Georgia Advocacy Office is a nonprofit that protects the rights of people with disabilities and mental illness in Georgia. Its advocates look into abuse and neglect, work to help people get services in their own communities, and can file complaints or go to court when talking does not fix a problem. You can call to speak with a staff member who can point you to the right help.
This is the state office in Georgia that oversees special education for students with disabilities. It is now called the Division for Special Education Services and Supports. It gives families and schools guidance on student rights, offers a parent mentor program, and has an IDEA Ombudsman. It also handles mediation and formal complaints when a family and a school district disagree about a child's education.
DBHDD is the State of Georgia agency for mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. It runs a 24-hour crisis phone line and points people to crisis centers, local providers, and regional field offices. It also handles court-ordered forensic evaluations and runs transitional housing and deaf services.
Disabled In Action Atlanta is a nonprofit led by Rev. Calvin Peterson, who was born with a disability. It speaks up for children and adults with disabilities who live in poverty, and for their parents and caregivers. Its work includes mentoring, a parent support group, books for teachers and parents, caregiver relief, and talks for schools and churches.
This is a Georgia state office that works to protect the safety, well-being, and rights of people with disabilities. You can send them a complaint or a question, and staff will look into it and tell you what they did. The office also keeps lists of outside resources.
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies is a disability-led nonprofit based in Philadelphia that works across the country. Its Disability & Disaster Hotline helps disabled disaster survivors, their families, and allies with urgent needs. It also trains and advises groups and governments on including people with disabilities in emergency plans.
United Spinal Association supports wheelchair users and people with spinal cord injuries or disorders. It helps people find resources, peer mentors, support groups, advocacy, employment help, emergency planning tools, and local chapters, including a Georgia chapter in Atlanta.
The Arc is a national nonprofit in Washington, DC. It supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families with education, planning tools, disability rights advocacy, and a directory of local chapters. Atlanta residents can use its national resources and chapter directory.
The American Council of the Blind is a national group run by and for people who are blind or have low vision. It speaks up for their rights, offers free online community events, shares scholarships, audio description work and many resources, and gives guidance to people facing access barriers. Its national office is in Alexandria, Virginia.
HLAA is a national group for people who have hearing loss, or may get it. It offers free-to-read guides, online peer groups, webinars, and help standing up for your rights. It also has local chapters across the country, but the pages do not say whether one is in Atlanta.
The National Association of the Deaf is a national group led by deaf people. It works to protect the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people. It shares legal guides, takes a small number of important civil rights cases, and pushes for better laws, schools, and technology. Staff work mostly from home, so you reach them by phone, email, or video call.
disABILITY LINK is a Center for Independent Living, which means it is run by and for people with disabilities. It serves Metro Atlanta and nearby counties. It offers peer support, skills training, advocacy, job help, assistive technology, travel training, and help applying for SNAP food benefits.
This is the national group for people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a rare genetic condition, and for their families and caregivers. It runs a phone line that is open all day and night, a mentor program for newly diagnosed families, and private Facebook support groups. It also offers grief support, school toolkits, and training for doctors and schools.
The National Federation of the Blind is the largest group of blind people in the United States. Its Early Childhood Initiative helps blind and low-vision children from birth to age 8 and their families learn Braille and use a long white cane. Families can apply online for free Braille books, activity sheets, and a cane.
The Amputee Coalition is a national nonprofit for people who have lost a limb or were born with a limb difference, and for their families and caregivers. It offers free guides and fact sheets, trained peer visitors, online support groups, help with health insurance questions, and youth programs. You can reach staff by phone or online from anywhere.
The Spina Bifida Association is a national group that works to improve care for people living with spina bifida. It keeps a directory of clinics that treat spina bifida and shares care guidelines for health teams. Advisory councils of adults, parents, and professionals help guide its work.
This is a national nonprofit for people affected by schizophrenia and psychosis, and for their families. It runs a free information line, online support groups for people with a diagnosis and for caregivers, and free guides. It also speaks up for better care and laws.
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation helps people living with paralysis, their families and caregivers. Its National Paralysis Resource Center has Information Specialists you can call or write to for answers and help finding resources. It also offers peer mentors, a free resource guide, help for veterans and service members, and grants to nonprofits.
UOAA is a national nonprofit for people who have an ostomy or may need ostomy surgery. It helps people find local and online support groups, get matched with a trained peer volunteer, and use guides and advocacy tools. It is not a medical office and cannot give medical, legal, or insurance advice.
Transgender Law Center is a national group led by trans people. It gives basic legal information to transgender and gender-nonconforming people, answers letters from people in prison, and runs leadership and organizing programs. It cannot give personal legal advice or take your case.
