Advocacy Groups
NLACRC Self-Advocacy Group
NLACRC has a self-advocacy group for adults with developmental
disabilities. The group meets every third Tuesday from 10:45
a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at St. Michael’s, 16643 Vanowen Street
in Van Nuys. For more information, please contact Kathryn
at (818) 756-6225.
Other Advocacy Resources
The list below is for informational purposes and is not
meant to serve as an endorsement of the agencies or the
services that they offer.
Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy
The Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA) is a statewide office run by Disability Rights California, formerly Protection & Advocacy, Inc. through a contract with the California Department of Developmental Services. OCRA employs a Clients’ Rights Advocate (CRA) at each regional center. The CRA is a person who is trained to help protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities. To contact the NLACRC Clients’ Rights Advocate, please call (213) 355-3618 or 1-800-390-7032.
Area Board 10
Area Boards were created by state law in 1969 to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families get the services they need. The mission of the Area Board is to protect and advocate for the civil, legal, and service rights of persons with developmental disabilities, and to ensure that the support and services they receive are of the highest possible quality.
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visit the website
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We are proud of what we've been able to accomplish and look forward to continued successes in the years ahead.
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visit the web site
Bet Tzedek
Bet Tzedek is one of the nation’s premier legal services organizations, providing free assistance to more than 10,000 people of every racial and religious background at its headquarters in the Fairfax area and its office in North Hollywood and at more than 30 senior centers throughout Los Angeles County.
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visit the web site
California Health Advocates
California Health Advocates is the leading Medicare advocacy and education organization in California. We are a non-profit and receive financial support from a broad range of private and public organizations.
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visit the web site
California State Independent
Living Council
Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people
with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal
opportunities and self-respect. Independent Living does
not mean that we want to do everything by ourselves, do
not need anybody, or that we want to live in isolation.
>>
visit the web site
Disability Rights California
The mission of Disability Rights California is to advance the rights of Californians with disabilities. Their vision is a barrier free, inclusive world that values diversity, culture, and each individual. DRC's has an e-mail newsletter and a wide variety of publications and resources available on their web site.
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visit the web site
Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles
The DSALA has an Advocacy page with action alerts, sample letter to write to legislators and more.
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visit the web site
Easter Seals
From child development centers to physical rehabilitation
and job training for people with disabilities, Easter Seals
offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities
address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.
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visit the web site
Epilepsy Foundation of Los Angeles
The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles is at its core an advocacy organization, driven to spread awareness about epilepsy and seizure prevention and to promote understanding, fairness, access and justice in order to create change and END EPILEPSY. They have a page dedicated to advocacy available on their web site.
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visit the web site
National Dissemination Center
for Children with Disabilities
The center provides information to the nation on disabilities
in children and youth; programs and services for infants,
children, and youth with disabilities; IDEA, the nation's
special education law; No Child Left Behind, the nation's
general education law; and research-based information on
effective practices for children with disabilities. Anyone
can use their services—families, educators, administrators,
journalists, students. Their special focus is children and
youth (birth to age 22).
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visit the web site
Parents Helping Parents
PHP’s mission is to help children with special needs receive
the resources, love, hope, respect, health care, education,
and other services they need to reach their full potential
by providing them with strong families, dedicated professionals,
and responsive systems to serve them.
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visit the web site
People First
The mission of People First of California, Inc. (PFCA) is 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.
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visit the web site
Self-Advocacy Board of Los Angeles County
The Self-Advocacy Board of Los Angeles County (SABLAC) is an organization run by and for people with developmental disabilities. Its purpose is to strengthen the self-advocacy movement throughout Los Angeles by: helping more self-advocacy groups get started, teaching people about their rights, developing leadership skills and providing input on important legislation and policies.
>> visit the web site
Supported Life Institute
The Supported Life Institute offers education and training
opportunities to assist individuals and organizations in
the work or improving the quality of life for people with
disabilities.
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visit the web site
Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK)
TASK serves families of children aged birth to 26 years of age under IDEA and other systems mandated to provide services to individuals with disabilities. As a federally-funded Parent Training and Information Center, TASK is part of a national network of centers providing similar services. TASK provides advocacy information, workshops and information in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
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visit the web site
The ARC of Los Angeles & Orange Counties
The Arc's Center for Human Rights provides help, support and guidance to individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families. Our staff are positioned to assist you by carefully listening to your needs and helping you find the right resources for you and your family member.
>> visit the web site
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute offers families new hope in
unraveling the mystery that has long surrounded autism and
autism spectrum disorders, fragile X syndrome, and other
developmental disorders.
>>
visit the web site
United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles
UCP offers over 40 programs and services in four counties, ranging from residential and day programs to advocacy and family support services.
>>
visit the web site
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