AbilityFirst strengthens and cultivates skills that give their participants the tools to successfully navigate each transition in life, including building social connections and independence; employment preparation, training and experience; and, fun and engaging activities that offer families an opportunity to refresh and recharge.
The AbilityOne Program is among the nation’s largest providers of jobs for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. The Program uses the purchasing power of the Federal Government to buy products and services from participating nonprofit agencies that train and employ workers with disabilities.
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) promotes high quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs for diverse audiences. The ACTE Career Tech Vision is a major annual conference.
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a national association that supports Network members in their research, training, education, and service so that together, AUCD and Network members can promote the quality of life, health, and well-being of people with disabilities.
ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) is a partnership of medical centers, centers of autism research and services, universities, and other providers involved in the treatment and care of individuals of all ages with autism and their families. Provides an excellent list of resources. (Pennsylvania)
Autism Centers of Excellence Program is a trans-NIH initiative that supports large-scale multidisciplinary studies on autism spectrum disorders, with the goal of determining the disorders’ causes and potential treatments.
Autism Housing Network: database of user-generated resources and residential opportunities while fostering a supportive and encouraging online community.
Autism Learning Partners is a full service provider that specializes in the treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. Our broad thinking approach addresses the whole child by collaborating with doctors, therapists, schools and specialists.
Autism Movement Therapy is a nonprofit organization, focused on serving the autism & special needs community through providing a structured movement & music program as well as providing advocacy and community outreach to create understanding and bring dignity to the spectrum community across the globe.
Autism National Committee is the only autism advocacy organization dedicated to “Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism” through a shared vision and a commitment to positive approaches.
Autism Partnership Foundation is committed to advancing professional standards and treatment for individuals diagnosed with ASD through research and training.
AutismOne is a nonprofit, parent-driven organization that provides education and supports advocacy efforts for children and families touched by an autism diagnosis.
Bridges from Scho0l to Work matches the interests and abilities of young people to the needs of employers. Bridges helps young adults keep and progress on the job. Bridges instills character, builds confidence, and steers young adults toward a future filled with possibilities. (in multiple states)
CAST is a multifaceted organization with a singular ambition: Bust the barriers to learning that millions of people experience every day. We do this by helping educators and organizations apply insights from the learning sciences and leading-edge practices to educational design and implementation. Supports Universal Design for Learning.
Celebrate EDU empowers people with disabilities through online business & entrepreneurship education.
Center For Autism Spectrum Treatment, Inc. (Culver City, CA) specializes in the treatment of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
Cerebral Palsy Group: online resource for anyone who has been affected by cerebral palsy, birth injuries, or brain injuries. Provides answers and all types of assistance needed to help improve the quality of life for loved ones and family members with cerebral palsy.
Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation brings technology to those most in need — seniors and people with disabilities. It’s more than just devices. They give people freedom, independence, purpose and most importantly, vital connections.
DeBruce Foundation provides free solutions and supports initiatives that positively impact the way youth and adults look for, prepare for, and pursue careers. See “Agilities” and take the Agile Work Profiler. Use Career Explorer Tools to find out what vocations are a good match for your agilities.
DePaul School for Hearing and Speech teaches children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or with severe speech delays to listen and speak. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Disability EmpowHer Network empowers girls and young women with disabilities through mentoring and transformational learning experiences.
DiSC® is a personality assessment tool that measures an individual’s behavioral tendencies and preferences.
Diverge Community Services: We are a neuro-inclusive community providing education and support to address unmet needs of neurodivergent adults through individual and community services.
Drexel University program helps Philadelphia students with autism find jobs after graduation: article in CBS News Philiadelphia, April 24, 2024
Els for Autism Foundation: Els for Autism is a game-changing resource, delivering and facilitating programs that are leading examples of what can be available to people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (based in Jupiter, FL)
Edge Factor inspires learners of all ages to explore, prepare and connect on their career journey. We partner with schools, companies and community organizations to raise awareness of local training and career opportunities.
EmpowerTech is Los Angeles County’s only non-profit organization devoted to bringing the latest in assistive technology to children and adults living with disabilities.
Exceptional Children’s Foundation: Providing the highest quality services for children and adults challenged with developmental, learning and emotional disabilities — empowering them to reach their greatest potential. (Los Angeles, CA)
Extraordinary Ventures: Extraordinary Ventures, Inc. is a non-profit organization that creates and nurtures self-sustaining small businesses with the philosophy that all people are employable. (Based in Chapel Hill, NC)
Foothill Autism Alliance: The FAA, an all-volunteer organization, hosts a variety of events including monthly Family Resource Meetings, workshops, lectures, and social functions. Each month, noted professionals in the field of autism generously give of their time and speak at the Family Resource Meetings. (CA)
Get Focused..Stay Focused! (GFSF) is a scalable, cost-efficient program that promotes high school graduation, post-secondary completion, and successful, skilled entry into the workforce. See also Get Focused..Stay Focused! and How is the Get Focused…Stay Focused!® Program different from other college and career ready programs.
HOPE Inc.: Specializes in improving the lives of children and adults with mobility challenges. (Moorhead, MN)
Integrate Autism Employment Advisors: Helping organizations identify, recruit, and retain qualified professionals on the autism spectrum
Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc.: The mission of Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc. is to enable individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Developmental Disabilities to live fulfilling lives as members of the community by providing support services customized to their individual need. (Mission Hills, CA)
Jobs for the Future designs workforce solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invests in innovations that create learner and worker opportunity, strengthen education and career navigation, ensure program quality and efficacy, integrate learning and work, and build strong regional economies.
Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support is a community-facing service, education and research organization that provides comprehensive and caring individualized support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. (Philadelphia, PA)
My Child Without Limits: We are here to help you find answers to your questions.
NASA’s Neurodiversity Network (N3): provides a pathway to NASA participation and STEM employment for neurodiverse learners, with a focus on those on the autism spectrum.
National Center for Learning Disabilities: works to improve the lives of individuals with learning disabilities and attention issues—by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools, and advocating for equal rights and opportunities.
National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC) is a membership organization dedicated to increasing the awareness, quality, and impact of mentoring for individuals with disabilities nationwide. Includes Partners for Youth with Disabilities.
NEXT for Autism transforms the national landscape of services for people with autism by strategically designing, launching, and supporting innovative programs. See the webpage Resources for an extensive list of relevant resources.
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT) is the charitable foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. Our purpose is to support individuals in discovering their interest in manufacturing and to encourage the pursuit of a manufacturing career.
O*Net OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, developers, researchers, and more! See the O*Net Interest Profiler and Browse by Abilities.
OurTism works with individuals, families, and professionals to help people with Asperger profiles build meaningful connected lives.
PEAK Grantmaking is a community of 8,000 grants professionals who lead the way in advancing equitable, effective grantmaking practices.
Philadelphia Family Voices supports families with children who are facing emotional, social, behavioral and mental health challenges and/or autism. Our Family Peer Support Specialists offer resources, provide advocacy, and help facilitate access to educational, behavioral health, autism, Juvenile Justice and other child welfare services in Philadelphia. (Philadelphia, PA)
Project YASH (Youth Activities for Special Horizons): Provides engaging online activities for children with special needs and unique volunteer opportunities for high school students.
Process Communication Model: is a validated tool to decode human interactions, helping you to make the most of every conversation, situation and day.
RiseUp Industries: RiseUp Industries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prepares the formerly incarcerated for careers as CNC machine operators in their full service CNC machine shop. (San Diego, CA)
SciAccess: to inspire, develop, and promote innovative approaches to equitable science access.
SourceAmerica (formerly NISH) is a United States non-profit agency that supports other agencies that provide employment opportunities for people who are disabled.
Special Needs Grants: a list of organizations that fund support for various diagnoses
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism.
The Hive: focuses on life skills and social-emotional connections. Also provides various employment services and support to their members who are getting ready to find a job or who are already employed and needing additional support. (Phoenix, AZ)
Transition to Independent Living Program: is an inclusive post-secondary educational experience for students with developmental or intellectual disabilities that also offers on- and off-campus housing. The Program is comprehensive, with curriculum and training that promote acquisition of the functional, social, and career skills necessary for students to live a productive lifestyle. (Taft, CA)
The USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities develops and implements quality services for infants, children, youth and adults with, or at risk for, behavioral, developmental, physical, and/or special health care needs and their families. (Los Angeles, CA)
Vanderbilt University Peer Empowerment Network aims to create peer mentorships between employed adults with IDD and job seeking adults with IDD. The goal of the project is to provide mentorship training for employed adults so that they may share their lived experience and success stories with job seeking adults in helping them connect to paid employment. (Nashville, TN)
We are saving lives!” Minnesota’s Autism Mom spearheads Texas lock giveaway following death of child with autism, free locks to help keep children with autism safe.
Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities and vulnerable children through professional education, direct service provision, and innovative research. Site provides links to the video “My Disability Roadmap” and new feature-length film “The Ride Ahead”. (Valhalla, NY)
Wonder Moms is a project by three moms to share real talk, helpful information, and practical advice with parents of kids who have intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, autism, language and speech delays, deafness, chronic illness, and traumatic brain injury.
Workforce Matters is a national network of grantmakers that draws on expert and practitioner knowledge and works together to strengthen workforce development philanthropy such that it empowers workers, learners, and job seekers to realize their full potential; dismantles inequities based on race, gender, ability, and other individual characteristics; and advances equitable education and employment outcomes for youth and adults.
World Institute on Disability advances the inclusion, rights and justice of people with disabilities with the design and delivery of whole community solutions. WID’s Global Heumann Fellowship Program will honor and grow Judy’s legacy by supporting disability leaders and advocates around the world to work on projects that promote disability rights and disability justice in their regional communities, as a bridge to an equitable, inclusive, and just world.