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My top links to supportive and empowering sites for people with disabilities, their siblings and parents, the professionals who work with them, and the folks in the transportation industry, who try to ensure that all the Cool Beths, and all the Rachels, can get to where they want to go.

American Association of People With Disabilities, the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan, cross-disability organization in the United States. Their mission includes full economic and political empowerment of all people with disabilities, and furthering the productivity, independence, full citizenship, and total integration of people with disabilities into all aspects of society.

AUCD, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, is a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC).

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is a national leader in helping people with disabilities live independently and become productive, fully participating members of society. The staff and board, most of whom have disabilities, are strongly committed to supporting others in their efforts towards self sufficiency.

National Organization on Disability promotes the full and equal participation and contribution of America’s 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.

Special Needs Advocate for Parents (SNAP) has a mission to improve the quality of life for children of all ages who have special needs and their parents or caregivers, by serving as a resource that empowers them through information, education, advocacy and referrals.

TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm.

The Nth Degree is a very progressive nationwide graphic design/silk screen/professional speaking company specializing in products, designs and stories for the interdependent living, inclusion, diversity and disability rights movement. It is run by Daniel Wilkins, who is also a professional speaker.

Online and print magazines include ABILITY, The Disability Rag’s Ragged Magazine Online, Disability World, ican.com, Inclusion Daily Express, and New Mobility.

The AAMR promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.

The Arc of The United States is the national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families. They have chapters all around the country.

Chromosome Deletion Outreach, Inc. (CDO), a nonprofit organization providing support and information to families affected by rare chromosome disorders.

www.mycitymyplace.com, detailed resource directory for people with mental retardation, families, and professionals. Based in the Philadelphia region.

www.williamstillman.com. As an adult with Asperger's Syndrome, Stillman's message of reverence and respect has touched thousands nationally through his acclaimed autism workshops and private consultations. I gained great insight from his workshops.

The Kent Jacobs Foundation, The Kent Jacobs Foundation, run by Kent’s sister, is dedicated to raising public awareness of the phenomenon of missing persons who have developmental disabilities, a category overlooked by the agencies that deal with missing children and missing adults. Kent Jacobs, who disappeared in North Caroline on March 10, 2002, is still missing.

Ohio SIBS believes that adult siblings of people with disabilities are the next generation of advocates and caregivers. The aim of Ohio SIBS is to empower adult siblings by providing information and referral resources, support and advocacy skills education. Ohio SIBS is not only for Ohio residents, but for sibs across the country.

SIBS (Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters) is a group that supports brothers and sisters of all ages in Illinois that have a sibling with special needs. This includes, but is not limited to, developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses, and mental health issues.

The Sibling Support Network in Japan. This is a Web site put up by Yasuko Arima which also includes good links to sites in the U.S.

The Sibling Support Project. Run by the very energetic and caring Don Meyer, the Sibling Support Project is a national program dedicated to the interests of brothers and sisters of people with special health and developmental needs. They provide support for sibs of all ages, including the listservs SibNet, for adult sibs, and SibKids, for younger sibs. They also link you to Don Meyer’s books about sibs, including Living With A Brother Or Sister With Special Needs and Views From Our Shoes. SibNet has been a very supportive online community for me.

The Sibling Project Team at the Association for Children with a Disability in Australia launched the Your Shout Web site for adolescent siblings who have a brother or sister with a disability or illness. The site was created by a group of adolescent siblings themselves, and it has become the center of a thriving online community of support and understanding. Note: Requires Internet Explorer and current version of Flash.

Without Apology is a feature-length documentary film currently being made by director Susan Hamovitch. It tells the story of Susan, her parents, and her brother Alan, who was seen as the family secret, and whose severe mental retardation led the family to place him in an institution. Find out about this very moving and insightful film-in-progress by looking at Susan’s Web site.

Siblings Australia provides a wealth of services and resources for siblings of all ages, as well as parents and providers. Even if you don't live in Australia, you'll find much here that will be useful. Siblings Australia was developed by health professional and journalist Kate Strohm, who is a sibling herself, and whose wonderful book, Being The Other One: Growing Up With A Brother Or Sister Who Has Special Needs, is available in both Australia and America. You can find out more at the Web site for Shambhala Publications: http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/1-59030-150-1.cfm.

There are also some wonderful books about the sibling experience, including Special Siblings by Mary McHugh, available at www.brookespublishing.com; The Ride Together, by Judy and Paul Karasik; and books by Don Meyer (see the Sibling Support Project, above).

ABA. The American Bus Association, or ABA, is the trade association of the intercity bus industry. It represents the motorcoach industry's interests in Washington, D.C., while facilitating relationships between North American motorcoach and tour companies and all related segments of the travel and supplier industries, and promotes travel by motorcoach to consumers.

APTA. The American Public Transportation Association, or APTA, is a national professional association that includes bus, rapid transit and commuter rail systems, and the organizations responsible for planning, designing, constructing, financing and operating transit systems. Generally these are larger public transportation systems. APTA’s goal is to strengthen and expand public transportation.

CTAA. The Community Transportation of America, or CTAA, is a national professional association of organizations and individuals committed to removing barriers to isolation and to improving mobility for all people. Generally these are smaller, rural, and community transportation systems. CTAA advocates to make coordinated community transportation available, affordable, and accessible.

MBS. The Motor Bus Society, or MBS, seeks to collect and publish information about the history and development of the bus industry. Its membership includes industry professionals, students and members of the general public who have an interest in bus transportation and equipment.

The Museum of Bus Transportation. The Museum of Bus Transportation provides the first museum-quality displays of the bus industry. It’s a beautiful showcase for buses of all ages and sizes. You will not only be mesmerized by the many variety of buses that have been on the road, but you’ll also come to celebrate the role of the bus industry in the history of America – and your own life. The Museum is located in the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, PA, so in one trip you can see great buses, and swoon over immaculately preserved cars from throughout the 20th century, too.

There are also several great books about the experience of driving buses, collecting buses, and living a bus-filled existence. Among them are: books by retired Trailways driver Bob Beard, including Square Wheels On The Interstate, which can be found at Square Wheels Bookshop; books by British Columbia transit operator Heinz Hammer, including Routes, The Lighter Side, which can be found at www.routesinternational.com/books.htm; books by nationally known newscaster Jim Lehrer, including A Bus of My Own, which can be found at http://www.hawkpub.com/busmyown.htm; and books by collector Kurt M. Resch, including The Collector’s Guide to Bus Toys & Models, which can be ordered through the author at A World of Bus Toys, 175 Hudson St., Hackensack, NJ 07601.

ANCOR is a nonprofit trade association representing private providers who provide supports and services to people with disabilities. ANCOR is distinguished in this industry by its balance of leading practices resources and advocacy for member agencies and the people and families they serve and support. They are also strongly supporting the National Advocacy Campaign, below.

The National Advocacy Campaign has a motto: “Direct support professionals make a difference! Shouldn’t they make a living?” The goal of the NAC is to ensure that direct support professionals, like Beth’s aide Vera, receive true living wages, to help avoid turnover. You can make a difference by signing a petition urging your state governor and legislators to make it a priority to obtain a living wage for direct support professionals (DSPs). People with disabilities cannot lead productive, meaningful and personally satisfying lives in their communities without a stable and well-trained workforce. The wage issue is key to a stable workforce, which is key to community inclusion. The American Network of Community Options and Resources spearheaded landmark federal wage legislation to increase Medicaid funding for direct care workers and is leading the charge in states via this petition. Visit and ask your friends to sign, too.

Chapter-A-Day. This is a great reading club for busy book lovers, in which you receive a small excerpt from a new book every day for a week, which allows you to see if you like it. I’ve discovered many wonderful books through this site.

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