as those with developmental disabilities. They further offer a program that advocates for rights relating to assistive technology. They also offer "Airmail"; a publication designed to educate individuals of their rights. For more information, e-mail ADAP@law.ua.edu.

Disability Law Center of Alaska is the state's federally mandated protection and advocacy system. The center works to increase the understanding of disability rights and responsibilities of consumers, legal professionals, service providers, families and advocates throughout Alaska. They provide legal advocacy and direct representation of all people with disabilities residing within Alaska. The agency is authorized to investigate violations of rights based on disability. They also provide educational services, information about the rights of people with disabilities and other technical assistance and can refer you to other agencies who may be able to provide appropriate assistance. For more information, call (800) 478-1234, e-mail akpa@dlcak.org or write to, Disability Law Center of Alaska, 3330 Arctic Boulevard, Suite 103, Anchorage, AK 99503.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. is a non-profit agency in California that works in partnership with people with disabilities to protect, advance and advocate for their human, legal and service rights. They provide personal advocacy services to individuals through both negotiation and litigation, they investigate complaints, educate individuals on their rights and self-advocacy, and offers referrals to other organizations. For more information, call (800) 390-7032 (Voice) or (916) 575-1624 (TTY).

Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities is an independent state agency created to protect and advocate for the civil and human rights of people with disabilities in Connecticut. The office provides information and referral, advocacy services, legal and mediation services, as well as education and training on disability issues. For more information, call (800) 842-7303 (Voice/TTY),

The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing protection and advocacy services to people with disabilities throughout the State of Florida. They offer several programs serving people with mental illness, physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities. They further offer a technical assistance program which advocates for rights relating to assistive technology through information and training, protection and advocacy services for beneficiaries of Social Security as well as the Client Assistance Program, advocating for those interested in receiving services from state rehabilitation programs. Their website features news, resource links and an online discussion conference. For more information, contact them at their headquarters in Tallahassee, call (800) 342-0823 (Voice), or (800) 346-4127 (TDD)

Disability Rights Florida was founded in 1977 as the statewide designated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities in the State of Florida. Disability Rights Florida is a not-for-profit corporation that has authority and responsibility under eight federal grants. For more information contact Disability Rights Florida, 2728 Centerview Drive, Suite 102, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, or call 1-800-342-0823

Equip for Equality is a non-profit organization that operates the disability Protection and Advocacy System for Illinois. They provide self-advocacy assistance, legal services, disability issues education, public policy advocacy and systems monitoring. Specifically, they offer the Training Institute on Disability Rights, which proactively reaches out to people with disabilities and their families to provide them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for self-advocacy. For more information, call (800) 537-2632 (Voice) or (800) 610-2779 (TTY).

Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission is an executive state agency created to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities. They provide legal representation, investigate complaints of rights violations and provide state guardianship for Illinois' population with disabilities. For more information, call (866) 274-8023.

Massachusetts Client Assistance Program, a program of the Massachusetts Office on Disability assists people in securing services from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and the Independent Living Centers in Massachusetts. If services were denied from any of the above agencies, call (800) 322-2020.

Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. promotes, expands and protects the human and legal rights of people with disabilities by empowering them with information and advocacy. Services include information and referral, technical assistance, legal representation, outreach and training events and more. Their website also features links to many helpful resources on such topics and support, abuse and neglect, disability benefits and more. For more information, call (800) 288-5923 (Voice / TTY) or e-mail molson@mpas.org.

People First of New Hampshire "is a group of people working together to help each other take charge of [their] lives. This is being done by learning how to make decisions and choices in life in order to be more independent. It also means learning rights and responsibilities. [They] support each other and gain confidence to speak out about what [they] believe in." They can teach you how to advocate for your basic human rights. To join in their effort, call (800) 639-6172.

New York

New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs is a government program offering information on wide range of advocacy and daily living issues. More specifically, they offer information on consumer rights and responsibilities, education and training, technology services and devices, transportation and parking, ADA and 504, jobs and independence, benefits and assistance, housing and accessibility and much more. For more information, call (518) 549-0200. To report the abuse or neglect of an individual with special needs, call the Vulnerable Persons Central Register toll-free at 1-855-373-2122.

North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities has created a Participant Involvement Project. The project grants funds to people with developmental disabilities, their family members or guardians so that they may have an opportunity to participate in conferences, training events, public forums, focus groups, committees, task forces, hearings and other activities that can empower them to affect change in their lives. For more information, call (800) 357-6916.

Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania is an independent, non-profit agency mandated by the federal government to protect and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Services include information and referral, investigating, negotiating or mediating solutions to problems faced by people with disabilities, legal counsel and litigation services, as well as skills training in self-advocacy. For more information, call (800) 692-7443 (Voice/TTY).

Coalition of Texans with Disabilities is a grassroots, cross-disability consumer advocacy coalition controlled by persons with disabilities in Texas that works to eliminate barriers to equal and full participation in life. Programs include Cross-Disability Advocacy, Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program, the Kenny Murgia Memorial Scholarship program for high school seniors with a disability, Keys to Home, an advocacy effort to help people with disabilities remain in their communities and several others. For more information, call (512) 478-3366 or e-mail cotwd@cotwd.org.

Citizen Advocacy of Washington County Inc., located in West Bend, Wisconsin, has a mission to "provide opportunities for supportive relationships between community members and citizens with disabilities." Advocates assist individuals in securing their right to a safe, affordable place to live and in receiving entitled benefits. They also assist families of children with disabilities by offering family supports that make it possible for the child to remain home. To learn more about these advocacy services, call (262) 334-3384.

Disability Advocates - Wisconsin Network (DAWN), based in Madison, Wisconsin, is a grassroots, statewide network of people who are advocating for the rights of all individuals with disabilities. In an effort to empower people with disabilities towards self-advocacy, they provide current information on state and national disability policies and issues that can be used to advocate for better disability policies, programs and funding. This information is disseminated through their e-mail network.

Disability Rights Wisconsin (WCA) is a private, non-profit agency providing Wisconsin residents with disabilities protection and advocacy services. WCA provides free individualized advocacy services to individuals with developmental, physical and mental disabilities. Designated by the Governor to ensure the rights of all state citizens with disabilities through individual advocacy and system change, DRW is part of a national system of federally mandated independent disability agencies. For more information, call the Madison, Wisconsin office at (800) 928-8778 (Voice/TTY) or the 6737 W. Washington St., Suite 3230, Milwaukee, Wisconsin office at (800) 708-3034 (Voice/TTY) or 414-773-4646.

League of Women Voters of WI Education Fund is a nonpartisan, grassroots, political organization established in 1920 to educate and motivate citizens to participate in their government. Our members are women and men who work to improve our systems of government and impact public policies through education and advocacy. The League at all levels - national, regional, state and local - conducts in-depth policy studies to clarify the impacts of legislation. The League neither supports nor opposes candidates for office at any level of government. At the same time, the League is wholeheartedly political and works to influence policy through advocacy. The organization remains true to its basic purpose: to make democracy work for all citizens. With a strict nonpartisanship policy, the League of Women Voters is a trusted source of unbiased information and a force for positive social change. For more information contact, Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director, 612 W. Main Street, Suite 200, Madison, Wisconsin 53703, Phone: (608) 256-0827 or send E-mail: lwvwisconsin@lwvwi.org

Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc., with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha and Racine, provides legal services to low-income families, senior citizens and people with disabilities. Legal Action's staff and volunteer attorneys provide advice and legal representation in public benefits / health law, family law, housing, education and employment. Income determines eligibility for services. For more information, call the Milwaukee office at (414) 278-7722, the Madison office at (608) 256-3304, the Kenosha office at (262) 654-0114 or the Racine office at (262) 635-8836.

Ireland

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