resources
Resource Link Library
Advocacy and Rights |
Employment |
Financial |
Independent Living |
New York State Agencies |
Strategic Sharing |
Transition |
Wellness |
Youth and Disability Voice |
Youth Guided Practice |
Advocacy and Rights
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) | The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community, advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power. |
Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans | A helpful chart comparing IEPs and 504 plans and your rights and responsibilities with both. |
IDEA 504 Checklist | This link provides a checklist of reasonable accommodations that can support you in obtaining your education in the least restrictive environment. |
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act | Information and resources on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law esnures free and appropriate education for young people with disabilities up to age 21. |
Northeast ADA Center | Information, guidance, and training on implementation of all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) |
NYCLU “Know Your Rights” Resource Library | The New York Civil Liberties Union has an extensive library of “Know Your Rights” materials to help New Yorkers understand their rights and react effectively when their rights are under threat. |
Self-Advocate’s Guide to the ADA | A plain-language resource guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act created by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) |
Youth@Work | The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commision's (EEOC) website for youth in the workforce. This website teaches about rights and responsibilities as an employee, and what you can do to address discrimination. |
Employment
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) | The Job Accommodation Network provides information on accommodations for work. This includes examples of accommodations, your rights, information on how to request an accommodation, and more. |
Financial
Pat Figueroa, Jr. Scholarship Program | The New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. (NYSILC) is supporting young leaders (age 18-28) by providing The Patricio “Pat” Figueroa, Jr. Scholarship. The scholarship provides funding for young adults with disabilities to attend and participate in independent living related conferences and/or national disability and leadership trainings. |
Independent Living
Access to Independence (ATI) of Cortland County | Access to Independence empowers people with disabilities to lead independent lives in their community and strives to open doors to full participation and access for all. |
Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) | The ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) program is a national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance in independent living. |
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) | The National Council on Independent Living is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States. |
New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) | The New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) is a statewide, not-for-profit membership association created by and composed of Independent Living Centers across New York State. |
New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) | The New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, consumer controlled organization. The council is composed of 26 appointees from around the state, a majority of whom have disabilities, representing diverse cultures and needs in the state. NYSILC is responsible for jointly developing, monitoring, and evaluating the three-year Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). |
Western New York Independent Living, Inc. (WNYIL) | WNY Independent Living Inc. is a catalyst for systems and individual change, enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities, while respecting diversity, and promoting choices and alternatives for independent living in our societies. |
New York State Agencies
Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) | ACS is the NYC Agency responsible for child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care and education services. |
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation (ACESS-VR) | ACCES-VR provides a range of employment and independent living services that may be needed by persons with disabilities throughout their lives. |
Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) | BOCES programs are shared between school districts to offer: career and technical programs for students, services for students with disabilities, employment training programs, professional development, and more. |
Council on Children and Families (CCF) | CCF serves as a broker, innovator, and change agent among the state's health, education, and human services agencies. The Council helps provide cross-systems perspective to the work of agencies and services provided by our state. |
Department of Health (DOH) | DOH provides and manages services and supports for the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers. |
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) | DOHMH is New York City's public health agency. They provide services and support to protect and promote the health of New Yorkers. This includes issuing birth certificates, dog licenses, and conducting restaurant inspection and enforcement. |
Department of Labor (DOL) | DOL protects workers, assists those who are unemployed, and connects job seekers to jobs. This includes setting wage standards, providing job trainings, operating the State's unemployment insurance, and more. |
Department of Youth and Community Development (NYC DCYD) | NYC DYCD provides after school programs, employment support, resources for runaway and homeless youth, and more. |
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) | The DDPC is a Federally-funded agency that operates under the direction of the Governor. They develop and fund innovative, disability-related projects to improve the lives of people with disabilities. |
Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) | DCJS provides resources and services that inform decision making and improve the quality of the criminal justice system. This includes law enforcement training, juvenile justice policy, maintaining criminal history records, and more. |
Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs | The Justice Center investigates reports of abuse and neglect in facilities and programs, provides guidance and support to individuals, and develops abuse prevention initiatives. |
New York State Education Department (NYSED) | NYSED oversees and regulates schools, colleges, and universities. |
Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) | OPWDD is responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. |
Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) | OASAS is the New York State Agency that oversees addiction recovery and prevention programs for drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions. |
Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) | OCFS provides a system of family support, juvenile justice, child care, and child welfare services. They are responsible for programs and services involving foster care, adoption, child protective services, preventive services, and more. |
Office of Mental Health (OMH) | OMH operates psychiatric centers across the state. OMH also regulates, certifies, and oversees more that 4,500 program operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies. |
Office of Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA) | OTDA is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance in paying for food, overseeing the State's child support enforcement program, determining certain aspects for eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits, supervising homeless housing and services programs, and more. |
Strategic Sharing
Strategic Sharing Workbook: Youth Voice in Advocacy | A guide created by the National Federation of Families and Pathways RTC to support young people in sharing their stories both safely and effectively. |
Transition
Multiple System Navigator | Access helpful health, education, human service and disability information on one user-friendly website. Built for youth, parents, family members and caregivers that rely on supports from multiple child and family serving systems. |
Wellness
Protecting Your Space and Wellbeing on Instagram | Accessing supportive communities can be hard to do offline. That's why Instagram can be a great place to engage with LGBTQ inclusive and life-affirming content and communities. The Trevor Project worked with Instagram to create this guide to support your well-being and help you practice self-care online. |
Youth and Disability Voice
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) | The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community, advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power. |
Youth MOVE National | Youth MOVE National is a youth-driven, chapter-based organization dedicated to uniting the voices of youth nationwide. |
Youth Voices Matter | New York State network of young people in recovery who use their voice to advocate and educate others while growing in their own recover process. |
Youth Guided Practice
Engaging Young People in How Learning Happens | This youth engagement guide contains actionable strategies that educators, program providers, coaches, mentors, and other youth-supporting adults can use to authentically listen to and engage with young people about how they experience social, emotional, and cognitive development. The guide features 10 steps for meaningful and mutually beneficial engagement. |
Youth Engagement Discussion Guide | This discussion guide offers topical discussion questions focused on the issues that young people have identified as priorities at this moment in time. This guide can be used by school, district, out-of-school time, and other community leaders or youth-supporting adults who wish to partner with young people in their communities to better understand their experiences with issues that matter to them. The four discussion topics presented in this guide are: 1) Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic; 2) Race and Racism; 3) Virtual and Blended Learning; and 4) Communicating across Ideological Differences. |