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Aging, Disability and Health Issues-- Please Note: These links will open in a new browser window.
Aging and Elder Law:
ABA Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly
The mission of the ABA Commission on Law and Aging “is to strengthen and secure the legal rights, dignity, autonomy, quality of life, and quality of care of elders.†The Commission carries out this mission through research, policy development, technical assistance, advocacy, education, and training. Users are offered a hyperlinked index of elder-related Websites: federal and state legislative updates, reports, and legislative trends in health care, state case law, publications, and videos.
Institute of Gerontology
The Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University undertakes research on various issues pertaining to aging and urban health. Its mission is to improve the community's health through research, education and outreach programs “that connect seniors and their families to current knowledge.†Information includes abstracts of the Institute’s grant research projects, training opportunities and education programs, articles on aging (“Transitionsâ€), and other information. A site map and a search engine are available to search the site’s offerings.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers and others who work with the elderly and their families. The Academy provides information, education, networking, and assistance to those who provide legal services to the elderly. Resources include a FAQ for seeking elder law attorneys, articles, news and events, and links to other web resources pertaining to the aged and elder-law.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
The NIA is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institute of Health (NIH). It leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA provides leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people. It has been designated the NIA as the primary federal agency on Alzheimer’s disease research. NIA’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans through research, training, and other support. Site users have access to basic health information (publications, Q&A), research information (program areas, gerontology, funding, training etc.), and news and events. A site map and a search engine are available for site users.
Social Security Administration
This is the official website of the United States Social Security Administration. It offers users a wealth of information about the social security program and information about such matters as retirement and Medicare, disability and SSI, survivors’ benefits, and other information related to social security. User resources include an electronic newsletter, forms, publications, policy matters, and rulemaking. Questions and answers are available on a variety of subjects such as benefits, disability, and pensions. Included is a list of links to other related federal agency Websites. A site map and a search engine are available for site users.
US Department of Health and Human Services - Administration on Aging (AOA)
The AOA is an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It claims to be “one of the nation's largest providers of home- and community-based care for older persons and their caregivers.†Its mission “is to promote the dignity and independence of older people and to help society prepare for an aging population.†Users of the site can access information about the agency, its budget, and organizational structure. In addition, information is available about the Older Americans Act that established the AOA and authorized a range of programs for older Americans and their caregivers.
Other resources include information on Elder care issues, access to local, state and national elder care agencies, news articles and announcements, and links to related government websites.
Disability and Special Education Law:
Americans with Disabilities Act Regulations and Technical Assistance Materials
The U.S. Department of Justice provides free ADA materials including links to the regulations as printed in the Code of Federal Regulations. Site also offers general ADA publications and information. This website contains the text of the American with Disabilities Act and pertinent regulations including prohibition against discrimination by the state and local governments and in places of public accommodation or commercial facilities. In addition, the website contains question and answer booklets, contacts to federal agencies and organizations that provide information regarding the ADA, and a status report from the Department of Justice regarding recent cases involving the ADA. Further, there are numerous documents that outline methods of complying with the ADA.
Job Accommodations Network – ADA Hotlinks and Document Center
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) of the U.S. Department of Labor. Its mission is to “facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members, and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities, and related subjects.†This website contains several hyperlinked indexes of disability-related topics including: assistance for individuals with disabilities in seeking and maintaining employment; help for educational institutions in accommodating students with disabilities; providing guidance for private and government employers; and relaying basic information about accommodating individuals with disabilities.
This is a commission to “promote the ABA's commitment to justice and the rule of law for persons with mental, physical, and sensory disabilities and to promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession." This website includes the Mental and Physical Disability Law Reporter and Law Digest, which are journals containing information about recent decisions, trends, and legislation pertaining to disability law. Although one must subscribe to these journals to access them, there are summaries of cases and decisions on the website. Additionally, this website provides links to federal agencies and organizations relating to disability law.
This website, provided by the University of Wisconsin - Madison Waisman Center, is “a global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support.†The Waisman Center, a medical and research center, focuses on “human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.†This website has information sheets on dozens of disabilities diagnoses, mailing lists, listservs, personal Web pages, modified items and toys, schools and education plans, and places of worship.
Located in San Francisco, this network exists to ensure that families of children with any kind of disability or special health care need have the knowledge and assistance they need to make informed choices that support their child's health, education, and development. It provides peer support to families and information and education to families, professionals, and the community at large. The website includes links to legislative and policy websites and a resource guide for families of children with disabilities.
Health-Related Issues:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDS is a federal agency which “serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.†This website has a hyperlinked index to full text resources on disease prevention guides and strategies. Specifically, this website includes information regarding disabilities, screening for disabilities, and accommodations. Additionally, there are links to information about children’s health issues and other centers including the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
National Health Law Program (NHeLP)
The NHeLP’s website states that it is “a national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities.†This website includes a hyperlinked index of dozens of health-related Websites including children’s health, racial and cultural issues, and Medicare; a Court Watch site which has updates of recent cases and legal issues; access online periodicals; and links to foundations.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH is a medical research center which states its goal is “to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold.†This website includes health and wellness information for children, teens, and adults as well as links to clinical research trials and information for research grants. The information can be hyperlinked and are generally full text articles.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
National Center for Health Statistics is part of the Center for Disease Control and compiles data in order to guide “actions and policies to improve health care.†The database includes information on birth rates and infant mortality, a National Survey of Family Growth, journal articles, fact sheets, and current initiatives by the NCHS and the CDC.
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
The NLM is the part of the NIH and is the world’s largest medical library. It contains materials on biomedicine and health care. The NLM has an online catalog for its materials and links to Medline and other medical journal databases. The website is also divided into sections for the public, health care providers and researchers so one can better target a research area of interest. This site includes current health news and links to specific research topics such as the human genome, environmental health, and public health concerns.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse:
AACAP is a non-profit organization whose members include medical professionals focusing on research and treatment of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. The Facts for Families portion includes information regarding abuse, a variety of mental illnesses, family issues, and societal violence. The site also includes links to AACAP publications, which are fee based, and descriptions of passed and pending legislation in both the federal and state level.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA is an agency under the Department of Health and Human Service that serves “to focus attention, programs, and funding on improving the lives of people with or at risk for mental and substance abuse disorders.†The website is divided into topics and includes information regarding children and families, criminal and juvenile justice, and changes in the mental health system. The website provides statistics and data pertaining to a wide variety of mental health issues. The site includes access to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol Drug Information, the National Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN), the Center for Mental Health Services, and the SAMHSA Newsletter. The website includes a search engine.
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