National Disability Information Centers for Consumers and Professionals

The Disability and Health Team administers grants to three U.S. disability information centers that focus on physical activity for people with disabilities as well as, the health of people with limb loss and those with paralysis.

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD). Established through a CDC award in 1999, this Center represents a joint effort between the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and National Center on Accessibility at University of Indiana.  Located within the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Center serves as a national clearinghouse to gather, organize and consolidate existing information and to synthesize resources on physical activity for people with disabilities, and facilitate dissemination to consumers, practitioners, and disability and service organizations.

• A Center Website http://www.ncpad.org  provides a searchable, on-line database of information regarding all aspects of physical activity as well fact sheets and bibliographies on topics related to specific disabilities and physical activity.  Visitors can also conduct searches on organizations, agencies, books, videos, and ways to obtain information from multiple sources on a wide range of general or specific topics.

• A voice and TTY toll free line. Callers receive referral and individualized information from specialists who can research specific requests and provide materials in many topic areas. 

• The assistive technology unit provides technical assistance in modifications of commercial recreational and exercise equipment and finding solutions that can match a person's interests and abilities with the exercise task they are trying to perform. 

• The Center also can provide very specialized information on topics such as programs for women, elderly, and condition-specific disabilities as to exercise activities, measures for determining accessible fitness and exercise facilities, referral of complex questions to an expert panel, and a centralized source of information and literature on physical, sensory, and mental disabilities. 

NCPAD offers a free monthly electronic newsletter. To sign up for this, send an e-mail to Listserv@listserv.uic.edu with this message in the body of the e-mail: SUBSCRIBE NCPAD-NEWS yourfirstname yourlastname
 

The National Limb Loss Information Center is run by the Amputee Coalition of America in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Amputee Coalition of America has established a large database of literature and referral sources to respond to the needs for information and referral, publications, prosthetic resources, and peer support. In addition they conduct an annual meeting each summer to bring together the Coalition's national constituency to review and advance its information sharing mission, and clinical and outreach products. The National Loss Information Center is the first to provide limb loss information on a national basis to consumers, families and providers. Information venues include a magazine for consumers and providers, peer support groups, and a Web site at http://www.amputee-coalition.org/nllic_about.html
 

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, located in Short Hills, New Jersey, officially opened in April 2002.  This new Center is designed to help improve the quality of life for people with paralysis.  This coordinating facility houses a staff of information specialists, a library, and a website to provide educational materials, referral services, and self-help guidance to those living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. In addition to providing information services related to paralysis, the Center also awards community-based health promotion grants twice a year. For more information, contact the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center at (800) 539-7309 or www.paralysis.org

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This page was last updated August 05, 2004

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The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhances the potential for full, productive living.  Our work includes identifying the causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities.