Dealing with multiple agencies, healthcare teams, and systems can often be confusing and frustrating to families who are already coping with a child with illness or disability. The following resources offer assistance on how to make sure your child is receiving the necessary services he or she is entitled to receiving.
100 N. 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-977-8830
215-977-8228 (FAX #)
Beach Center on Families and Disabilities
Provides information on strengthening the motivation, resource and skills of families.
Bright Futures
Provides information on how parents and healthcare providers can be partners in caring for children. There is an interactive web page for exchanging ideas and tips about specific parenting issues.
Children's Defense Fund
A voice for children with particular attention to poor, minority and disabled children.
Disabilities Law Project
Provides free legal assistance to children and adults who are developmentally disabled, including children with serious mental health problems, in cases involving discrimination on the basis of handicap or access to services.
Families USA
Families USA is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans.
Family Village
This site integrates information, resources and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with mental retardation and other disabilities, for their families, and for those who provide them services and support.
Family Voices
Family Voices is a national, grassroots clearinghouse for information and education concerning the health care of children with special health needs.
International Ventilator Users Network
IVUN links ventilator users with each other and with health care professionals interested in mechanical ventilation and home care.
Juvenile Law Center
Provides free legal representation to a limited number of children who are subject to proceedings under the Juvenile Act (dependent to delinquent).
Kids Together
Information and resources to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities, and communities as a whole.
National Association of Child Advocates
NACA is a national organization working on the front lines to ensure the safety, security, health and education of America's children.
Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights
Lists many web sites with information and publications.
Parent Education Network (PEN)
pen.parent@net.org
Provides technical assistance, consultation and referral for assistance with parents' area, workshops on special education laws, regulations, and communication skills. Publishes informational materials.
Parents Exchange
Parents Exchange is an information, referral and advocacy service for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and professionals who work with our families.
Parents Union for Public Schools (Philadelphia, PA)
parentsu@aol.com
Provides information about education in Philadelphia public schools and special education advocacy.
Pennsylvania Health Law Project
PHLP is a nationally recognized expert and consultant on access to health care for low-income consumers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. For more than a decade, PHLP has engaged in direct advocacy on behalf of individual consumers while working on the kinds of health policy changes that promise the most to the Pennsylvanians in greatest need.
Temple University Disability Resources and Services
This site is designed to offer easy access to information and services for students, faculty and staff at Temple University. It includes many useful and informative links for people with disabilities.
The Special Ed Advocate
This site offers parents, educators, attorneys and other helping professionals with the information they need to be effective advocates for special needs children.
