Our News and Notes from the NIDILRR Community and Beyond newsletter always includes a resource from a government agency or organization outside of the NIDILRR community. (Are you signed up for our weekly newsletter?) These are trusted sources of information for the disability and rehabilitation community. Each is carefully selected to ensure it is relevant to the broadest range of our subscribers. Here are some of the places we regularly turn to for new and valuable resources for the community:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)

We often turn to the National Institutes of Health for new and interesting resources for health and healthcare. Start at Medline Plus, curated by the National Library of Medicine, for information about specific disabilities or conditions, treatments and interventions, and general health guidance. Explore the individual institutes, like the National Eye Institute or the National Institute for Mental Health, to dive deeper into the evidence-based information they publish and the research they fund. These institutes have active social media and email lists where they share a lot of news and information.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

The Office of Disability Employment Policy at the Department of Labor is our go-to for employment-related resources. They develop or support the development of publications, programs, toolkits, and more for employers and federal hiring managers, employees, job seekers, young people in transition from school to work, and policy makers. They support the Job Accommodation Network, the What Can You Do? campaign for Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion, and much, much more.

Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

ADA.gov is the site for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division which enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Head here for an introduction to the ADA, learn how to file an ADA complaint, read up on the latest enforcement actions and court cases, and much more. Take a few minutes to explore their beta site while you’re there.

The Access Board

The Access Board promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in inclusive design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. This agency works across several industries: architecture and construction, transportation, information and communication technology, infrastructure, and healthcare. The Access Board holds regular public meetings, webinars, and other events to educate industry and the public. Check out their accessibility animations demonstrating guidelines for everything from bathrooms to parking spaces.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SAMHSA leads public efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA funds a range of research and service programs, most of which are operated by agencies and organizations on the national, state, or local level. SAMHSA also funds several service locator tools and national helplines to connect people with services and treatment of substance and opioid use disorders, behavioral health, suicide prevention, veterans in crisis, and disaster distress.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL)

ACL is home to NIDILRR and a host of other programs that fund services and supports for people with disabilities, older adults, caregivers, and professionals. In 2021 we added a section to News and Notes called Elsewhere at ACL to highlight the important work of the broader ACL community. ACL itself may host web events or publish reports which we have highlighted in the Elsewhere at ACL section of News and Notes. ACL and the Administration on Aging host the Eldercare Locator service, a searchable database of services and supports available on the local level for older adults and caregivers.  Most of the service provision and resource development is done by organizations and agencies that receive funding from ACL’s grant programs. These include Centers for Independent Living and Aging and Disability Resource Centers.

Resource Centers

Several federal agencies fund resource and technical assistance centers to support consumers and providers. These organizations provide training, develop publications, and offer information and referral services. These centers are often funded under a grant or cooperative agreement, so we may not include them in our Elsewhere section (which focuses on government resources), but we regularly turn to these centers to assist our patrons in answering their questions:

• Paralysis Resource Center
• National Limb Loss Resource Center
• National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
• National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC)
• Housing and Services Resource Center

These are just a few examples of federally funded resource centers which may be able to assist you in finding information, services, and support in your community. Need more? Visit our Knowledgebase! And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter!