Updated October 2020
About 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability and 26 percent of adults or 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability.
Below we share some of the organizations that are not only serving that population, but that also support organizations to recruit, retain and advance people with disabilities and build truly inclusive workplaces for all employees.
ADARA promotes and participates in quality human service delivery to people who are deaf and hard of hearing through agencies and individuals. ADARA is a partnership of national organizations, local affiliates, professional sections, and individual members working together to support social services and rehabilitation delivery for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is comprised of approximately 70 state chapters and special-interest affiliates representing a diverse range of groups within the blind community, including students, families, teachers, attorneys, governmental employees, entrepreneurs, vending stand operators and the LGBTQ community.
The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)
The Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation is composed of the chief administrators of the public rehabilitation agencies serving individuals with physical and mental disabilities in the States, District of Columbia, and the territories.
Deaf Initiative in Information Technology (DIIT)
The Deaf Initiative in Information Technology (DIIT) is a project of the Applied Computer Technology Department (ACT), of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology and provides retraining workshops to deaf and hard-of-hearing adults already in the national workforce or preparing for employment in the information technology field.
Disability:IN (formerly USBLN) empowers business to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Disability: IN administers the annuel Disability Equality Index (DEI), a free benchmarking tool that provides a confidential opportunity to receive an objective score on disability inclusion policies and practices.
Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
EARN supports organizations in their efforts to recruit, hire, retain and advance qualified individuals with disabilities. EARN educates public- and private-sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures.
Job Accommodation Network – JAN
JAN offers free consulting on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), job accommodations, and the employability of people with disabilities.
National Association of the Deaf
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.
National Organization on Disability (NOD)
The National Organization on Disability focuses on increasing employment opportunities for the 80-percent of working-age Americans with disabilities who are not employed. NOD works with leading employers and partners with educational and philanthropic institutions to pilot innovative approaches to disability inclusion, then scales these up into initiatives with even broader impact.
TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families and self-advocates.
HONORABLE MENTION: Invisible Disabilities Association
The IDA is passionate about providing awareness that invisible illness, pain and disabilities are very real. The frequently invisible nature of illness and pain may lead to disbelief about that illness or pain by those surrounding the person who lives daily with invisible disabilities. Their mission is to encourage, educate and connect people and organizations touched by illness, pain and disability around the globe.
