We hope this page is a repository of helpful links as you search for local and national special needs and disability resources.
We appreciate our partner organizations who are also doing great work to ensure disabled individuals and the families of individuals with special needs lead the best possible, highest-quality of life.
National Resources
Legal
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
https://www.naela.org/
Advocacy
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.agbell.org
American Council of the Blind
http://www.acb.org
Disabled American Veterans
https://www.dav.org
Easter Seals
http://www.easterseals.com
The Epilepsy Foundation
http://www.epilepsy.com
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
https://www.nami.org
National Down Syndrome Society
http://www.ndss.org
National PLAN Alliance
http://nationalplanalliance.org/
United Cerebral Palsy
http://www.ucp.org
Government
Social Security Administration
https://www.ssa.gov
Medicare
https://www.medicare.gov
MassHealth
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/masshealth
Massachusetts Resources
Legal
Disability Law Center, Inc.
http://www.dlc-ma.org
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
http://massadvocates.org
Massachusetts Bar Association – Lawyer Referral Service –
https://www.masslawhelp.com/
Massachusetts Guardianship Association
http://www.massguardianshipassociation.org
Mass Legal Help
http://www.masslegalhelp.org/disability
MassNAELA
https://massnaela.com
Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
https://www.vlpnet.org
Advocacy
Asperger/Autism Network (AANE)
https://www.aane.org/
Best Buddies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island
https://www.bestbuddies.org/mari/
Carroll Center for the Blind
https://carroll.org/
Cardinal Cushing Centers
https://cushingcenters.org/
Northeast Arc
https://ne-arc.org
Special Olympics Massachusetts
https://www.specialolympicsma.org/
The ARC of Massachusetts
http://thearcofmass.org
Centers for Independent Living
https://www.mass.gov/independent-living-centers
Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change
http://mfofc.org
Smile Mass
https://smilemass.org/
Government
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
http://www.mass.gov/elders/healthcare
Executive Office of Health & Human Services
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/masshealth
Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
https://www.mass.gov/contact-the-attorney-generals-office
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
http://www.mass.gov/mcad
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-commission-for-the-blind
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-commission-for-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/housing-and-community-development
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
http://www.mass.gov/anf/employment-equal-access-disability/oversight-agencies/mddc
Massachusetts Downsyndrome Congress
https://mdsc.org/
Massachusetts Office on Disability
http://www.mass.gov/anf/employment-equal-access-disability/oversight-agencies/mod
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-rehabilitation-commission-0
Massachusetts – Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Centralized Waiting List
http://www.section8listmass.org
Rhode Island Resources
Legal
Help RI Law: Rhode Island Legal Services
https://www.helprilaw.org/
Rhode Island Legal Services
http://www.rils.org/contact.cfm
RI Elder Info
https://rielderinfo.com/legal-help-for-seniors-in-ri/
Advocacy
Advocates in Action Rhode Island
http://www.advocatesinaction.org/
The Autism Project
https://theautismproject.org
The ARC of Rhode Island
https://thearc.org/chapter/the-arc-rhode-island-family-advocacy-network/
The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island, Inc.
https://biari.org/
Community Provider Network of Rhode Island (CPNRI)
https://www.cpnri.org/
Down Syndrome of Rhode Island
http://www.dssri.org/
Disability Rights Rhode Island
https://drri.org/contact-us/
In-Sight
https://in-sight.org
Leading Age RI
https://www.leadingageri.org
New England ADA Center
http://www.newenglandada.org
Hotline: 1 (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)
Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
https://w3.ric.edu/sherlockcenter/index.html
Ocean State for Independent Living
http://oscil.org/
Rhode Island Advocacy for Children
https://riadvocacyforchildren.org/
Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families
https://www.riccf.org/
Rhode Island Parent Information Network
http://www.ripin.org/
Rhode Island Rights and Access Coalition
https://ridrac.org/
United Way of Rhode Island
https://www.uwri.org/2-1-1/
Government
Rhode Island Attorney General
http://www.riag.ri.gov/
Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council
http://www.riddc.org/
Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
https://eohhs.ri.gov
The Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH)
https://bhddh.ri.gov
Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging
https://oha.ri.gov
Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS)
https://dhs.ri.gov
Office at Rehabilitation Services (ORS)
https://ors.ri.gov
Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (RICDHH)
http://www.cdhh.ri.gov
Rhode Island Housing Assistance Information (HUD RI)
https://www.hud.gov/states/rhode_island/renting
Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services
https://vets.ri.gov
Resources for Seniors
Information on Aging In Place, Living Your Best Possible Life With Disability, Caregiving, and More
https://liftandcaresystems.com/resources
Guide to Home Modifications to Prevent Falls
https://www.bigrentz.com/how-to-guides/guide-home-modifications-prevent-seniors-falling
Handling Debt for Older Adults
https://www.annuityfreedom.net/financial-literacy/seniors-debt/
Fall Prevention
https://acl.gov/FallsPrevention
How to Safely Pick up a Senior After a Fall
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/pick-up-a-senior-after-a-fall-170447.htm
Legal Guide for Seniors
https://www.justgreatlawyers.com/legal-resources-considerations-seniors-special-needs
COVID Resources for Seniors
https://www.ncoa.org/ncoa_acf/covid-19-resources-for-older-adults/
Bathroom Modifications for Seniors and People with Disabilities
https://www.saniflodepot.com/pages/bathroom-modifications-for-seniors-and-people-with-disabilities