Useful Goodies

This page has been created to provide you with knowledge and access to items that will help you move through life more comfortably. These are also items we wished we knew about years ago when Greg first got his injury. Many of these we have some experience with and are located mostly in South Florida. If you know of an item that you think would be great to add to this list, please contact the webmaster.

Family

Parents With Disabilities Online [http://www.disabledparents.net]
This website was designed by Trish Day (Mom with Cerebral Palsy) to help disabled parents like herself connect with others who wanted to know what resources were out there for parents with disabilities.

Governmental Occupational Resources

Florida Division of Vocation Rehabilitation [http://www.rehabworks.org]
Go here to gain access to programs and adaptive aids related returning to gainful employment.

Social Security [http://www.ssa.gov/atlanta/southeast/fl/florida.htm]
If you have not already applied for financial benefits, this should probably be your first place to contact for help.

US Department of Urban Development [http://www.hud.gov/groups/disabilities.cfm]
Site contains information you need to help ou get back into the workforce.

Department of Labor – Office of Disability Employment Policy [http://www.dol.gov/odep]
Extensive information for people re-enterig workforce, young people trying to get back to school and employer documentation.

Hurricane Season

Special Needs Shelter Registration [http://www.broward.org/hurricane/hm_special_needs.htm]
If you do need to leave your home during a hurricane and will need special accomodations, then you want to contact this organization to pre-register to stay in the special needs shelters. Understand that it takes 4 weeks to process the application and we reccomend sending so you have a reciept as proof.

Vulnerable Population Registry [http://www.broward.org/atrisk]
This database is a tool to be used by Broward County Emergency Management to aid in planning for disasters and of those who elect to stay home in the event of a disaster. This is not required, merely voluntary.

Resources – Faith Based

Joni and Friends South Florida [http://soflorida.joniandfriends.org]
Christian non-profit organization that exists to help meet the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical needs of iindividuals affected by disabilities through various programs, activities and support services

Resources – SCI Based

National Spinal Cord Injury Association [http://www.spinalcord.org]
"Founded in 1948, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association is the nation’s oldest and largest civilian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Americans living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) and their families."

Florida Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center [http://www.flspinalcord.us]
The resource center serves the spinal cord injured population across the State of Florida, providing them access to information and resources, coordinating a state-wide peer mentor network, and works with other agencies to help prevent spinal cord injuries.

American Association of People with Disabilities [http://groups.msn.com/SocialSecurityDisabilityCoalition]
Offers information on Social Security and what changes are coming up that will modify services. The have petitions and email listings to get involved to shape public policy of programs like Social Security. Note that the site can be slow and take a minute to come up so be patient.

Taxes

Property Tax Exemption [http://www.bcpa.net/homestead.asp]
Para/Quadplegics may be able to qualify for property tax exemptions depending on need. We suggest that you also look at this document provided to us by the Community Outreach Coordinator of the Broward County Property Appraiser. If you live outside of Broward County we strongly suggest you contact your county tax appraiser to see if you can apply for this program as well.


Transportation

Broward County Transportation TOPS (Transportation Options) [http://www.broward.org/bct/paratransit.htm]
Program was created to help those who need assistance with transportation in moving throughout Broward County. They can also assist with education on using the public bus system.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l Airport [http://www.broward.org/airport/airport_services.htm#four]
Thanks to Don D. from Florida for this one…If you have an "upper body mobility limitation" you do not have to pull a parking ticket, video records the car and the charges are calculated when you leave. This site also offers additional resources for wheelchair accessible vans, where to park, and that some car rental companies rent cars with hand controls.

Pinecrest Adaptive Driving Program (Palm Beach) [http://www.pinecrestrehab.com/cwscontent/pinecrestrehab/ourservices/medicalservices/adaptivedrivingprogram%20.htm]
Helps consumers with disabilities drive again using adaptive equipment and/or modifications.

SunPass Disabled Toll Permit Program [http://www.dot.state.fl.us/ctd/tollpermit/tollpermitprogram.htm]
Called the Florida Disabled Toll Permit Program it was created in 1988 to help disabled drivers address the issue of not being able to put coins into the machine at the toll gates.


Utiilities

Bell South Telecommunications Center for Customers with Disabilities [http://www.bellsouth.com/specialneeds/]
At their Special Needs Center you will find a variety of programs designed to help our community wether it’s Equipment and Devices, or Services or even Calling Features.

FPL Energy Assistance Program [http://www.fpl.com/community/crisis_assistance.shtml]
This program helps the disabled consumer financially with their electrical bill.

Link-Up Florida and LifeLine Assistance Programs [http://www.floridapsc.com/utilities/telecomm/lifeline/engbrochure.aspx]
These two programs are designed to help you to "save money on your local phone service."

Technology

IBM has created a plug-in to the Firefox browser that will allow blind people to access the web. This application is designed to work even with the newest XHTML pages that sites use to change links and graphics on the fly. Firefox is the premier browser created from the ashes of Netscape Corporation. It is a lightining fast browser that works on virtually every operating system and is extremely secure.