This document describes 10 federal disability related agencies. The information was excerpted from the following publication: HEALTH INFORMATION RESOURCES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIXTH EDITION, 1994 Prepared by National Health Information Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services P.O. Box 1133 Washington, DC 20013-1133 ---------- National Information Center for Children and Youth with DISABILITIES P.O. Box 1492 Washington, DC 20013 (703)893-606l (800)999-5599 (24-hours-answered live with message for after-office hours) (703)893-8614 (TT) Services: The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) is a national information clearinghouse authorized by Congress under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to assist parents, educators, caregivers, advocates, and others working to improve the lives of children and youth with disabilities. NICHCY has established a strong network with parents and professional groups throughout the country. Services include personal responses to specific questions, referrals to other organizations/sources of help, and technical assistance to parents and professional groups. Publications: NICHCY develops and distributes fact sheets on specific disabilities, general information for parents, vocational/transitional issues, special education, and legal rights and advocacy, as well as information on parent support groups and public advocacy. Issue and briefing papers on current, relevant topics in the special education and disabilities field are published also. Information (pamphlets, booklets, and fact sheets) regarding pertinent disability issues obtained from other sources is available. Also, publications are available free of charge. Serial publications: News Digest and Transition Summary. ---------- President's Committee on Employment of People with DISABILITIES 1331 F Street NW. Washington, DC 20004 (202)376-6200 (voice) (202)376-6205 (TDD) Services: The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is an independent Federal agency. The Committee's mission is to facilitate the communication, coordination, and promotion of public private efforts to empower Americans with disabilities through employment. The Committee provides information, training, and technical assistance to America's business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, advocacy organizations, families, and individuals with disabilities. To achieve its goals, the Committee works closely with Governor's committees in the States, Puerto Rico, and Guam; with more than 600 Mayor's committees; and with some 300 volunteers who serve on 1of the 9 standing committees or on special task forces. The President's Committee reports annually to the President on the progress and problems of maximizing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Publications: The Committee's information programs include publications dealing with the Americans with Disabilities Act, employment issues, job accommodation, and data related to people with disabilities; the promotion of National Disability Employment Awareness Month; and a national conference on issues related to the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities. The Committee also sponsors the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a free service that provides information and consulting on accommodating persons with disabilities in the workplace. This service may be accessed by phone, (800)232-7234, or by computer bulletin board, (800)342-5526. ---------- National Council on DISABILITY 1331 F Street NW. Suite 1050 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 272-2004 (voice) (202) 272-2074 (TDD/TTY) (202) 272-2022 (fax) Services: The National Council on Disability was established by Congress in 1973 and was transformed into an independent Federal agency in 1984. The 15 members appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress review all laws, programs, and policies of the Federal Government that affect individuals with disabilities. The Council then makes recommendations to the President, Congress, and Federal agencies on these issues. In addition, the Council is studying the availability of health insurance coverage for persons with disabilities and sponsors conferences for families caring for the disabled. Publications: Serial publication: Bulletin (monthly newsletter). Reports: Toward Independence: An Assessment of Federal Laws and Programs Affecting Persons With Disabilities, With Legislative Recommendations, 1986. On the Threshold of Independence: A Report to the President and to the Congress of the United States, 1988; The Education of Students With Disabilities: Where Do We Stand? A Report to the President and the Congress of the United States, 1989; The Impact of Exemplary Technology, Support Programs on Students With Disabilities, 1991; Wilderness Accessibility for People With Disabilities: A Report to the President and the Congress of the United States on Section 507(a) of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 1992; Serving the Nation's Students With Disabilities: Progress and Prospects: A Report to the President and the Congress, 1993; Study on the Financing Assistive Technology Devices and Services for Individuals With Disabilities: A Report to the President and Congress, 1993; Sharing the Risk and Ensuring Independence: A Disability Perspective on Access to Health Insurance and Health-Related Services: A Report to the President and the Congress, 1993; ADA Watch, Year One: A Report to the President and the Congress on Progress in Implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1993; Meeting the Unique Needs of Minorities With Disabilities: A Report to the President and Congress, 1993. ---------- Clearinghouse on DISABILITY INFORMATION Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Switzer Building, Room 3132 330 C Street SW. Washington, DC 20202-2524 (202)205-8241 (202)205-8723 Services: The Clearinghouse on Disability Information, formerly the Clearinghouse on the Handicapped, was created by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Clearinghouse responds to inquiries and researches information operations serving the handicapped field on the national, State, and local levels. It is especially strong in providing information in the areas of Federal funding for programs serving disabled people, Federal legislation affecting the handicapped community, and Federal programs benefiting people with handicapping conditions. The Clearinghouse also refers inquirers to other appropriate sources of information. Publications: Publications available from the Clearinghouse include OSERS News in Print (newsletter), A Summary of Existing Legislation Affecting People With Disabilities, and Pocket Guide to Federal Help for Individuals With Disabilities. ---------- National Institute on DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION Research 400 Maryland Avenue SW. Washington, DC 20202-2572 (202)205-8134 Services: The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (formerly known as the National Institute of Handicapped Research) provides leadership and support for rehabilitation research. The Institute's mission also encompasses the dissemination of information concerning developments in rehabilitation procedures, methods, and devices that can improve the lives of people of all ages with physical and mental handicaps, especially those who are severely disabled. The Institute can provide statistical data on disabilities, as well as information on research funding. Requests on specific topics are often referred to the National Rehabilitation Information Center (see entry 103). Publications: Professional publications include guides to funding mechanisms and grantee activities and compilations of statistical data. The Institute also publishes Rehab Briefs, descriptions of research projects useful to practitioners and consensus validation statements on topics related to disability rehabilitation. ---------- President's Committee on MENTAL RETARDATION Department of Health and Human Services 330 Independence Avenue SW., Room 5325 Washington, DC 20201 (202)619-0634 Services: The President's Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR) advises the President and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on appropriate ways to provide services for persons with mental retardation and on ways to prevent this type of disability. Areas of concern are full citizenship and justice prevention, family and community support, and public awareness. PCMR sponsors forums and conferences and prepares annual reports to the President. Publications: Publications include annual reports, bibliographies, conference reports, and program descriptions on such topics as legal rights of the mentally retarded. A publications list is available. ---------- National REHABILITATION INFORMATION Center ABLEDATA Database of Assistive Technology 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 935 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3319 (800)227-0216 (voice, TT) (301)588-9284 (voice, TT) (301)587-1967 (fax) (301)589-3563 (ABLE INFORM BBS) Services: ABLEDATA is a national database of assistive techology information, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitative Research. ABLEDATA contains information on more than 8,000 assistive technology products. The database contains detailed descriptions of each product including price and company information. ABLEDATA also contains information on noncommercial prototype, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-it-yourself designs. The database is available on CD-ROM or diskette. ABLEDATA can be accessed via the ABLE INFORM electronic bulletin board service. Publications: Fact sheets and resource packets are available. Also available are the ABLEDATA Thesaurus and the ABLEDATA Manufacturers Telephone Directory. Serial publication: ABLEDATA Supplement to NARIC Quarterly, a semi-annual feature selection of the NARIC newsletter (see entry 103). ---------- National REHABILITATION INFORMATION Center 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 935 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3319 (800)346-2742 (voice, TT) (800)227-0216 (voice, TT) (301)589-1967 (fax) (301)589-3563 (ABLE INFORM BBS) Services: The National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) is a national disability and rehabilitation library and information center that collects and disseminates the results of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-funded research projects. The collection, which also includes commercially published books, journal articles, and audiovisuals, grows at a rate of 300 documents a month. NARIC currently has more than 40,000 documents on all aspects of disability and rehabilitation. Database: REHABDATA contains bibliographic information and abstracts for the entire NARIC collection. Information Services and Products Offered: For a nominal charge, professionaly trained information specialists (librarians) provide customized database searches of various information databases, including REHABDATA, the NARIC Knowledgebase (copyright), and the NIDRR Project Directory. Unless otherwise protected by copyright law, photocopies of documents in the collection that are difficult to obtain elsewhere also are available for a nominal charge. Patrons with a computer and modem may wish to have online access to these databases and other disability resources through ABLE INFORM at (2400/9600 baud 8-N-1). NARIC also provides information and referral services to national and State, public and private, disability, and assistive technology organizations. Publications: NARIC produces several free publications, the NARIC Quarterly, the NIDRR Directory, resource guides, and fact sheets on various topics including but not limited to spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and ADA resources. NARIC also publishes the NARIC Guide to Disability and Rehabilitation Periodicals and the NARIC Directory of Librarians and Information Specialists in Disability and Rehabilitation, which are available for a nominal fee. ---------- REHABILITATION SERVICES Administration Department of Education Switzer Building, Room 3028 330 C Street SW. Washington, DC 20202 (202)205-5482 Services: The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) administers a number of programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. A major program is the basic State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program under which State VR agencies provide a wide variety of services to eligible physically and mentally disabled individuals to enable them to become gainfully employed. Other State-administered programs include independent living services, which offer support to handicapped individuals with disabilities to enable them to function more independently in the home and community, and supported employment services, which provide intensive time-limited support to severely disabled individuals at the workplace in coordination with ongoing services provided by other public or private community resources. In addition to the programs that offer direct services to individuals, RSA supports a number of programs and projects to strengthen and improve the rehabilitation services delivery system. Among these are the Client Assistance Program, projects with industry, the establishment of rehabilitation facilities, services to handicapped migratory and seasonal farm workers, Native American services, and training grants to increase and upgrade the supply of rehabilitation personnel. RSA also supports a number of special projects that focus on strengthening and improving services for severely disabled people, including those handicapped by blindness, deafness, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries. The Helen Keller National Center for deaf-blind youth and adults is authorized to provide special services for the rehabilitation of persons who are both deaf and blind. RSA also administers the Randolph-Sheppard Act, under which blind persons are licensed to operate vending facilities on Federal and other property. Publications: RSA distributes program information and a list of State vocational rehabilitation agencies. Serial publication: American Rehabilitation (quarterly). ---------- SOCIAL SECURITY Administration West High Rise Building, Room 4200 6401 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21235 (410)965-1720 Services: The Office of Public Affairs of the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides public information materials about the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, as well as information on entitlement to medicare inquiries concerning the Social Security and SSI programs, which can be directed to the Office of Public Affairs. Inquiries about the medicare program should be directed to Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Beneficiary Services, Room 648, East High Rise Building, 6325 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21207. At the local level, inquiries can be made to any Social Security office or SSA's toll-free number, (800)772-1213. Library Collection: The collection holds more than 29,000 titles on topics, including social sciences, health economics, law, personnel management, business and administrative management, and computer information systems. The library is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to Federal employees and open to the public by special arrangement. Database: Custom searches for SSA personnel are provided. Publications: Pamphlets on Social Security benefits, disability benefits, and supplemental security income are available. Medicare brochures can be obtained from the Health Care Financing Administration. Publications are free of charge. ---------- Department of VETERANS Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW. Washington, DC 20420 (202)535-8458 (202)535-7566 (fax) Services: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established as the Veterans Administration in 1930 and elevated to cabinet level on March 15, 1989. The VA provides a wide range of veterans' benefits in such areas as health care, education, housing, disability pensions, and life insurance. Through its network of hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, the VA provides a full range of medical, long-term care, and patient support services. Veterans with service-related illnesses or injuries or who are in financial need receive priority for VA medical services. The VA also is involved in medical research and the training of health professionals. Training programs include undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education; a medical library; and assistance for health manpower training institutions. VA benefits are restricted to U.S. military veterans. Publications: The VA publishes annual reports and booklets describing benefits and programs and produces audiovisual materials for medical staff training