Louisiana Organizations and Resources
Disability Rights Louisiana
Free legal help for people with disabilities and senior citizens in Louisiana. To request help from Disability Rights Louisiana, call 1-800-960-7705 (Voice or via 711 Relay) or email
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. They will contact you within 1-2 business days to discuss your issue in detail and determine if they can help. Call if you are dealing with issues such as housing discrimination, abuse or neglect, medicaid/medicare, nursing home issues, special education issues, polling place accessibility, Louisiana rehabilitation services, SSI/SSDI work incentives, employment barriers, etc.
Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Training Center
Teaches people who are blind and deaf-blind the skills that lead to independence, employment and community integration.
Families Helping Families
FHF is a non-profit, family directed resource center for individuals with disabilities and their families. It is a place where families can go that is directed and staffed by parents or family members of children with disabilities or adults with disabilities.
Governor's Office of Disability Affairs
The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs (GODA) strives to serve as an informational resource for people with disabilities, their families and the agencies that serve them. GODA was established and designed by the Governor’s Office to adequately educate, address and resolve issues relative to the disability community. It is our goal to promote, encourage and support citizens with disabilities so they may have an equal opportunity to actively participate in all aspects of life.
LATAN (Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network)
LATAN assists individuals with disabilities to achieve a higher quality of life and greater independence through increased access to Assistive Technology as part of their daily lives.
Lighthouse Louisiana
The Lighthouse is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting independence for people who are blind and visually impaired by providing programs that focus on economic opportunity and self-reliance.
Louisiana Center for the Blind
The Louisiana Center for the Blind provides residential orientation and adjustment training to legally blind adults.
Louisiana Citizens for Action Now
LaCAN is a statewide grassroots network of individuals, families and advocates who have worked together since 1988 advocating for a service system that supports individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes rather than having to be segregated from their communities in a facility to receive support. Specifically, they have advocated for implementation of Louisiana’s Community and Family Support System Plan.
Louisiana Commission for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf provides accessibility services for persons whom are deaf, deaf-blind, or have hearing loss or speech impairment to gain equal access to any public or private service. 1-800-256-1523.
Louisiana Council for the Blind
This organization strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunities and to improve the quality of life for all blind and visually impaired individuals.
Louisiana Department of Education - Louisiana Believes
Louisiana Believes is built on the premise that Louisiana students are just as capable as any students in America, and that those closest to children – parents and teachers – are best positioned to help students achieve those expectations.
Louisiana Department of Social Services, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
The Louisiana Rehabilitation Services assists persons with disabilities in their desire to obtain or maintain employment and/or achieve independence in their communities by providing rehabilitation services and working cooperatively with business and other community resources.
Louisiana School for the Deaf
Louisiana School for the Deaf is a learning community that is student-oriented and dedicated to excellence.
Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired
LSVI educates visually impaired students. The total environment of the school, including both classroom activities and the extended day programs, facilitates accomplishment of the goals of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each child. LSVI offers a broad spectrum of educational services, from daily living skills and socialization to college-bound programs.
NFB of Louisiana
The National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana is an organization that provides a network of support and encouragement and promotes an understanding of the real problems of blindness, that is, the attitudes and misconceptions which people who are blind and the general public have about blindness. Includes information about their annual conventions, Parents of Blind Children group, and the Louisana Association of Blind Students.
People First of Louisiana
People First of Louisiana is a self advocacy group run by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities.
Traumatic Head & Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Program
Louisiana's Traumatic Head & Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Program provides services in a flexible, individualized manner to Louisiana citizens with traumatic head or traumatic spinal cord injuries.The program enables individuals to return to a reasonable level of functioning and independent living in their communities. The Fund was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1993 with Act 654, which imposes additional fees on motor vehicle violations in Louisiana for the offenses of driving under the influence, reckless operation, and speeding. These fees provide the funds for this program.
UNO-TRAC
The UNO Training, Resource and Assistive-technology Center provides quality services to persons with disabilities, rehabilitation professionals, educators, and employers.
WRBH - Radio for the Blind (New Orleans)
WRBH 88.3 FM, Radio for the Blind and Print Handicapped, is the only full-time reading service on the FM dial in the United States. Its mission is to turn the printed word into the spoken word so that the blind and print handicapped receive the same ease of access to current information as their sighted peers.
CATS On Demand (Baton Rouge)
The Capital Area Transit System, commonly referred to as CATS, provides bus service to residents of and visitors to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If a disability prevents you from using regular CATS buses, you may be eligible for paratransit services. Call CATS On Demand at 225.346.5557 to find out about special transportation service for persons with disabilities.
National Organizations and Resources
Contents of this NLS Reference Guide:
Organizations Providing Direct Service to Consumers
National Organizations That Serve Professionals
Organizations That Provide Reading Services
Organizations That Focus on Children
Organizations That Focus on Eye Diseases and Injuries
Organizations That Provide Financial and Other Assistance
Guide Dog Schools
Federal Agencies
Global Organizations
Accessible Book Collection
This is a fee-based subscriber service that provides high-interest, low-reading level digital text in html for people with a documented disability that prevents reading standard print.
ACT, Inc.
ACT, Inc offers special testing with extended time and in alternative formats at specially arranged times for people with disabilities.
American Council for the Blind
This service provides general information about the Council, including recent issues of its monthly publication, The Braille Forum.
Audible.com
This is a fee-based service that includes 4,500 audio books and 14,000 other audio programs in a broad range of subjects. Material is available for downloading to a computer, for transfer to a player or for burning onto a CD.
Blinded Veterans Association
This is an organization of blinded veterans helping blinded veterans.
Bookshare.org
This fee-based (free for students) service is for people with visual or other print disabilities. Readers must have access to computers with Assistive Technology such as refreshable Braille displays or synthetic speech in order to use these digital files.
Cerebral Palsy Guide
Cerebral Palsy Guide provides free educational information, financial options and emotional support for parents and children affected by cerebral palsy.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
CHAD works to improve the lives of people affected by AD/HD through collaborative leadership, advocacy, research, education and support. The organization serves as a national resource center on AD/HD.
CIDI - Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation
CIDI is committed to promoting technological innovation; developing user-centered research, products, and services for individuals with disabilities; and addressing unmet needs in higher education, government, non-profits, and corporations by providing accessible and inclusive environments for all.
Guide Dogs for the Blind
This unique program is equal parts match-making, intensive training and lifetime support.
Hadley School for the Blind
The Hadley School promotes independent living through lifelong, distance education programs for people who are blind or visually impaired, their families and blindness service providers.
LD Online
LD Online provides information on learning disabilities for parents, teachers and other professionals.
Leader Dogs for the Blind
Leader Dogs for the Blind provides dog guides to people who are blind and visually impaired to enhance their mobility, independence and quality of life.
Learning Ally
Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) is the leading accessible audiobook library for students with disabilities such as visual impairment or dyslexia. With titles available in every subject area and grade level, Learning Ally's recorded audio textbooks help students challenged by the printed page.
Learning Disabilities Association of America
This organization identifies causes and promotes prevention of learning disabilities and seeks to enhance the quality of life for all individuals with learning disabilities and their families. Fosters research and advocates for the rights of individuals with learning disabilities under the law. Online resources are provided, including downloadable publications and links to state and government agencies.
National Braille Association
The National Braille Association provides equal access to print through excellence in Braille.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of Braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.
National Federation for the Blind
The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.
NFB-NEWSLINE
NFB-NEWSLINE® has well over 300 publications - including 40 magazines, ranging from the Arts, Science, Health and Fitness, Pop Culture and National and International news. Four Spanish-language newspapers are available to all subscribers. The service handles thousands of phone calls each day for individuals across the country who now access daily newspapers and magazines as never before. The toll-free centralized call-in center provides service on demand to any subscriber. TOLL FREE: 1-866-504-7300.
Social Security Administration Office of Disability
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that has prevented you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or end in death.