This website contains the Disability & Health Data System, an online interactive system that provides state-level, disability-specific health information and data. By centralizing this data, this system allows users to learn about the difference in health measures between people with disabilities and people without disabilities; compare data by state and region; and identify trends to help support the development of further research; state programs, services and policies; and health communications activities.
View the Website – Disability & Health Data System
This Policy Research Brief from the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota observes and summarizes research and policy considerations that state legislators may face as they make decisions pertaining to people with disabilities and institutions in their own states. It reviews strategies being used by states as they move to close institutions and their efforts in handling federal cuts in Medicaid, housing assistance and other areas. The article also addresses how all people can successfully be supported in the community.
View this Research Brief – Status of Institutional Closure Efforts in 2005
This website offers information about friendships, relationships, and sexuality to young adults with disabilities. Through videos, self-advocates discuss helpful strategies for developing friendship and relationship skills. Topics include how to find friends, cope with losing friends, become self-aware in a romantic relationship, and recognize abuse. This website is designed for youth with disabilities living in Canada; however, the information offered can be applied to young adults in the United States as well.
View the Website – iBelong!
This document provides a list of iPad apps for children with autism. Categories of apps include reading, science, math, social studies, communication, art, music, fine/visual motor and more. Descriptions, prices and ratings based on quality are provided for each app to help parents in selecting the most useful ones for their child.
View the Guide – Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Education Apps
This website provides information about the many services and supports of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center as well as resources available at Vanderbilt University that can provide key information to families and people with disabilities nationwide. The Family Outreach Center assists individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families in finding and navigating supports and services, accessing information and resources, and connecting to others in the local community.
View the Website – Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: Family Outreach Center
United We Ride (UWR) is a federal interagency initiative aimed at improving the availability, quality, and efficient delivery of transportation services for older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with lower incomes. It works with government agencies, non-profit and private organizations to achieve its overall goals of simplifying access and increasing customer satisfaction. This website contains resources and useful tools including fact sheets, toolkits, articles and guides pertaining to topics relating to transportation.
View the Website – United We Ride
This webpage provides a comprehensive list of disability employment policy resources by topic. These resources are compiled by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, which works to develop and influence policies to increase the employment of people with disabilities. Topics include accommodations, customized employment, transportation, federal employment and more.
View the Website – DOL: Office of Disability Employment Policy
This webpage offers general information about the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) funded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. This multi-year study will help expand knowledge about physical and behavioral characteristics of children with ASDs and other developmental disabilities, health conditions among children with and without ASDs, and factors associated with a child’s risk for developing ASDs. This study takes place across six states and involves families with children ages 2-5.
View the Website – CDC: Study to Explore Early Development (SEED)
This webpage, developed by the American Public Transportation Association, assists individuals in finding public transit options in their state and county. Transit options include shuttles, buses, cabs, rail services, and more. The website for each transit agency is provided in order to help people locate more information about their particular transportation options.
View the Website – American Public Transportation Association: Public Transit in Your Community
The article presents findings from a study conducted by the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. The study focused on the experiences of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and non-recipients and their families, particularly the impact that continuing or discontinuing SSI benefits has on individuals with disabilities after age 18. Their efforts to achieve post-school employment, independent living, and related community participations outcomes were examined. The study found these outcomes were difficult for youth with disabilities to achieve due to significant obstacles including: workplace environments that are not prepared for employing individuals with disabilities, constraints relating to issues of transportation and personal safety, and family dependence on SSI benefits and related benefits.
View the Brief – University of Minnesota: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities in Relation to SSI Redetermination (PDF)
