POCKET GUIDE TO FEDERAL
HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Produced by the:
CLEARINGHOUSE ON DISABILITY INFORMATION
OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE
SERVICES
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
ROOM 3132 SWITZER BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20202-2524 1993
FOREWORD
For more than eighteen years, the POCKET GUIDE TO
FEDERAL HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
has been one of the most widely distributed publications
produced by the U.S. Department of Education and its
predecessor, the Office of Education in the Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare. Since its inception in 1980,
the Department of Education has committed itself to ensuring
that all individuals with disabilities achieve their full potential
as productive, fully-contributing members of our society. The
publication of this booklet is part of this continuing effort.
Written for people with disabilities, their families, and
service providers, this publication contains information on
government-wide benefits and services for which individuals
with disabilities may be eligible. As we publish this new
edition, it is our sincere hope that it will reach the wide and
varied audience for which it is intended, and that it will
increase awareness and provide useful information.
Knowledge is often the first step toward empowerment. We
believe that the information contained in this POCKET GUIDE
will begin to empower those who read it with the knowledge
they need to achieve independence, which is not a privilege in
our country, but every person's right.
The Clearinghouse on Disability Information
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROGRAMS FOR SPECIFIC DISABILITY GROUPS
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
EDUCATION
EMPLOYMENT
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
CIVIL RIGHTS
HOUSING
TAX BENEFITS
TRANSPORTATION
THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
PREFACE
This booklet is meant to make you, an individual with
disabilities, or the parent/guardian of a child with
disabilities, aware of the principal government services for
which you or your child may be eligible. This revised edition
describes benefits applicable specifically to those who are
blind, deaf, or developmentally disabled. These persons are
also eligible for the general benefits as outlined in this booklet.
Because so much of the federal contribution to services
for individuals with disabilities is made to states -- and the
states determine how to spend the money, within certain
guidelines -- it would be impossible to pinpoint exactly what
you will find in your own state or locality. What we have tried
to outline for you in this guide is the general scope of
federal support for services to individuals with disabilities.
Included are the names and addresses of the various federal
agencies that can steer you to their state and/or local
counterpart offices. You may also wish to contact us for a
listing of key agencies in your state. These agencies should
be your starting point for exploring the services available to
you where you live. Write to the Federal Headquarters if you
are unable to reach your state service agencies directly.
States and localities may provide services which are
financed out of their own resources. These are not discussed
in this guide. To find out about any of these special programs,
contact an information and referral center in your vicinity to
help put you in touch with the array of services for which you
may qualify.
We hope this guide will alert you to the variety of
services which may be of benefit to you and that it will get
you started on the road to contacting those that are pertinent
to your needs. Every time you call a state or local agency, we
suggest that you ask for the names of other people or
agencies that might also be helpful. You may accumulate a
number of useful and helpful contacts in this way.
VETERANS
If you are a veteran with disabilities and want to know
about the many programs available to you, apply to your
nearest Department of Veterans Affairs field office, or write to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420
PROGRAMS FOR LOW INCOME, INDIAN, OR ELDERLY
POPULATIONS
If you are an American Indian, a person over 65, or a
person with little or no income, you may qualify for additional
programs based on factors other than your disability. For
leads on tracking these down, call your local welfare office,
your local public housing authority, or your Indian tribal housing
authority. If you are elderly, you may be eligible for special
nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels, or for other
special services. The federal government provides funds for
area resource centers for the aging, usually listed in the
Yellow Pages under "Aged" or "Elderly" or "Social Services."
A WORD OF ADVICE
Use this booklet to help you track down the appropriate
agencies nearest you. Remember, not every service is
available and not every person can be helped 100 percent.
Keep in mind that every year new programs begin and some
old ones end, particularly at the state and local levels. Keep in
touch with your contacts and stay as aware as you can,
through reading and talking to knowledgeable people about
what is happening in the area of services to individuals with
disabilities. There are many excellent voluntary organizations,
as well as state, local, and federal offices that can help you.
Numerous newsletters are produced by groups of and for
individuals with disabilities.
We hope you will take advantage of all these avenues and
that your search for assistance will be a fruitful one.
PROGRAMS FOR SPECIFIC DISABILITY GROUPS
Special programs and benefits for blind and deaf
individuals are listed in the appropriate section (e.g.,
vocational rehabilitation or education). Since the Program for
Developmental Disabilities encompasses medical
assistance, job training, and social and other services, and is
administered by a special state agency, it is described below.
PROGRAMS FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
The developmental disabilities (DD) program makes use of
existing services in health, welfare, education, and
rehabilitation to provide for the long-range needs of people
with developmental disabilities. These disabilities are defined
as severe, chronic disabilities attributable to mental or
physical impairment, which are manifested before age 22,
result in substantial functional limitations in several areas of
life, and require services over an extended period.
Availability of services will vary in all communities, and
services can include diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of
the disabling c
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