TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

Relevant Training Curriculum chapters can be found on the Resource Bank's main page.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

 

IDENTIFYING AND PARTNERING WITH DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

This community of practice discussion focused on ways to identify and build relationships with statewide organizations and government agencies serving people with disabilities.

  • Identifying and Partnering with Disability Service Providers and Advocacy Organization Community of Practice Recording  
  • Identifying and Partnering with Disability Service Providers and Advocacy Organization Community of Practice Transcript (.pdf)
  • Resources:
    • ADAPT: ADAPT is national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.
    • Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC): ADRC focuses on a full range of available options for older adults, people with disabilities, and family members on access long-term services and supports.  They assist individuals to access public and private programs. 
    • American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD): AAIDD is an interdisciplinary organization of professionals focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities. They advocate for the rights for those with intellectual disabilities.
    • American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): AAPD is a national cross-disability rights organization.  They advocate for full civil rights for Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation.
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network: The ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act. The network consists of 10 Regional ADA Centers located throughout the United States.
    • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association: The ALS Association is a national non-profit organization leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships.
    • The Arc: The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community.
    • Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL): APRIL is a national, consumer controlled, nonprofit membership organization consisting of centers for independent living, statewide independent living councils, and other organizations focused on the independent living issues of people with disabilities living in rural America.
    • Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD): AUCD is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities interdisciplinary programs. AUCD provides training, technical assistance, policy advocacy and program evaluation to local, state, and national organizations and policy makers.
    • Centers for Independent Living (CILs): CILs are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential private non-profits designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities, and provide an array of independent living services)
    • Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD): CCD is a coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for federal public policy on inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society.
    • Council of State VR Agencies (CSAVR): CSAVR is a membership organization for public rehabilitation agencies serving individuals with disabilities in the states and territories. These agencies constitute the state partners in the State-Federal program of rehabilitation services provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
    • Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU): ILRU offers trainings and disability/Independent Living resources. They operate the National Training and Technical Assistance Center on Independent Living with a dual emphasis on providing training and technical assistance for Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils.
    • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society: The MS Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.
    • National Association of the Deaf (NAD): NAD is a civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. They advocate in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, and telecommunications.
    • National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is a national advocacy group founded as a grassroots organization by family members of people diagnosed with mental illness.
    • National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): NCIL is a policy-focused organization for national disability rights.
    • National Disability Institute (NDI): NDI is a national organization exclusively focused on the financial health and wellness of people with disabilities. They conduct research, advocacy, policy development, training and technical assistance.
    • National Federation of the Blind: The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions. They offer programs, services, and resources for individuals that are blind and low-vision.
    • National Organization on Disability (NOD): NOD is a non-profit organization that focuses on increasing employment opportunities for working-age Americans with disabilities. In partnership with the National Business and Disability Council (NBDC) they developed the Disability Employment Tracker, a tool for companies to confidentially assess their disability and veteran employment practices.
    • Parent to Parent: Parent to Parent is a national nonprofit organization that promotes excellence in Parent to Parent state programs across the nation and provides emotional and informational support to families by connecting parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs.
    • Veteran Organizations: The organization serves and advocates for American Veterans and their families to ensure that they receive medical care, benefits, and social support.
    • American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): AAPD is a national cross-disability rights organization. They advocate for full civil rights for Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation.

 

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LENDING

This community of practice discussion revolved around types of Assistive Technology loans, policies, and the lending review process.

 

ADAPTING CURRENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

This community of practice explored alternate lending practices such as flexible underwriting and unsecure loans for individual with disabilities that may not qualify for traditional loans.

 

FUNDRAISING

This community of practice facilitators presented examples of successful fundraising strategies and how the funds can support CDFI services for people with disabilities.

 

MEASURING IMPACT

This community of practice presented various ways CDFIs can measure the impact of their services for people with disabilities.

 

 

The compilation of these documents was funded by the CDFI Fund, under Contract No. 20340619F00005. The curriculum and opinions expressed in these documents are those of the authors, who are solely responsible for the content, and do not reflect the opinions of the CDFI Fund or any other person, entity, or organization.