Interagency Collaboration
Agencies involved will vary greatly depending on age, health, disability status, legal issues, needs and wants of the adults involved. Some agencies have care coordination/case management services for adults with complex needs or these services may come through health care providers.
Potential collaborators might be:- Statewide - Agencies and Organizations
- Department of Education (for public schools and school to work programs)
- Developmental Disabilities Coalition, Governor’s Council on Disabilities, etc.
- Disability-specific organizations such as Easter Seals, Spina Bifida Association
- Medical Associations: state Medical Society; American Academy of Pediatrics affiliate; American Academy of **Family Physicians, Internal Medicine association affiliate, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physicians, **School Nurses Association, and other related professionals
- State Department of Health to locate local health departments
- State Comprehensive Care Center or other mental health agency
- State Insurance Commission Office
- Title V Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs: Agency leaders, Transition Coordinator or SSI Liaison
- University Centers of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities
- Statewide Benefit Programs
- Medicaid office – funding for health care and Medicaid waivers, Ticket to Work, etc.
- Social Security state and local office: SSI, SSDI, and work incentives
- Consumer Leadership Organizations, Youth Leaders and Family Leaders
- Centers for Independent Living
- Disease/disability support groups: Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes Association, Spina Bifida, etc.
- Family Voices state affiliate
- Parent to Parent Network
- Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) located in every state
- Employment-Related Agencies, Organizations and State Initiatives
- Business Organizations
- Employers and/or an organization of employers
- State’s workforce development agency: One Stop Shop
- Vocational Rehabilitation leaders and anyone who may be in charge of transition-age programming, for services preparing for employment and other services (how to find a van and get it fitted for driving modifications); Programs for the blind, if separate from VR in your state
- Disability-Related State Information Networks, Programs and Services
- Assistive Technology Project/agency
- Attendant Care organizations and/or adult day care programs
- Durable medical equipment association, vendors
- Home health agency association (good source of Waiver info and personal assistants)
- Housing office for state: accessible housing, accommodations, and/or group homes or assisted living arrangements
- Higher Education Information: A resource for scholarships, loans, work study, disabled student services, etc. (university, community colleges and technical schools)
- Recreation organizations (youth): YWCA, YMCA, Scouts, 4-H, Baseball/basketball leagues
- Transportation system (mobility training, application process, door-to-door, adapted bus routes)
See Resources section for links