National Resources for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education
Access Computing
Based at the University of Washington, Access Computing helps high school, college, and graduate students with disabilities find mentors and professionals in the computing field who can open opportunities for internships and employment.
Active Minds
Active Minds works through campus chapters to promote positive mental and emotional health for college students while ending the stigma of mental illness. The organization also has an Emerging Scholars Fellowship that funds students' mental health projects and professional development.
Actively Moving Forward
Through campus-based chapters, AMF supports college students dealing with grief after illness or the death of someone they care about.
ADA National Network
The ADA National Network has regional centers across the U.S. that can provide resources and assistance for campuses and college students. If you have questions about your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), call someone at your local center (there is a list of regional ADA centers here).
African-American Women who Stutter Project at the Clara Cantrell Clemmons Assistance Center, Inc.
Based in New York and founded by an African American woman who stutters, the group held a 2012 "Having Our Voices Heard" conference for African-Americans who stutter.
American Muslim Health Professionals
This group of Muslim health care professionals has worked with disability groups to actively improve health care, mental health education, and access to medical insurance for all Muslims in the U.S. with an interest in also combating stereotypes and discrimination.
Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
Professional organization for disability services providers
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
ASAN promotes understanding of neurodiversity and self-advocacy among autistics. The organization has many college-related initiatives, including Navigating College: A Handbook on Self Advocacy, and the Autistic Scholars Fellowship Program.
Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities
Although this is based in Canada, many resources and publications are available for people from the U.S.
Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability
Research center at the University of Connecticut focused on disability and higher education, especially disability services
The Chez Family Foundation Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education
Chronically Academic
This network of academics with disabilities and chronic conditions shares resources and advice for students and postdocs as well as more experienced academics.
College Diabetes Network
With campus chapters across the country, this organization works to provide information and support to students living with diabetes.
Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society
This is an academic honor society for students with disabilities at colleges and universities, with chapters across the United States.
DO-IT: Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology
Focuses primarily on employment, Internet, and technology; also has online mentoring program and information for college students
HEATH Resource Center
A clearinghouse of information focused on disability and higher education, especially related to transition
HBCU Disability Consortium
The Consortium at Historically Black Colleges and Universities provides resources for Black and African-American college students with disabilities
Mobility International USA
Works on international disability rights and supports travel and study abroad for people with disabilities
NAOBI: National Alliance of Black Interpreters, Inc.
National organization for sign language interpreters from the African diaspora.
National Association of Blind Students
Part of the National Federation of the Blind, NABS and its campus affiliates provide a point of information, networking, and collective action for college students who are blind. Useful resources include the Self-Advocacy in Higher Education and the Self-Advocacy in High-Stakes Testing toolkits.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI offers support and assistance designed to reduce the stigma of mental illness; they have campus and community chapters and resources for family members.
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
Federally-funded group coordinating transition-related work across U.S.
National Association of Law Students with Disabilities
This coalition of law students actively works for equity and inclusion in law education and the field of law, working closely with the National Association of Attorneys with Disabilities.
National Black Deaf Advocates
Hosts leadership trainings for Black deaf and hard of hearing college students.
The National Deaf Center (NDC) on Postsecondary Outcomes
Provides information and technical assistance related to deaf or hard-of-hearing students and their supporters in higher education
National Wheelchair Basketball Association
With roots in teams formed by WWII veterans, this organization now spans the globe and sends teams to the Paralympics. Their website has more information about the sport and where teams are located.
National Youth Leadership Network
National organization for youth with disabilities, ages 16-28
Office of Civil Rights
If you think your college has discriminated against you, talk to someone at the Office of Civil Rights office in your city or state. They will help you learn more about your rights (and responsibilities) as a college student with a disability.
Pacer Center
Provides information for parents about various aspects of disability, including transition to higher education
Project Eye-to-Eye
Matches college student mentors with LD or ADHD labels with high school students who have similar labels.
Society for Disability Studies
Like African-American studies and race, women's studies and gender, or other types of "studies" that look at society through different lenses, disability studies professors and researchers look the world with disability in mind. If you want to study disability academically, this is a good place to find people who are doing it on campuses across the U.S.
Southern Smash
Promotes awareness of eating disorders and promotes health body image; has an annual campus tour with events like "smash the scale."
Steve Fund
This organization supports students of color and their mental and emotional health and well-being, often hosting events at campuses around the country.
Student Veterans of America
Students with Diabetes
This group supports college students with diabetes through information, and by forming a network of peers and campus chapters, connecting students to resources in their communities.
Think College
Promotes inclusion in higher education for people with intellectual disabilities
TRiO
TRiO is actually a combination of eight different federal programs, all designed to work with higher education students of color, students who are the first generation in their family to go to college, lower-income students, and students with disabilities. Your college admissions office would have information about whether your campus has any kind of TRiO program, which can provide a variety of services, including tutoring and mentoring.
Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud
A group in California for disabled youth ages 16-28, focused on activism, leadership development, and initiatives across the state. They also have lists of scholarships, a search engine to find resources in California, extensive information about disability history and the independent living movement, with cool t-shirts and other products for sale.
Based at the University of Washington, Access Computing helps high school, college, and graduate students with disabilities find mentors and professionals in the computing field who can open opportunities for internships and employment.
Active Minds
Active Minds works through campus chapters to promote positive mental and emotional health for college students while ending the stigma of mental illness. The organization also has an Emerging Scholars Fellowship that funds students' mental health projects and professional development.
Actively Moving Forward
Through campus-based chapters, AMF supports college students dealing with grief after illness or the death of someone they care about.
ADA National Network
The ADA National Network has regional centers across the U.S. that can provide resources and assistance for campuses and college students. If you have questions about your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), call someone at your local center (there is a list of regional ADA centers here).
African-American Women who Stutter Project at the Clara Cantrell Clemmons Assistance Center, Inc.
Based in New York and founded by an African American woman who stutters, the group held a 2012 "Having Our Voices Heard" conference for African-Americans who stutter.
American Muslim Health Professionals
This group of Muslim health care professionals has worked with disability groups to actively improve health care, mental health education, and access to medical insurance for all Muslims in the U.S. with an interest in also combating stereotypes and discrimination.
Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
Professional organization for disability services providers
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
ASAN promotes understanding of neurodiversity and self-advocacy among autistics. The organization has many college-related initiatives, including Navigating College: A Handbook on Self Advocacy, and the Autistic Scholars Fellowship Program.
Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities
Although this is based in Canada, many resources and publications are available for people from the U.S.
Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability
Research center at the University of Connecticut focused on disability and higher education, especially disability services
The Chez Family Foundation Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education
Chronically Academic
This network of academics with disabilities and chronic conditions shares resources and advice for students and postdocs as well as more experienced academics.
College Diabetes Network
With campus chapters across the country, this organization works to provide information and support to students living with diabetes.
Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society
This is an academic honor society for students with disabilities at colleges and universities, with chapters across the United States.
DO-IT: Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology
Focuses primarily on employment, Internet, and technology; also has online mentoring program and information for college students
HEATH Resource Center
A clearinghouse of information focused on disability and higher education, especially related to transition
HBCU Disability Consortium
The Consortium at Historically Black Colleges and Universities provides resources for Black and African-American college students with disabilities
Mobility International USA
Works on international disability rights and supports travel and study abroad for people with disabilities
NAOBI: National Alliance of Black Interpreters, Inc.
National organization for sign language interpreters from the African diaspora.
National Association of Blind Students
Part of the National Federation of the Blind, NABS and its campus affiliates provide a point of information, networking, and collective action for college students who are blind. Useful resources include the Self-Advocacy in Higher Education and the Self-Advocacy in High-Stakes Testing toolkits.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI offers support and assistance designed to reduce the stigma of mental illness; they have campus and community chapters and resources for family members.
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
Federally-funded group coordinating transition-related work across U.S.
National Association of Law Students with Disabilities
This coalition of law students actively works for equity and inclusion in law education and the field of law, working closely with the National Association of Attorneys with Disabilities.
National Black Deaf Advocates
Hosts leadership trainings for Black deaf and hard of hearing college students.
The National Deaf Center (NDC) on Postsecondary Outcomes
Provides information and technical assistance related to deaf or hard-of-hearing students and their supporters in higher education
National Wheelchair Basketball Association
With roots in teams formed by WWII veterans, this organization now spans the globe and sends teams to the Paralympics. Their website has more information about the sport and where teams are located.
National Youth Leadership Network
National organization for youth with disabilities, ages 16-28
Office of Civil Rights
If you think your college has discriminated against you, talk to someone at the Office of Civil Rights office in your city or state. They will help you learn more about your rights (and responsibilities) as a college student with a disability.
Pacer Center
Provides information for parents about various aspects of disability, including transition to higher education
Project Eye-to-Eye
Matches college student mentors with LD or ADHD labels with high school students who have similar labels.
Society for Disability Studies
Like African-American studies and race, women's studies and gender, or other types of "studies" that look at society through different lenses, disability studies professors and researchers look the world with disability in mind. If you want to study disability academically, this is a good place to find people who are doing it on campuses across the U.S.
Southern Smash
Promotes awareness of eating disorders and promotes health body image; has an annual campus tour with events like "smash the scale."
Steve Fund
This organization supports students of color and their mental and emotional health and well-being, often hosting events at campuses around the country.
Student Veterans of America
Students with Diabetes
This group supports college students with diabetes through information, and by forming a network of peers and campus chapters, connecting students to resources in their communities.
Think College
Promotes inclusion in higher education for people with intellectual disabilities
TRiO
TRiO is actually a combination of eight different federal programs, all designed to work with higher education students of color, students who are the first generation in their family to go to college, lower-income students, and students with disabilities. Your college admissions office would have information about whether your campus has any kind of TRiO program, which can provide a variety of services, including tutoring and mentoring.
Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud
A group in California for disabled youth ages 16-28, focused on activism, leadership development, and initiatives across the state. They also have lists of scholarships, a search engine to find resources in California, extensive information about disability history and the independent living movement, with cool t-shirts and other products for sale.
