top of page

Resource & Agency Directory

Legal, Advocacy, & Financial Resources

Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs

Charleston

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free access to a comprehensive catalog of resource materials. Items available for loan include books, audio and video cassette tapes, articles, journals, and a variety of training curricula. The Family Resource Center library contains topics related to specific disabilities, self-advocacy issues, current therapies, and special education. Many resources are available in Spanish and arrangements may be made to access materials through any Family Resource Center satellite branch.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is the largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for federal public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society.

Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

Protecting the Legal and Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities and their Families

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

To advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.

IDEA Partnerships

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

The IDEA Partnership reflects the collaborative work of more than 50 national organizations, technical assistance providers, and organizations and agencies at state and local level.

National ARC

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

Promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

NACDD is the national association for the 56 Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils) across the United States and its territories. The DD Councils receive federal funding to support programs that promote self-determination, integration and inclusion for all people in the United States with developmental disabilities.

PACER Center

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

PACER Center enhances the quality of life and expands opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families so each person can reach his or her highest potential. PACER operates on the principles of parents helping parents, supporting families, promoting a safe environment for all children, and working in collaboration with others. With assistance to individual families, workshops, materials for parents and professionals, and leadership in securing a free and appropriate public education for all children, PACER's work affects and encourages families in Minnesota and across the nation.

The Advocacy Institute

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

The Advocacy Institute is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the development of products, projects and services that work to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

World Economic Forum

National

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Brain Injury Association of South Carolina

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

Providing support and education to individuals with traumatic brain injury, their families, and professionals.

Center for Disability Resources

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

Our mission is to enhance the well-being and quality of life of persons with disabilities and their families. We collaborate with persons with disabilities and their families to develop new knowledge and best practices, train leaders, and effect systems change.

Impact SC

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

To encourage positive change for people with disabilities through working together to enhance lives while making a stand for change.

LowCountry Voices for Special Needs

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

We are an advocacy organization devoted to people with lifelong disabilities in the state of South Carolina. Our focus is to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to their community and the necessary services to maintain a quality life experience. We are committed to educating,empowering and protecting the rights of these valuable citizens. Our goal is to raise awareness.

Protection & Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc.

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

Under annual priorities set by a volunteer Board of Directors, P&A investigates reports of abuse and neglect and advocates for disability rights in areas such as health care, education, employment and housing. P&A serves people of all ages and disabilities. P&A does not charge for its services. P&A does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, sex or sexual orientation, veteran status or any other class protected by law in the provision of its programs or services. Pete Cantrell is P&A’s designated coordinator for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

South Carolina Advocates for Epilepsy

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

S.A.F.E. is available to teach seizure first-aid to schools, employers, churches, daycares, sports teams and civic organizations.

South Carolina Autism Society

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

The mission of the South Carolina Autism Society (SCAS) is to equip those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders with knowledge and support to maximize their quality of life.

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

SCDDSN is the state agency that plans, develops, oversees and funds services for South Carolinians with severe, lifelong disabilities of intellectual disability, autism, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury and conditions related to each of these four disabilities. Our mission is to assist people with disabilities and their families in meeting needs, pursuing possibilities and achieving life goals, and to minimize the occurrence and reduce the severity of disabilities through prevention.

South Carolina Speech Language Hearing Association

South Carolina

Advocacy

Image-empty-state.png

SCSHA is a professional and scholarly organization for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Our goal is to meet the needs of our members and the individuals they serve by promoting and advocating of the highest quality services and professional standards, providing opportunities for professional growth and the exchange of knowledge, and educating the public about communication disorders and the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.

Five Fish Foundation

Lowcountry

Financial

Image-empty-state.png

Five Fish Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to individuals with an intellectual disability and their families for approved therapies, programs, and products that promote their Support, Care, Acceptance, Life Quality, and Education in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties, South Carolina

Jenny Phillips

National

Financial

Image-empty-state.png

Helping You Create a Financial Plan That Grows With You Financial security is something many of us strive to achieve in our lives. You try to do what's right for those you care about, but the wrong financial decision can often undermine the best of intentions. Whether you are concerned for your own financial needs or those of your family or your business, I can help you identify your goals and dreams and develop a plan that addresses these needs and gets you started on the path to financial security.

Able South Carolina

South Carolina

Financial

Image-empty-state.png

Able South Carolina (Able SC) is a Center for Independent Living (CIL)– a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability nonprofit that provides an array of independent living services to people of all ages with all types of disabilities. Able SC challenges stereotypes, empowers disability rights, and leads social change. The majority of our staff and board of directors are individuals with disabilities, so we didn’t just learn our mission, we live it every day!

ACLU

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

KNOW YOUR RIGHTSBack to Know Your Rights main page
Disability Rights
People with disabilities face widespread discrimination, segregation, and exclusion. But federal disability rights laws can provide protection.

Birth Injury Justice System

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The Birth Injury Justice Center was created as a helpful resource focused on victims of birth injuries and their families. Our mission is to provide legal information and guidance and serve all families with disabilities caused by physical birth injuries.

Council for Exceptional Children

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. We accomplish our mission through advocacy, standards, and professional development.

FormsPal Minority Support

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

It is no secret that discrimination and unequal treatment permeate society in many of its layers. Legal paperwork is no exception. While everyone needs to have fundamental legal arrangements in place, such as a will of inheritance, real estate insurance, power of attorney in case of an emergency, and rental agreements, minorities are at a disadvantage when it comes to paying high attorney fees, taking time off their demanding jobs, and dealing with pre-tenancy issues.

IDEA

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

Matt Cohen & Associates, LLC.

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The law firm Matt Cohen & Associates, LLC maintains a general practice of law with an emphasis on special education and school-related issues, the legal problems of health care and human services providers and the legal needs of children and adults with substance dependency or mental, developmental and physical disabilities. Our services are provided through advocacy, informed and thoughtful consultation, representation in litigation and legislative efforts. The staff is committed to clients through advocacy work and continued education of the general public and concerned families.

National Adult Protective Services Association

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) is a national non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with members in all fifty states. Formed in 1989, the goal of NAPSA is to provide Adult Protective Services (APS) programs a forum for sharing information, solving problems, and improving the quality of services for victims of elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of APS at the national, state, and local levels, to effectively and efficiently recognize, report, and respond to the needs of elders and adults with disabilities who are the victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and to prevent such abuse whenever possible.

National Disability Rights Network

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The National Disability Rights Network works in Washington, DC on behalf of the Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) and Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), the nation’s largest providers of legal advocacy services for people with disabilities.

Special Needs Alliance

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law. Individuals with disabilities, their families and their advisors rely on the SNA to connect them with nearby attorneys who focus their practices in the disability law arena.

U.S. Department of Labor

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

ndividuals with disabilities are protected from employment discrimination by Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act). The ADA covers employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

Learn more about Discrimination Laws here.

Wrightslaw

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.

Birth Injury Justice Center

National

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The Birth Injury Justice Center was created as a helpful resource focused on victims of birth injuries and their families. Our mission is to provide legal information and guidance and serve all families with disabilities caused by physical birth injuries.

Able South Carolina

South Carolina

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

Able SC is a disability-led organization seeking transformational changes in systems, communities, and individuals.

SC Developmental Disabilities Council

South Carolina

Legal

Image-empty-state.png

The mission of the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council is to provide leadership in planning, funding, and implementing initiatives that lead to improved quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change.

bottom of page