- Click here to find RELATED LIBRARY MATERIALS
- Click here for Learning Disabilities resources
- Click here for local Community & Social Services
- Click here for HOMEBOUND DELIVERY SERVICE from the library [UPDATED LINK!]
Disability.gov is no longer available. Benefits.gov offers a brief Overview of U.S. Disability Resources highlighting healthcare benefits, disability insurance, and the interactive Benefit Finder. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and Disability Resources page [NEW!] have links to many employment-related resources, including Accessible Technology, Flexible Work Arrangements, Health Care, Housing, Personal Assistance Services, Transportation and more. See also Employment Info, below, USA.gov: Disability Services, Federal ADA and Disability Resources, and Disability Assistance (select ‘Disability Assistance’ from the ‘Filter by Subcategory’ menu). The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) website includes an introduction to the ADA, plus info on Service Animals, Parking, Communication, Child Care, Mobility Devices, Business Requirements, Parental Rights, Voting, Laws & Regulations, and other resources (U.S. Department of Justice). The N.J. Division of Disability Services provides a single point-of-entry for people seeking disability related information in New Jersey; call them toll-free at 1-888-285-3036 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday). DDS serves individuals with all disabilities, statewide.
UCP Disability Resources – A collection of useful resources on arrange of topics (education, employment, assistive technology, health care, housing, etc.); select a specific topic under ‘Resources‘ on the menu (United Cerebral Palsy). See also Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center and Rehabilitation Information, below.
Call 2-1-1 when you need to find state or local resources to address urgent needs or everyday concerns, including health & mental health services, food banks, shelter, rental or utility assistance, adult day care, Meals on Wheels, transportation, childcare, crisis intervention services, job training, education, and more. 2-1-1 is free, confidential, multi-lingual, confidential, TTY accessible, and available 24/7. Specialists will guide callers to the most helpful available resources. Visit the website for more information. NOTE : 2-1-1 calls are generally toll-free; however, if you are calling 2-1-1 from your cell phone, please check with your cell phone service provider first to find out whether you will be charged for the call. You can also reach 2-1-1 by dialing 877-652-1148 (United Way, in partnership with the State of New Jersey). See also Community & Social Services page.
Accessible Housing Resources – See Housing links, below.
Assistance Animals for the Disabled – See Service Animal links.
Deafness Information – Resources tailored to parents and caregivers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Site is currently under construction. Click here for an ARCHIVED version of the page. (Gallaudet University)
Disability etiquette – See Friends with Disabilities and related links.
Disability Rights New Jersey – Provides free services to eligible New Jersey citizens with disabilities. Services include information & referral, technical assistance & training, legal & non-legal advocacy, and outreach & education. (Non-profit organization)
Disaster Preparation / Emergency Management for Individuals with Disabilities – People with disabilities often need additional time and assistance to prepare for a disaster. This page offers a printable brochure (in English and several other languages) with some basic practical advice, and a link to NJ Register Ready [UPDATED LINK!], a free and confidential program which allows residents with special needs to register with emergency response agencies, so emergency responders can better serve them in an emergency (New Jersey Office of Emergency Management). See also SOUTH PLAINFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT Special Needs Registry, below. Disaster Safety for People with Disabilities [UPDATED!] provides advice to help you create an emergency plan that addresses your needs (American Red Cross). See also Ready.gov: Individuals with Disabilities. For more general resources on dealing with disasters, see our Disasters Webfinder. See also Fire Safety Tip Sheets [UPDATED LINK!] and U.S. Fire Administration [UPDATED LINK!].
Driving: Wheelchair Symbol Plates and Persons with a Disability Placards – Information on how to obtain special parking privileges in New Jersey if you are temporarily or permanently disabled. (N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission)
Employment Info – See NJ Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Jobseekers with Disabilities, Campaign for Disability Employment, and other U.S. Department of Labor Disability Resources. For additional resources, see South Plainfield Public Library’s DIVERSITY EMPLOYMENT links, EMPLOYMENT LAW, HEALTH, & SAFETY links, and Career Resources for Students with Disabilities.
Financial Guide for People with Disabilities – Tips, information, tools, and skill-building resources you can use to learn about setting up an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account and building savings; paying for assistive technology; how income from work impacts Social Security Income (SSI); and identifying/getting help for financial abuse & exploitation. (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
Health Tips for Graduates with Chronic Conditions – ‘For graduates with a chronic health condition like sickle cell disease, a congenital heart defect or ADHD, times of transition require additional planning to find continued care in their new environment… This page provides some health tips for graduates, their parents and caregivers, as well as health care providers, to make this time of transition a little smoother.’ (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
Housing – See HUD’s Information for Disabled Persons & Disability-Related Topics (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development), and NJ Housing Resources for People With Disabilities.
Library Services for People with Disabilities – See BOOKS & READING links for people with special needs. Locally, the South Plainfield Public Library offers audio books, large print books, free digital audiobooks, ebooks, magazines & more, as well as homebound delivery [UPDATED LINK!]. Call us at (908) 754-7885 for more information.
National Council on Independent Living – Selected links to organizations, agencies, and other resources for the disabled and their families.
Parent Center Hub: Disabilities Fact Sheets – Information about the full spectrum of disabilities in children, including developmental delays and rare disorders (Center for Parent Information and Resources, formerly National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities). See PARENTING: Families with Special Needs for more links to selected resources for parents of children with disabilities. (South Plainfield Public Library)
Physical Activity and Disability: National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) – General fitness advice for those with disabilities or chronic illness. Click on Articles for more resources on sports, exercise, nutrition, fun & leisure, and other topics, including advice for specific disabilities. NCHPAD’s YouTube Channel [NEW!] [VIDEO] has a large collection of health-related videos, with workouts & exercise advice for people with various disabilities & conditions, as well as videos on meditation, healthy cooking, and lots more. Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability, plus regional chapters, online magazine, info on dozens of specific Adaptive Sports from Archery to Yoga, and more. See also Paralympic Games and Special Olympics.
Rehabilitation Information – Links to agencies, organizations, and online resources for treatment, benefits, and services; organized by subject. (National Rehabilitation Information Center)
SOUTH PLAINFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT Special Needs Registry [UPDATED LINK!] [Link opens a PDF] – The Special Needs Registry is designed to ensure that police & other first responders have all the vital information they will need in the event of an emergency. Applications may be mailed to or dropped off at South Plainfield Police Headquarters. Participation is voluntary, and you may opt out at any time.
Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center – Links to a wide range of information covering health, assistive technology, employment, legal issues & services, relationships, and more. Also offers links to state and local resources. (National Spinal Cord Injury Association; site includes advertisements)
Sports – See Physical Activity and Disability, above.
Traveling with Disabilities – ‘Preparing for your trip in advance will help to ensure that your travel is accessible, safe, and enjoyable. Each country has its own standards of accessibility for travelers with disabilities, and many countries do not require accommodations similar to what you might find in the United States.’ This page provides guidance to help you review your needs and conduct necessary research before you travel (U.S. State Department). Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions provides information on security regulations which apply to traveling with medications and medical equipment (U.S. Transportation Security Administration). Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality has a useful assortment of resources and articles on travel for people with disabilities. America the Beautiful Access Passes [UPDATED LINK!] are available free for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. They provide free entry to National Parks and other federal recreation sites; see the linked page for details.
Wheelmap – A user-created map for finding wheelchair accessible places. Anyone can contribute and mark public places around the world according to their wheelchair accessibility. Wheelmap.org is available as a web application and as an app for iPhone and Android smartphones.
Vision Aware [UPDATED LINK!] – Lots of helpful information and advice for independent living with vision loss (American Foundation for the Blind & American Printing House for the Blind). See also National Federation of the Blind.
See also:
BOOKS for SPECIAL NEEDS READERS
COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES
EMPLOYMENT LAW, HEALTH, & SAFETY
PARENTING & FAMILY: Special Needs Children
Webfinders: Learning Disabilities
South Plainfield Public Library 
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