Welcome to Partners in Policymaking: Public Policy Action Center

Welcome to the Partners in Policymaking© Public Policy Action Center!

The following are but a few of the many Internet resources that might be of interest to persons following disability policy at the Federal, State, and local levels. These links are by no means exhaustive, but highlight some important sites. Many of these sites have links to other sites, so that by searching, you will eventually come up with the information you need. Happy surfing!

Federal Information

State/Local Information

Federal Disability Policy Information

Legislative Branch

Find Out What Is Hot in Congress Now: The Association of University Centers on Disabilities’ Legislative Update Page
http://capwiz.com/aucd/issues/bills/
This page contains an up-to-date listing of all major bills currently before Congress that pertain to disability policy. It also allows you to contact your elected officials to express your views on legislation that might be of interest to you. Please note: You are under no obligation to support or oppose any piece of legislation or to contact anyone. This is all your choice.

Library of Congress: Legislative Information
http://thomas.loc.gov
This site contains a wealth of information on bills, bill summaries and status, the Congressional Record, committee information, historical documents, and the legislative process.

U.S. Senate
http://www.senate.gov/
This site provides information regarding Senate Members, committees (including links to committee homepages), the status of legislation, and information on how to contact Members.

U.S. House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/
This site provides information regarding House Members, committees (including links to committee homepages), the status of legislation, and information on how to contact Members.

CSPAN I
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS
Watch live proceedings from the U.S. House of Representatives, and occasional Committee hearings of interest.

CSPAN II
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan2_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2
Watch live proceedings from the U.S. Senate, and occasional Committee hearings of interest.

Executive Branch

White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
This is the official White House home page. It includes information on the President’s and Vice President’s latest speeches and activities, archival materials, and links to all Executive Branch agencies (i.e. the whole Federal government).

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/index.jsp
Here you will find the latest information from the Department of Education, including press releases, grant announcements, regulation notices, etc. Click on “About ED,” and then, “ED’s offices and structure,” and then “Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,” to find information on special education, rehabilitation, and disability and rehabilitation research.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/
Here you will find the latest information from the Department of Health and Human Services, including press releases, grant announcements, regulation notices, etc. Click on “Specific Populations,” and then, “Disabilities.” You might also wish to visit the Administration on Developmental Disabilities at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/add/

U.S. Department of Justice
http://www.usdoj.gov/
This site contains information pertaining to the activities of the Federal Department of Justice, including information on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

U.S. Department of Labor: Office of Disability Employment Policy
http://www.dol.gov/odep/index.htm
This link will provide you with information regarding the Federal government’s efforts to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as resources for job seekers and employers.

National Council on Disability
http://www.ncd.gov
The National Council on Disability is the highest-level Federal council charged with making recommendations to the President and Congress regarding needed changes in Federal disability policy. This site contains Council reports, member information, and useful links.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of the United States
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
This site contains information regarding recent Supreme Court decisions, pending cases, previous Court opinions, Court rules and procedures, etc.

U.S. Code
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/
This site contains the text of every Federal law in a single, searchable database.

Other Useful National Sites

DisabilityInfo.Gov
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov
This site is described as the Federal government’s “one-stop Web site” for disability-related information. It represents a collaborative effort of 22 separate government agencies, and contains a wealth of information regarding Federal programs.

Disability Resource Guide
http://www.disabilityresources.org/
A private “mega” site containing a wealth of information on all aspects of disability policy, programs, and very practical information. State-specific information is included.

The Empowerment Zone
http://www.empowermentzone.com/
Another private “mega” site containing a wealth of information on disability policy, the texts of inspiring speeches, Congressional information, technical information on assistive technology, etc. You could spend years on this site!

The Family Village
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/
This site, administered by the University of Wisconsin, is a goldmine of information for parents and people with disabilities, and includes basic (and advanced) information on disabling conditions, access to support groups, information regarding spiritual resources, assistive technology, and a host of other topics.

FedStats
http://www.fedstats.gov/
A Federal government site that contains statistics on practically anything! Huge database includes all major government agencies.

Get State/Local Information