Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the principal agency in the U.S. government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for people who are least able to help themselves. The CDC has established an Autism Information Center that reports on CDC-funded state and federal projects as well as resources for families and researchers.

[ Victimization of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury or Other Disabilities: A Fact Sheet for Friends and Families ]

[ http://www.cdc.gov ]

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

The National Dissemination Center (NICHCY) serves as a central source of information via e-mail, publications, and links to research materials, projects, and Web-sites on IDEA, the nation's special education law, No Child Left Behind as it relates to children with disabilities, and research-based information on effective educational practices.

[ http://www.nichcy.org ]

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The NIMH is involved in strategic planning and priority-setting for the National Institute of Health as whole as well as for specific research areas. NIMH solicits input from patients and their advocates, scientists, Congress, the public, as well as the National Advisory Mental Health Council.

[ http://www.nimh.nih.gov ]

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

OSERS is committed to improving results and outcomes for people with disabilities of all ages. In supporting President Bush's No Child Left Behind agenda and the New Freedom Initiative, OSERS provides a wide array of supports to parents and individuals, school districts, and states in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation, and research.

[ http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers ]

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

OSEP is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, ages birth through 21, by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers.

[ http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep ]

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

AOTA is the nationally recognized professional association of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students of occupational therapy.

[ http://www.aota.org ]

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

ASHA is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 123,000 members and affiliates who are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally.

[ http://www.asha.org ]

Council for Exceptional Children

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, including students with disabilities and the gifted.

[ http://www.cec.sped.org ]

Division on Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

The Division on Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is a division of the Council on Exceptional Children (CEC). This professional organization includes educators, therapists, direct service providers, paraeducators, family members, and others providing a full range of supports, services, and accommodations to individuals with cognitive disabilities/mental retardation, autism, and related disabilities in educational, community living, and employment environments.

[ http://www.dddcec.org ]