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Resources

The following resources are available free to the public relating to the history, legislation, and advocacy surrounding intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• The Americans with Disabilities Act - National Archives This link opens in a new window The National Archives holds many records that relate to American citizens with disabilities. From personal letters to historic legislation, these records provide insight into efforts over the past century to establish programs and to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
• CDC - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Resources This link opens in a new window The CDC provides several links to websites of groups that study or provide information relating to IDDs. Links are grouped under resources for patients and resources for healthcare providers - then additional categories are provided to group individual links.
• Council for Exceptional Children This link opens in a new window The CEC is an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults with disabilities. Their site offers advocacy resources, professional resources, and standards/guidelines for practice.
• Disability History Museum This link opens in a new window The Disability History Museum is a digital project spanning over 2000 items dating back to the late 18th century. Users can search their archival collection online.
• Disability Law in the United States - Library of Congress This link opens in a new window This research guide covers a variety of resources surrounding the Americans with Disabilities Act and other topics related to disability law, including information about relevant federal agencies, service animals, and veterans resources.
• Disability Voices - An Oral History Project This link opens in a new window This collection of over 500 interviews with disabled people is provided by the British Library.
• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) - List of IDD Websites This link opens in a new window NCBDDD has a list of reputable website resources that provide helpful, up-do-date information on IDD (addressing needs in care, research, and advocacy).
• Rooted in Rights This link opens in a new window Rooted in Rights uses accessible digital media to advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities. Providing several videos of disabled individuals sharing their stories, it's a great resource for primary accounts.

Organizations

When researching or working with vulnerable populations, it's always important to ensure your sources are ethical. The following organizations provide a lot of in-depth information that is useful not only in research efforts, but in advocacy efforts as well. They're divided up locationally by national, state, and county divisions.

National Organizations

• American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD) This link opens in a new window Since 2002, we have led the effort to improve the quality of healthcare for people with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
• The American Association of Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) This link opens in a new window This nonprofit advocates for the rights of those with IDD, and provide professional resources to those with IDD and those that work with individuals with IDD.
• The Arc of America This link opens in a new window The Arc, with several national chapters, provides IDD resources relating to several areas, including employment, health, education, and more.
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) This link opens in a new window The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities.
• Cerebral Palsy Group (CPG) This link opens in a new window CPG offers a myriad of resources split up categorically for individuals to peruse relating to many topics, such as legal information, pursuing health and mental health treatments, and more. This resource is specifically targeted towards individuals diagnosed with CP.
• Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) This link opens in a new window Incorporated in 1992, the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit nursing specialty organization that is committed to advocacy, education, and support for nurses who provide services to persons with developmental disabilities (DD).
• Office of Special Education Programs This link opens in a new window The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.
• Olmstead Rights This link opens in a new window Named for the Olmstead Supreme Court Decision (Olmstead v. LC, 1999), Olmstead Rights outlines some background on the litigation of disability rights as well as resources for self-advocacy nationwide.
• Special Olympics This link opens in a new window Special Olympics is an international program with chapters all across the world. Local chapters offer a chance for those with disabilities to seek out community by participation in team sports.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) This link opens in a new window Contrary to its name, UCP offers resources for all individuals with IDD - not just those diagnosed with CP. UCP provides a lot of helpful information on potential services as well as some background on legal rights (e.g. ADA).

Statewide Organizations

• AID in PA This link opens in a new window AID in PA provides content for all populations looking to work with and get involved in advocating for the intellectually disabled. The first page you visit will allow users to self-select their status to see content more directly related to their needs (self-advocate, family, caregivers, providers, community).
• The Arc of Pennsylvania This link opens in a new window As mentioned under national resources, The Arc provides advocacy resources for individuals with IDD. This resource is specific to Pennsylvania.
• Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) This link opens in a new window DRP is an advocacy organization that works with disabled individuals. The Resources tab of the site has a long list of guides meant to foster self-advocacy.
• HCSIS Services and Supports Directory This link opens in a new window HCSIS is a tool for providers of services to those with IDD for locating services available in the area. Users can navigate resources in every county of the state, looking to find providers in the area they might contact. This is a good way of finding what sorts of services are available and by which providers near you.
• PA Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability This link opens in a new window PAR is the largest and most active association of intellectual disability and autism service providers in Pennsylvania. PAR's site offers opportunities to review data/research on issues impacting those with IDD as well as providers in several different regions of the state.
• PA Department of Human Services This link opens in a new window The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers government-funded services for qualifying individuals with IDD. Information is available on the services provided as well as who to contact in order to pursue service.
• PA Disability Resources - Olmstead Rights This link opens in a new window This subpage of OlmsteadRights.org lays out a long list of advocacy resources and organizations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, divided by categories relating to the organization's scope.
• PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) This link opens in a new window The ODP is the governmental office that oversees all services and provisions for individuals with IDD and/or autism. Their website hosts numerous free resources, trainings, and publication materials for their bulletin, Everyday Lives, which encourages individual participation and self-advocacy/involvement in their own lives and services.
• Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Nurses Network (PADDNN) This link opens in a new window PADDNN is dedicated to addressing the needs of intellectual and developmental disability (I-DD) nurses while recognizing the diversity of settings and roles in which I-DD nurses function throughout the Keystone State.
• Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network This link opens in a new window PaTTAN is a statewide resource for special education teachers and administrators involved in special education. PaTTAN offers informational pages for several different areas of disability, including cognitive/intellectual disabilities. There are also resources provided with regard to supporting students, developing graduation outcomes, and more.

Organizations in Allegheny County

• Achieva This link opens in a new window Achieva is an organization that provides services and advocacy support to IDD populations. They lead several initiatives aside from their services, including a disability health initiative, a justice community collaboration initiative, and an initiative in helping individuals afford and attend higher education.
• Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Intellectual Disability (OID) This link opens in a new window Allegheny County offers several opportunities to learn more about IDD resources and services in the form of FAQs, fact sheets, infographics, and downloadable content relating to different policies and services.
• Allegheny County Office of Developmental Supports This link opens in a new window The Office of Developmental Supports is the office in Allegheny County that oversees the provision of IDD services and supports. This page outlines some basic information on services available, as well as directions for pursuing services in the county.
• Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy This link opens in a new window The Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy is an Autistic-run community advocacy organization in Pittsburgh, PA.
• UPMC - Disability Resources in the Community This link opens in a new window This list provided by UPMC details several disability resources in the county, including resources for the Deaf community, the blind and visually disabled, behavioral health resources, and more.