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Organizations

Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC)

  • Questions about aging or living with a disability can be addressed by your local aging and disability resource center (ADRC).

Alianza Latina Aplicando Soluciones (ALAS)

  • The mission of ALAS is to promote the independence of individual with disabilities by providing information and support to them, their families and their service providers in the areas related to, but not limited, to education and health. 

American Council of the Blind

  • An organization of blind and visually impaired individuals whose mission is to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people.

American Foundation for the Blind

  • The mission of AFB is to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired by mobilizing leaders, advancing understanding, and championing impactful policies and practices using research and data.

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) 

  • APH strives to break down barriers and empower students, families, adults, and educators, creating a future that belongs to everyone.

CESA1 Parents United

  • The mission of Parents United is to present timely and relevant information in a neutral forum for parents and professionals who work with children. 

CharacterStrong

  • CharacterStrong provides research-based Pre-K through 12th grade social & emotional learning curricula and professional learning services that positively impact lives.

Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs Program (CYSHCN) 

  • CYSHCN is a program that promotes quality care for young people in Wisconsin. The program makes sure that kids and teens with special health care needs are identified early, receive high quality care that works together, and receive the support they need with their families.

Children’s long-Term Support Program (CLTS) – Wisconsin Department of Health Services

  • A Medicaid waiver program that aims to keep kids at home instead of in institutions.

(Cooperative Education Service Agency) Regional Special Education Network

The purpose of the Regional Special Education Network (RSN) is to support Wisconsin local educational agencies (LEAs) in advancing educational equity for students with disabilities. Contact them for information specific to your area.

Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

Disability Rights Wisconsin

  • Disability Rights Wisconsin is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities.

Family Connect for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments 

  • FamilyConnect is a service offered by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) to give parents and other family members of children who are blind or low vision–and professionals who work with them–a supportive place for sharing and finding resources on raising their children from birth to adulthood.

Family Voices of Wisconsin

  • Family Voices of Wisconsin promotes a system of comprehensive health and community supports based on fundamental principles that assure the health and well-being of children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities and their families. 

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

  • NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

National Federation of the Blind

  • An organization of blind people that coordinates many programs, services, and resources to defend the rights of blind Americans, provide information and support to blind children and adults, and build a community that creates a future full of opportunities.
  • Braille Monitor: A publication of the NFB

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)

  • A division of the National Federation of the Blind comprised of parents, educators, and friends of blind children.
  • Future Reflections: A publication of NOPBC

Office of the Blind and Visually Impaired (OBVI).

  • Rehabilitation services are provided by the Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired (OBVI) to help individuals who are blind or visually impaired to achieve their own goals of independent living.

Parent to Parent of Wisconsin, Robin Mathea

  • The mission of Parent to Parent of Wisconsin is to help parents find a one-to-one connection with another parent, who know firsthand about the feelings and realities that come with having a child with special needs.

State Superintendent’s Blind and Visual Impaired Education Advisory Council

  • This council advises the state superintendent on activities that will benefit the blind and visually impaired, makes recommendations for the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (WCBVI) and makes recommendations for teacher preparedness.

States Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Deaf/Hard of Hearing Programs

  • This council advises the State Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction in matters pertaining to educational services for children and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

United States Association for Blind Athletes (USABA)

  • The United States Association of Blind Athletes empowers Americans who are blind and visually impaired to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation and physical activities, thereby educating and inspiring the nation.

United States Paralympics

  • The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. U.S. Paralympics, a division of the nonprofit USOPC, is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the Paralympic Movement and promoting excellence in the lives of people with disabilities, including physical disabilities and visual impairments. 

Vision Forward Association

  • Vision Forward has services, events and programs for children and families.

Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) 

  • The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is a federal/state program designed to obtain, maintain, and advance employment for people with disabilities by working with DVR consumers, employers, and other partners.

Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training and Support (WI FACETS) 

  • WI FACETS mission is to provide and broaden opportunities that enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities and their families, with emphasis on support for underserved families in the community.

Wisconsin Family Engagement Network

  • CESA #1 provides information and resources for families through the Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI). Our goal is to assist educators and families to work together to promote effective partnerships through positive communication, collaboration, and training for the purpose of improving education for children and young adults with disabilities

Wisconsin Family Ties (WFT)

  • Our experiences as parents make us uniquely qualified to support families–without judgment.

Wisconsin Guardianship Support Center

  • The Guardianship Support Center (operated by the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources) provides information and assistance on issues related to adult guardianship, protective placement, advance directives, and more.

Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative (WSPEI) 

  • Our mission is to provide supports and strategies resulting in stronger home – school partnerships.

Wisconsin Association of Parents of Blind Children

  • They meet via phone the first Wednesday of every month and at the annual state convention.

Wisconsin Council on Special Education

  • The mission of the Council on Special Education is to promote the education of children with disabilities by providing broad based input to the Department of Public Instruction.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services

  • As a council member, you can provide valuable information and engage in advocacy activities that promote equal access for individuals who are blind or have significant vision loss. You will receive updates on important policies and legislation as well as other information and resources impacting the blind community.

Wisconsin Deafblind Technical Assistance Project

  • The Wisconsin Deafblind Project is here to assist parents and service providers to better understand the learning needs of the child who is deafblind and acquire strategies that have proven successful with other children who are deafblind.

Wisconsin Wayfinder: Essential Children’s Resources | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

  • Assists families, caregivers and professionals in finding resources.