Community Resources

Alternative Format Textbooks

  • Bookshare®
    Bookshare® is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities, thanks to an award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). A searchable online library, Bookshare offers approximately 125,000 digital books, textbooks, teacher-recommended reading, periodicals and assistive technology
  • Learning Ally
    Records books into alternate formats for people who are blind, visually impaired, or dyslexic.

Assistive Technology

  • Able Data
    Provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitative equipment.
  • Ability Hub
    Provides information for people who find operating a computer difficult or impossible. This site directs users to adaptive equipment vendors and more.
  • Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)
    The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is the national network of community-based resource centers, developers, vendors, and associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. Includes information for students transitioning to postsecondary education.

College Preparedness

Education

  • Easter Seals Greater Houston
    Easter Seals Greater Houston is committed to being a lifelong partner for individuals of all ages with all types of disabilities, and their families. ESGH offers a full complement of services ranging from infancy to adulthood, including programs for their families.
  • Family Village/Waisman Center
    The Family Village is a web site for children and adults with disabilities, their families, and their friends and allies. Family Village brings together thousands of online resources in a organized, easy-to-use directory. The centerpiece of Family Village is the library, where visitors can find information on over 300 diagnosis. Visitors can also learn about assistive technology, legal rights and legislation, special education, leisure activities and much more.
  • Going to College
    A training module with activities, resources and information to help students with disabilities to prepare to go to college.
  • Heath Resource Center at the National Youth Transitions Center
    The HEATH Resource Center is an online clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities.

Employment

  • Bender Consulting Services, Inc.
    Bender Consulting Services finds employment for people with disabilities.
  • Campaign for Disability Employment
    Collaborative effort to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers, and others, to recognize the value and talent that people with disabilities bring to the workplace; public service announcement can be viewed from the web site where contest winner videos and other useful resources can also be found.
  • Job Accommodation Network
    The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.

  • washington.edu careers
    Successful work experiences and career preparation activities increase a student's chances of obtaining employment upon completion of an academic program. AccessCAREERS provides information and resources and shares promising practices for the purpose of increasing access to careers for individuals with disabilities. Much of the content is duplicated in other publications, training materials, and web pages published by DO-IT.

Financial Help / Other

  • National PASS Network
    Assists people with disabilities to access Social Security disability benefits and to use the program to fund vocational and educational opportunities through the program's work incentive programs.
  • Social Security Online
    Federal web site for obtaining information about Social Security benefits, including disability and Medicare. On-line benefit applications are available.
  • Texas Health and Human Services Commission
    The mission of HHSC is to maintain and improve the health and human services system in Texas and to administer its programs in accordance with the highest standards of customer service and accountability for the effective use of funds.

Hearing Impairment

Health Impairment

Learning Disabilities

Legal

  • American Association of People with Disabilities
    Largest national non-profit cross-disability member organization in the United States. AAPD works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of disability nondiscrimination laws.
  • Disability Rights Texas
    State agency that provides free legal assistance and advocacy services to Texans who have disabilities.

Mental Health

Scholarships

Veterans

  • TexVet
    Resources for veterans, active duty military, families, and community.

Visual Impairment

  • American Foundation for the Blind
    Provides information and resources for living with blindness for family, friends, professionals, and employers.
  • National Federation for the Blind
    The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind.