Advocacy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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) 213-8118 or 1-800-390-703

View the OCRA brochure in English
View the OCRA brochure in Spanish

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.

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.

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.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is established by federal law and state law. SCDD is to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the planning, design and receipt of the services and supports they need which promote increased independence, productivity, inclusion and self-determination.

In addition to headquarters in Sacramento, the Council supports 12 regional offices that provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families including, but not limited to, advocacy assistance, training, monitoring and public information. By providing these services, regional offices ensure that appropriate laws, regulations and policies pertaining to the rights of individuals are observed and protected. Each regional office participates in the development and implementation of the Council’s goals and objectives.

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.

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.

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.

UCP offers over 40 programs and services in four counties, ranging from residential and day programs to advocacy and family support services.