Adaptive Environments
www.adaptiveenvironments.org, 800-949-4232
Non-profit organization dedicated to promoting accessibility and universal design.

ARC Massachusetts
(formerly the Massachusetts Association
for Retarded Citizens)
www.arcmass.org
Statewide organization to promote quality community services and advocate for enlightened public policy for children and adults with developmental disabilities.  Regional ARC offices provide informational programs, training, and support for parents.
Local offices are listed on the website.

CarePoints
www.carepoints.org, 617-521-2522
A parent-professional partnership to improve and maximize care for medically complex children and their families by sponsoring opportunities for exchange and collaboration and by maintaining and extensive website.

Center for Health Policy and Research
UMass Medical School
www.masschec.org, 508-856-7857
Publishes Disability Issues, a free newsletter reporting on ideas, issues, and innovations affecting individuals with disabilities.

Children’s Hospital, Boston: Center for Families
www.childrenshospital.org, 617-355-6279
Provides information and support to families of children with special health care needs, both inpatient and outpatient.  Their Family-to-Family program matches parents of children with similar issues for information and support.

Disability Resources on the Internet
www.disabilityresources.org/MASSACHUSETTS.html
The Disability Resources Monthly (DRM) guide to disability resources on the Internet, with direct links to Massachusetts resources.

Disability-Specific Organizations
The Family Support Services Office maintains current information on state and national organizations that provide information and support to parents of children with specific disability diagnoses, such as United Cerebral Palsy, Mass. Down Syndrome Congress, etc.

Easter Seals
www.easter-sealsma.org, 800-564-9700
Provides information and services for rehabilitation, child care, summer camps, recreation, and job training.

Family TIES of Massachusetts
www.massfamilyties.org
Regional information and support network provided by and for families of children with special needs.  Parent coordinators are housed in each of the six regional offices of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.  Coordinators provide parent-to-parent information and support to parents of children with special needs in their areas.  Local coordinators are listed on the website.

Federation For Children with Special Needs
www.fcsn.org, 617-236-7210
Provides support and resources to families and professionals regarding educational issues for children with special education needs.

Health Care for All / Massachusetts
www.hcfama.org, 800-272-4232
Advocacy organization dedicated to making health care a right for all individuals.  Provides information to help parents problem-solve with issues regarding health insurance coverage for services needed for their children.

Institute for Community Inclusion
www.communityinclusion.org, 617-287-4300
Based at the University of Massachusetts Boston and at Children’s Hospital Boston, the ICI supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities, working to employ individuals with disabilities in the community, include individuals with disabilities in community recreation, and examining the impact of local and state policies on the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.

Massachusetts Association of Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (MASSPAC)
www.masspac.org
Disseminates information for parents statewide regarding special education, including resources about disabilities and legislative information.

Massachusetts Disability Resource Exchange
www.madisabilityexchange.org
Free resources and a communication vehicle for the Massachusetts community of individuals with disabilities and their families and caregivers. 

Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change
www.communitygateway.org
Statewide grassroots, multicultural organization of families and individuals who seek to bring about positive changes for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Massachusetts Family Voices
www.massfamilyvoices.org, 800-331-0688, x210
State chapter of Family Voices, a national organization composed of parents and professionals working to improve systems of care for children with special health care needs.  The Massachusetts chapter provides information on resources, participation opportunities, and conferences, as well as managing an interactive informational listserve for parents and providers.

Mass. Hospital School Family Outreach
www.geocities.com/mhsfamilyoutreach
Parent-run website with information particularly for parents and families of children with disabilities, with helpful links to sites for hard-to-find goods and services.

New England SERVE
www.neserve.org
A health, policy, research and planning organization working to promote quality systems of care for children with special health care needs and their families.

Parent Experience/Education Library
A collection of books for parents about disabilities
and the parent experience is maintained and shared
by the Family Support Coordinator. 

Parent-Professional Advocacy League
www.ppal.net, 617-542-7860
As the statewide chapter of the Federation of
Families for Children’s Mental Health, PAL provides support, education, and advocacy around issues related to children’s mental health needs.  It also
runs a Parent Resource Network Line staffed by trained and knowledgeable family advocates, providing information, referrals, and support for parents of youth with mental health issues: 
1-866-815-8122

Partners for Youth with Disabilities
www.pyd.org, 617-556-4075
Non-profit organization that assists young people
with disabilities to reach their full potential for
personal development by arranging one-to-one relationships between youth with disabilities and
adults with similar disabilities and sponsoring educational, art, and recreation programs.

Resources for Activities and Recreation
The Family Support Services Office maintains
current information on providers of appropriate, adaptive, and welcoming community activities and recreation, such as Special Olympics and other programs, including horseback riding, water sports, outdoor adventure, swimming, bowling, skiing, dancing, etc. Current information on summer camp opportunities for children with disabilities is
maintained with the help of the summer camp guide from the Federation for Children with Special Needs and the American Camping Association of New England, www.acane-camps.org, 508-647-4890.

Sibshops
www.thearc.org/siblingsupport/sibshoppage.htm
Offers information about the experience of siblings
of children with special needs and how to address
the needs of siblings in a group format.

Specialized Housing, Inc.
www.specializedhousing.org, 617-277-1805
Works with families to create and manage
supported housing options for adult children with disabilities.  Their manual, “Passport to
Independence”, provides information on finances, recreation, independent living, and work.

Toward Independent Living and Learning
(TILL)
www.tillinc.org, 781-302-4600
Provides a variety of support services for
individuals with disabilities and their families,
including respite/family support, personal care assistance support, creative supported living
options, information, and referral.

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