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Support & Advocacy

These organizations provide assistance, support, information and advocacy to behavioral health clients, families and service providers. You also can search our nationwide database of support groups at left.

Local



• Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) of West Los Angeles
  Works to improve the lives of people affected by AD/HD through collaborative leadership, advocacy, research, education, and support.
  
  
• Cure Autism Now: Los Angeles Chapter
  An organization of parents, clinicians and leading scientists committed to accelerating the pace of biomedical research in autism through raising money for research projects, education and outreach. The organization's primary focus is to fund essential research through a variety of programs designed to encourage innovative approaches toward identifying the causes, prevention, treatment and a cure for autism and related disorders. The L.A. chapter holds informational meetings as well as monthly parent meetings.
  
  
• Epilepsy Foundation of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties
  Dedicated to serving the nearly 90,000 people with epilepsy in our region and seeks to ensure that people with seizure disorders are able to participate in all life experiences and prevent, control and cure epilepsy, with programs including advocacy, seminars, support groups and more.
  
  
• Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD)
  Seeks to ensure equal access of the deaf and hard of hearing community to the same opportunities afforded their hearing counterparts, and to act as a coordinating agency that addresses the broad social service needs of deaf and hard of hearing people through direct service provision, advocacy, research and dissemination of information regarding deafness to parents, professionals and consumers.
  
  
• Los Angeles Chapter: Autism Society of America
  Seeks to promote lifelong access and opportunities for persons within the autism spectrum (This spectrum is inclusive of, but not limited to: Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder [PDD], and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified [PDD-NOS]) and their families, to be fully included, participating members of their communities through advocacy, public awareness, education and research related to autism.
  
  
• Westside Center for Independent Living
  Seeks to empower people with disabilities to reach their independent living goals through a variety of non-residential programs and services, and advocates, educates, and provides primarily peer-conducted services to its consumers and the community.
  
  

State/National



• American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California
  Defends and secures civil rights and to extend them to people who have been excluded from their protection through lobbying, public education, and litigation.
  
  
• American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
  Provides information about support, intervention, and advocacy.
  
  
• Assistive Technology Network
  Developed by The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers under contract with the California Assistive Technology System (CATS). Provides advocacy, resources and education.
  
  
• Autism Education Network
  A Web site created to raise awareness about the importance of effective education programs and to help parents secure appropriate special education services for their children with autism, dedicated to connecting parents and professionals through the internet to influence and improve education policy and programs for individuals with autism.
  
  
• Autism Network International
  A self-help and advocacy organization for people with autism, run by people with autism.
  
  
• Autism Society of California
  Seeks to promote lifelong access and opportunities for persons within the autism spectrum (This spectrum is inclusive of, but not limited to: Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder [PDD], and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified [PDD-NOS]) and their families, to be fully included, participating members of their communities through advocacy, public awareness, education and research related to autism.
  
  
• Autism Speaks
  Seeks to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders, and is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals.
  
  
• Blind Children’s Learning Center
  Helps parents decide what to do when they find that their child is blind. Provides support and encouragement, helping the parents to deal with grief and learn how to help in their baby's development and beyond.
  
  
• California Center for Law and the Deaf (CalCLAD)
  Committed to the protection and advancement of the legal rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing people, (CalCLAD) is located at, and affiliated with, the Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA). DCARA, established in 1962, is a community-based, non-profit multi-service agency which assists deaf and hard-of-hearing people to live more independently and productively. Its primary goal is to serve the deaf population — directly, through client services, and indirectly, through community education and advocacy.
  
  
• California Department of Education, Family Involvement and Partnerships
  Resources and support for parents, guardians, and families of children with disabilities.
  
  
• California Department of Mental Health
  The California Department of Mental Health, entrusted with leadership of the California mental health system, ensures through partnerships the availability and accessibility of effective, efficient, culturally competent services. This is accomplished by advocacy, education, innovation, outreach, understanding, oversight, monitoring, quality improvement, and the provision of direct services.
  
  
• California Department of Rehabilitation
  Works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living and equality for individuals with disabilities.
  
  
• California Disability Alliance (C D A)
  A statewide, grassroots organization consisting of persons with disabilities and their supporters, with a broad agenda for promoting the health, independence and full community inclusion of persons with disabilities.
  
  
• California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
  Seeks to support independent living centers in their local communities through advocating for systems change and promoting access and integration for people with disabilities.
  
  
• California Residential Services Association
  A grassroots, statewide organization with a lobbyist, representing residential service providers in California.
  
  
• California State Council on Developmental Disabilities
  Advocates, promotes and implements policies and practices that achieve self-determination, independence, productivity and inclusion in all aspects of community life for Californians with developmental disabilities and their families.
  
  
• Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association
  A nonprofit organization, offering support and information to families of infants, children, and young adults who have hemiplegic cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, prenatal stroke, childhood stroke, infant stroke, perinatal stroke, neonatal stroke, in utero stroke, and stroke in neonates.
  
  
• Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
  A coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society.
  
  
• Easter Seals California
  Provides services to children and adults with disabilities and other special needs, and support to their families.
  
  
• Epilepsy Foundation
  A non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of people with epilepsy, with a mission to work for children and adults affected by seizures through research, education, advocacy and service.
  
  
• Epilepsy in Young Children
  Intended to support parents and other caregivers of children with epilepsy.
  
  
• Epilepsy Support Group
  EPILEPSY-L is an E-mail based support group (discussion list) for people with epilepsy and those who care about and for them. People with epilepsy (PwEs), parents of children with epilepsy, family and friends of PwEs, and health professionals who work with PwEs are all welcome to join.
  
  
• Exceptional Parent Magazine
  Provides information, support, ideas, encouragement and outreach for parents and families of children with disabilities, and the professionals who work with them.
  
  
• Fiesta Educativa
  Informs and assists Latino families in obtaining services and in caring for their children with special needs. Fiesta Educativa was formed by family members and professionals who recognized the need to provide assistance and advocacy to these Spanish-speaking families.
  
  
• Fragile X Foundation
  Unites the Fragile X community to enrich lives through educational and emotional support, promote public and professional awareness, and advance research toward improved treatments and a cure for Fragile X.
  
  
• Independently Merging Parents Association of California
  Among other goals, seeks to advocate for parent and student rights, and to be supportive of agencies, community groups and organizations with similar interest in providing a quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  
  
• National Association of the Deaf
  Seeks to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.
  
  
• National Organization for Rare Disorders
  A unique federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. NORD is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service.
  
  
• People First of California (PFCA)
  Seeks to serve all people with developmental challenges throughout California, primarily through People First members and chapters. PFCA serves as a role model for people with developmental disabilities in personal empowerment, leadership, and advocacy.
  
  
• Protection and Advocacy
  A nonprofit agency that advances the human and legal rights of persons with disabilities.
  
  
• Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities (RRTCADD)
  Promotes the successful aging of adults with intellectual (mental retardation) and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in response to physical, cognitive, and environmental changes. Its coordinated research, training, and dissemination activities promote progressive policies and supports to maintain health and function, self-determination, independence, and active engagement in life. The RRTCADD is a national resource for researchers, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, service providers, policy makers, advocacy groups, students, and the general community.
  
  
• Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
  Makes self-advocacy available in every state including institutions, high schools, rural areas and people living with families with local support and advisors to help.
  
  
• Supported Life Institute
  Advocates a full life for the developmentally disabled.
  
  
• TASH
  An international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm.
  
  
• The ARC of California
  Advocates for persons with developmental disabilities and their families.
  
  
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
  The leading source of information on cerebral palsy and a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with any disability. As one of the largest health charities in America, UCP's mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.
  
  
• Wrightslaw
  Provides accurate, current information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.