State Organizations and Agencies
AHCCCS
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona's Medicaid program and the provider for long term care services in Arizona.
Arc of Tucson
The Arc of Tucson is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving persons with cognitive and related developmental disabilities in Pima County. Our mission is to provide advocacy and promote opportunities for children and adults so that they may live, learn, work, play and be included in their communities.
Ability360
The Ability360 is a private, non-profit corporation that provides services to persons with disabilities. Their programs include Information & Referral, Peer Support, Home Modifications, Independent Living Skills Instruction, Personal Home Health Assistance, Americans with Disabilities Act Training & compliance Surveys, consumer Advocacy, Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination skills instruction/coaching for people receiving services from the DD Division,
and a variety of other community integration and transitional services. Arizona Department of Education.
Arizona Center for Disability Law
The Arizona Center for Disability Law is a not for profit public interest law firm, dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals with a wide range of physical, mental, psychiatric, sensory and cognitive disabilities.
Arizona Center on Aging
The Arizona Center on Aging (ACOA) is committed to addressing the health and human welfare of seniors through an integrated program of research, education and excellence in health care and service. ACOA is jointly sponsored by the University of Arizona Colleges of Nursing and Public Health.
Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The purpose of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing is to ensure, in partnership with the public and private sector, accessibility for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing to improve their quality of life. An energetic and innovative team, ACDHH aspires to be a national leader in the provision of communication access, support services, and community empowerment throughout the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona Department of Education
The official website for the Arizona Department of Education which includes special education services
Arizona Early Intervention Program
Early Intervention is professionals working in partnership with parents and families of children with special needs, to support their children’s growth, development, and learning. The Arizona Early Intervention Program, also known as AzEIP (pronounced Ay-zip), is a statewide system of supports and services for families of children, birth to three, with disabilities or developmental delays.
Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitation Services (Tucson)
The Children's Clinics is committed to providing care using a comprehensive medical home model. This means better coordination of services, an expanded range of services available, and enhancement of the multidisciplinary, family-centered philosophy of care that has long been the cornerstone of the program. Our unique facility provides more than 25 different medical and dental specialty services and a primary care clinic dedicated to the care of children with special health care needs. Centralizing this wide range of services allows our organization to foster the medical home concept, which leads to better management and care of our children's special medical needs.
Department of Economic Security/Division of Developmental Disabilities
The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) provides services and programs to eligible individuals with developmental disabilities. The Division believes individuals can best be served in integrated community settings. Thus, the majority of programs and services are tailored to meet individual needs at home and in community-based settings. The Division coordinates services and resources through a central administrative office, six DES/DDD district offices and approximately 40 local offices in various communities throughout the state. These district and local offices promote utilization of existing community resources and program flexibility in meeting individual needs.
Department of Economic Security/Rehabilitation Services Administration
Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) programs provide a variety of specialized services for individuals with physical or mental disabilities that create barriers to employment or independent living. RSA offers three major service programs and several specialized programs/services.
DIRECT Centers for Independence
It is the mission of DIRECT Center for Independence, Inc. (DIRECT) to enhance the options available to persons with significant disabilities so that they may choose, achieve, and maintain independent lifestyles. To this end, DIRECT offers independent living services, public education and awareness programs, and advocates for community change. DIRECT respects the abilities, needs and civil rights of persons with significant disabilities. Therefore, DIRECT works toward integration of persons with significant disabilities into community life. In keeping with this philosophy, DIRECT is a consumer operated and consumer oriented organization providing cross-disability services that requires active consumer involvement in the achievement of its mission.
Disability Resource Center (UA)
Essential to the larger mission of the University of Arizona, the Disability Resource Center promotes universally designed environments and facilitates full access through reasonable accommodations, training, collaboration and innovative programming.
Enhancing Arizona’s Parent Network (EAPN)
Enhancing Arizona's Parent Networks (EAPN) is the collaborative effort of parent groups, organizations and agencies that believe all children with special needs and their families in Arizona should have access to information, support and training.
Visit the EAPN website and link to
- 59 Arizona parent groups, organizations and agencies
- Information and resources
- Statewide calendar of events
Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona
The Epilepsy Foundation is the national voluntary agency solely dedicated to the welfare of the 3 million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The organization works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services. In addition to programs conducted at the national level, epilepsy clients throughout the United States are served by local Epilepsy Foundation offices in nearly 100 communities.
Northern Arizona University, Institute for Human Development
The underlying premise for University Centers on Disabilities is on the active, reciprocal exchange of information and resources between communities and institutions of higher education would benefit persons with disabilities through improved systems of service and personnel preparation. As the Arizona University Center on Disabilities, the IHD is responsible for the development and implementation of six essential core program areas: (a) Interdisciplinary Pre-service Training, (b) Outreach In-service Training, (c) Technical Assistance, (d) Direct Services, (e) Dissemination, and (f) Research.
Tucson Alliance for Autism
Tucson families living with autism need a place in which they can be assured their family member is receiving the best possible opportunities in life; a place where they can comfortably network with other families and receive the emotional support they need; a place where they can learn of cutting edge therapies and interventions for their family member with autism; a place where they can educate themselves; a place where they can feel comfortable and welcome. The official site of the Arizona State Legislature.
United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country. The Southern Arizona agency is one of approximately 100 affiliates throughout the nation. Each affiliate is separately incorporated, managed, and monitored by its own board of directors. UCP of Southern Arizona (UCPSA), started in 1952, has been a charter affiliate of the national agency since 1962.
National Organizations and Agencies
Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) is the U.S. Government organization responsible for implementation of the Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, known as the DD Act. ADD, its staff and programs, are part of the Administration for Children and Families, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Americans with Disabilities Act/Department of Justice
Information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
ARC
The Arc of the United States is the national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related disabilities and their families. They are devoted to promoting and improving the quality of services for consumers and families. They believe this site puts information about services in the hands of those who need it most and is a powerful way to get information directly to the consumer. It gives people the tools they need to make informed choices. The Arc's goal is to be a national force that creates the environment and the opportunities for people with mental retardation and their families to have choices as they live their lives in the community.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
A network of interdisciplinary Centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (formerly the American Association of University Affiliated Programs for Persons with Developmental Disabilities) is a 501(c) non-profit organization that promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC).
Federal Office of Special Education
OSEP is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. OSEP administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers. These programs are intended to ensure that the rights of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their parents are protected.
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD)
NACDD is a national, member-driven organization consisting of 55 State and Territorial Councils. NACDD places high value on meaningful participation and contribution by Council members and staff of all Member Councils, and we advocate and continually work towards positive system change on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. NACDD represents the diverse interests of its Council members. It is the national voice of the Councils on Developmental Disabilities. Its purpose is to support Councils in implementing the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and in promoting the interests and rights of people with developmental disabilities and their families.
National Disability Rights Network
NDRN, the voluntary national membership association of protection & advocacy systems and client assistance programs, assumes leadership in promoting and strengthening the role and performance of its members in providing quality legally based advocacy services.