Advocacy, Personal Power and Rights
California Organizations
- Disability Rights California (formerly Protection and Advocacy Inc.)
Organization devoted to advocacy on behalf of Californians with disabilities. Educates people with disabilities on their rights, investigates complaints about serious abuse or neglect, provides support for the families of people with disabilities, and provides legislative and rights advocacy for people with disabilities.
- The Arc of California
World’s largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
California Disability Community Action Network
Advocacy connecting people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, workers, and low income families to disability rights, senior rights, civil rights, and unified action.- California Independent Living Centers
Provide nonresidential, community based support for people with disabilities. They aim to free people with disabilities from institutional living and provide the community support and education to help them live where they choose.
- People First of California
PFCA helps start, inform and support local chapters so that we, and all people with developmental disabilities are able to speak for ourselves, know our rights and responsibilities, and are respected, valued members of our communities.
- Supported Life Institute (SLI)
Offers educational and training opportunities to assist individuals and organizations in the work of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
- Family Resource Centers Network of California
Organization that helps parents, families, and children locate and utilize needed services.
- WarmLine Family Resource Center
Provides information, education, and support for families and children with special needs. It serves the Counties of Alpine, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo.
- Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
Parent-run information and resource center helping families of children with special needs in Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
- The Help Group
Organization centered in the Los Angeles area which serves chidren with special needs related to autism, Asperger's disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, mental retardation, abuse and emotional problems.
National Organizations
- Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights
PACER is a national organization that helps children and young adults with disabilities and their families based on the idea of parents helping parents.
- Family Voices
Advocacy group for families who have children with special health care needs. It includes several chapters in California. The countrywide network of volunteers, regional coordinators, staff, and family and friends of children shares information, experiences, and expertise with other families, professional partners, youth leaders, and policymakers.
- The Disability Rights Fund (DRF)
Collaboration between donors and the disability community to advance the new United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The DRF focuses grant making on building the capacity of Disabled Persons Organizations to be full and equal participants in the achievement of rights for the world’s 650 million people with disabilities.
- Disability Benefits 101
Provides information about disability benefits and benefit calculators for a variety of life situations.
- Disability Law Handbook
A 50-page free guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws.
- Partners in Policymaking
Free resources and training about influencing public policy and self advocating.
- SABE Develops People First Language Brochure
Pamphlet to learn more about People First Language. Offer it to social service agencies and elected officials.
- National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth Releases Disability History Guide
Guide to learn about the rich history of people with disabilities. Designed primarily for youth and emerging leaders with disabilities. Can be used with general audiences.
- International and Comparative Disability Law Web Resources
Bibliographic web resource on international and comparative disability law.
- Disability Rights Fund
Resources related to disability, laws, and policies.
- Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008
Resource page regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.


