District of Columbia Resources

Advocates for Justice and Education
www.aje-dc.org
Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc., (AJE) was created in 1996 to address the grave injustices and denial of basic special education services and to educate parents, and those working with parents about the laws that govern special education and related services.

DC Center for Independent Living
www.dccil.org
The DC CIL a private non-profit organization that assists DC residents with significant disabilities to live independently in their homes and in their communities through peer counseling, information and referral, individual and system advocacy.

DC Special Olympics
www.specialolympicsdc.org
Special Olympics D.C. is changing the lives of people with IDD through sports, health and inclusion programs and solving the isolation, intolerance and inactivity they face daily.

Disability Rights DC @ University Legal Services
www.uls-dc.org
Disability Rights DC (DRDC) at University Legal Services is the federally-designated protection and advocacy program for people with disabilities in the District of Columbia and is the Client Assistance Program under the Rehabilitation Act. DRDC’s mission is to advocate for the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities in the District of Columbia.

Equal Rights Center
www.equalrightscenter.org
A national non-profit organization, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) is a civil rights organization that identifies and seeks to eliminate unlawful and unfair discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations in its home community of Greater Washington DC and nationwide. The ERC’s core strategy for identifying unlawful and unfair discrimination is civil rights testing.

Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
www.ucedd.georgetown.edu
The mission of the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities is to advance self-determination among the diversity of people with developmental and other disabilities and their families, throughout the life course, and advocate for their full participation in all aspects of community life.

Jenny Hatch Justice Project
www.jennyhatchjusticeproject.org
The Jenny Hatch Justice Project (JHJP) will inspire and support strength and justice through advocacy, information, and education by giving people with disabilities, families, advocates, attorneys, professionals the tools they need to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities to make their own choices and determine their paths and directions in life.

Lifeline Partnership
www.lifelinepartnership.org
Lifeline Partnership is an organization that serves the spiritual and the social needs of people with developmental disabilities. Founded in 1954, the mission is to provide a supportive, nurturing environment for the personal growth of people with developmental disabilities.

Project ACTION!
www.facebook.com/dcprojectaction
Project ACTION! is a regional self-advocacy coalition of self-advocates from the District of Columbia and Maryland. ACTION! stands for Advocacy, Change, Training, Information, Organizing and Networking! Our members and leadership are all adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. At our monthly meetings and activities, we educate one another about rights, update each other on important issues and events, practice speaking up, set priorities and celebrate achievements.

Shared Horizons
www.shared-horizons.org
Shared Horizons is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to manage Pooled Special Needs Trusts. Their goal is to protect public benefits, provide goods and services, and preserve assets and funds.

District of Columbia Government Resources

DC Department on Developmental Disabilities
www.dds.dc.gov/page/about-dds
The Department on Disability Services (DDS) provides the residents of the District of Columbia with information, oversight and coordination of services for people with disabilities and those who support them, such as service providers and employers. DDS supports the District’s Disability Determination Division where Social Security Disability Insurance claims determinations are processed.

DC Developmental Disabilities Council
www.ddc.dc.gov
The District of Columbia Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) seeks to strengthen the voice of people with developmental disabilities and their families in DC in support of greater independence, inclusion, empowerment, and the pursuit of life as they choose. We strive to create change that eliminates discrimination and removes barriers to full inclusion through our advocacy.

DC Office on Disability Rights
www.odr.dc.gov
The mission of the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR) is to ensure that the programs, services, benefits, activities and facilities operated or funded by the District of Columbia are fully accessible to, and useable by people with disabilities. ODR is committed to inclusion, community-based services, and self-determination for people with disabilities. ODR is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the City’s obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as other disability rights laws.

Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs
https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/mola
Since 1976 the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) has served the Latino community of the District of Columbia. The mission of MOLA is to improve the quality of life of the District’s Latino residents by addressing a broad range of social and economic needs through strategic management of public and private partnerships, expertise on policy, community relations, civic engagement, and community-based grants.

National Disability Resources

American Association of People with Disabilities
www.aapd.org
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities.

Administration on Community Living
www.acl.gov
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities

Autistic Self Advocacy Network
www.autisticadvocacy.org
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) 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. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us.

The Arc of the United States
www.thearc.org
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
www.bazelon.org
Since 1972, the Bazelon Center has advocated for the civil rights, full inclusion, and equality of adults and children with mental disabilities. Today, the Bazelon Center accomplishes its goals through a combination of litigation, public policy advocacy, coalition building and leadership, public education, media outreach, and technical assistance.

National Council on Disability
www.ncd.org
The National Council on Disability (NCD) 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. NCD is comprised of a team of Presidential and Congressional appointees, an Executive Director appointed by the Chair, and a full-time professional staff.

National Disability Rights Network
www.ndrn.org
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) works in Washington, DC on behalf of the Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) and Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), the nation’s largest providers of legal advocacy services for people with disabilities. NDRN promotes the network’s capacity, ensures that P&As/CAPs remain strong and effective by providing training and technical assistance, and advocates for laws protecting the civil and human rights of all people with disabilities.

National Resource Center on Supported Decision Making
www.supporteddecisionmaking.org
The National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making (NRC-SDM) will address the needs of all people in need of assistance with decision-making and specifically coordinate collaboration between the aging and disability networks around this important topic. The NRC-SDM will also be integrated across disciplines to ensure that centers work addresses the policy, legal, research, clinical and practical aspects needed to make Supported Decision-making operational in day to day practice.