The ARC of the United States. "The Arc is the national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families. It is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for people with mental retardation and their families. The association also fosters research and education regarding the prevention of mental retardation in infants and young children." 

Of special interest to people with many kinds of disabilities will be the ARC’s List of Publications that can be downloaded free of charge. More than thirty are offered, some in Spanish. They include, for example:

"Pooled trust programs for people with disabilities: A guide for families." Pooled trust programs enable families or other caregivers, and in some cases individuals with disabilities, to establish relatively inexpensive and effective trust accounts that provide supplemental funds for the person with a disability while protecting him or her from losing important government benefits.

CFIDS Association of America. Site includes useful "legal issues" department that discusses: health insurance: Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental security income (SSI); private long-term disability insurance; workplace issues; finding an attorney; and returning to work after being on disability.

Interstitial Cystitis Association. Useful information for patients and professionals on interstitial cystitis (IC). Considerable information on Social Security disability claims.

Lupus Foundation of America. Key information about lupus including: what is lupus?; Lupus Fact Sheet; frequently asked questions; Late Onset Lupus Fact Sheet; statistics about lupus; testing yourself for lupus; and types of lupus. Also, a handy "chapter locator" for those who want to contact a local group.

National Stroke Association. Extensive information on stroke prevention, evaluation, treatment, and caregiving. Some excellent downloadable free booklets.

Government

GovBenefits. The Labor Department is simplifying access to information about government benefits with its new "GovBenefits" web site. The site currently covers 55 programs of different federal agencies - not just the Department of Labor. According to the April 30 Washington Post, it will cover 300 programs eventually. Plans are being made to include state and local programs. The site’s front page tells visitors, "The GovBenefits program list is expanding regularly to include more programs. Please check back . . ."

SSA-Funded Benefits Specialists: Directory

SSA-Funded Protection & Advocacy Specialists: Directory

SSA Ticket to Work Providers: Directory

Literature

^{The Key to Managed Care: A Guide for People with Physical Disabilities. How to  maximize benefits of managed health care plans.  From National  Rehabilitation Hospital. (Big Adobe Acrobat® file.) click here}

^{Social Security & Income Tax: Note by Social Security Advisory Service (a private publisher) click here}

^Education

^{Christian Homeschool Fellowship on the Web Christian Homeschool Fellowship on the Web has a collection of articles, a bookstore, and a message board made up of 10 sections. CHFWeb designed, maintains, and hosts the Web sites for Third Floor Publishing and Physicians' Disability Services, Inc.}

^{Third Floor Publishing Barbara & Douglas Smith, authors of Teach Me Lord That I May Teach, write and publish books sharing about the lessons they have learned homeschooling and a local homeschool newsletter.}

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