Related Resources

Mentoring Resources

• National Mentoring Partnership: Provides resources for individuals and mentoring organizations, including training for mentors and mentees. URL: www.mentoring.org
• Mass Mentoring Partnership: Provides resources for Massachusetts mentoring organizations and individuals. URL: www.massmentoring.org
• Best Buddies: "The mission of Best Buddies is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment." URL: www.bestbuddies.org
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: "BBBSA provides one-to-one mentoring between adult volunteers and children primarily from single-parent families in over 500 programs throughout the U.S." URL: www.bbbsa.org
• National Mentoring Center: An excellent mentoring information and training resource that provides access to downloadable materials, a mentoring library, a resource help line and many other items-all services and publications are free! URL: www.nwrel.org/mentoring/

Parent Resources

• Learning Disabilities Association of Massachusetts: Offers information to individuals, parents and professionals regarding academic, social-emotional, and vocational needs of people with learning disabilities. Mailing address: P.O. Box 142, Weston, MA 02493. URL: www.ldam.org
• SchwabLearning.org: Great source of information about legal rights, accommodations, developmental issues, parenting techniques, current research on diagnosis and treatment of issues which impact learning. URL: www.schwablearning.org
• The New England ADA & Accessible IT Center: "The Center's goal is to facilitate voluntary and effective compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990." Mailing address: 374 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Phone v/tty: 800-949-4232. URL: www.NewEnglandADA.org
• Federation for Children with Special Needs: Provides information to assist youth with disabilities and their parents, including an extensive resource directory. URL: www.fcsn.org

Entrepreneurship Resources

• National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship: "NFTE's mission is to teach entrepreneurship to low-income young people, ages 11 through 18, so they can become economically productive members of society by improving their academic, business, technology and life skills." URL: www.nfte.com
• Youth Venture: "Empowers young people to create and launch their own enterprises, and through these enterprises, to take greater responsibility for their lives and communities." URL: www.youthventure.org
• YoungBiz: A publication with a mission to "empower youth with entrepreneurial, business, and financial skills through innovative education and real-world experience." URL: www.youngbiz.com
• Boston Public Schools: YEP has partnered with Boston Public Schools to serve a talented group of young entrepreneurs, including the currently enrolled students at Dorchester and Charlestown High Schools. URL: www.boston.k12.ma.us

Arts Resources

• Massachusetts Cultural Council: "A state agency dedicated to the belief that culture the arts, sciences and humanties can build strong, more vital communities." URL: www.massculturalcouncil.org
• National Endowment for the Arts: "Enriches our Nation and its diverse cultural heritage by supporting works of artistic excellence, advancing learning in the arts, and strengthening the arts in communities throughout the country." URL: www.nea.gov
• First Night Inc.: "A private, nonprofit organization that produces the landmark New Year's celebration, Summer Beat series and manages the Neighborhood Network, a community-based outreach program that serves the Greater Boston area." URL: www.firstnight.org
• VSA arts of Massachusetts: "The mission guiding VSA arts of Massachusetts is to serve individuals with disabilities by creating opportunities for participation in the arts and integration into the cultural and educational mainstream of our communities. Through collaborative and proactive advocacy, VSA arts of Massachusetts helps people with and without disabilities make systemic change influencing the quality and accessibility of cultural and educational resources throughout the state and across the nation." URL: www.vsamass.org
• Boston Center for the Arts: "A performing and visual arts complex that showcases diverse artistic expressions and incubates newly emerging artists." URL: www.bcaonline.org

Disability and Independent Living Resources

• Access Resources: (212) 741-3758
• Boston Center for Independent Living: "We work to promote the civil rights of all people with disabilities and to respond to the needs of persons with many different disabilities." URL: www.bostoncil.org
• Cotting School: A chapter-766 approved day school in Lexington, MA for boys & girls ages 3-22 with physical, communication & other challenges to learning. URL: www.cotting.org or www.cottinghopehouse.org
• The Disability Resources Monthly Guide to Disability Resources on the Internet at: www.Disabilityresources.org
• The Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities: "A unique career leadership training program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities." PYD and the Governor's Commission on the Employment of People with Disabilities developed the first Massachusetts YLF in 2000. URL: www.dol.gov/odep/programs/ylf.htm
• Massachusetts Office on Disability: "Works to assure the advancement of legal rights and for the promotion of maximum opportunities, supportive services, accommodations and accessibility in a manner which fosters dignity and self determination." URL: www.state.ma.us/mod
  
• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission: 'Assists individuals with disabilities to live independently and go to work." URL: www.state.ma.us/mrc
• Child and Family Service of Pioneer Valley - Disability Resource Program: Assists individuals with disabilities to 'enhance self confidence, interactive skills and physical abilities through organized activities, support groups and self-advocacy." URL: www.cfs.org/disabili.htm
  
• National Organization on Disability: 910 16th St, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006, (800) 248-2253
• The Learning Disabilities Network: 25 Accord Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370, (617) 982-8100
• LD (Learning Disabilities) OnLine at: www.ldonline.org
• Job Accommodations Network: (800) ADA-WORK
• International Center for Disability Resources: www.icdri.org

Health Resources

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health: DPH works "to promote healthy people, healthy families, healthy communities and healthy environments through compassionate care, education and prevention." URL: www.state.ma.us/dph
• Boston Medical Center: "Provides a full spectrum of pediatric and adult care services from primary to family medicine advanced specialty care." URL: www.bmc.org
  

Community Service Resources

• Massachusetts Service Alliance: "A private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state commission on community service." URL: www.msalliance.org

Technology Resources

• Easter Seals Massachusetts: "Commitment is to respond to the unmet needs of people with disabilities through rehabilitation services, recreational activities, technological assistance, disability prevention, advocacy and public education programs." URL: www.eastersealsma.org
• Adaptive Environments: "Promotes accessibility as well as universal design through education programs, technical assistance, training, consulting, publications and design advocacy." URL: www.adaptiveenvironments.org
• Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership: "The purpose of the MATP is to increase access to assistive technology for people of all ages and all disabilities through a variety of consumer-focused activities." URL: www.matp.org