Arkansas Disability Coalition
Arkansas Disability Coalition (ADC) is a statewide organization that assists families and individuals with all types of disabilities, providing health-related support, information, resources and training. ADC works to ensure that all persons with disabilities are empowered with the knowledge and assistance they require to make informed decisions, through advocating the value and power of partnerships between families, health care professionals, service providers, lawmakers and the community.
ADC is an alliance of organizations and individuals joined to promote full and equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. To support this belief, the ADC offers the following programs:
- FAMILY 2 FAMILY HEALTH INFORMATION CENTER – (F2F HIC) Provides health- related support and training for families of children with special health care needs and the professionals that serve them
- PROJECT DOCC – Medical education program that strives to improve the quality of life for children who are chronically ill and/or developmentally disabled and their families
ADC staff are parents of children with special health care needs and we have a diverse Board of Directors that represent community programs and initiatives that promote the advocacy, transition, employment, education and health care needs of Arkansans with disabilities. Our program has been designed to inform, educate and assist families of children or youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in a variety of ways and a number of different areas:
- General health-related assistance to families and professionals
- Referral services that connect families to other families, to professionals and to health-related programs available
- Outreach to under-served/under-represented areas of Arkansas, including a statewide minority outreach program
- Family/professional training seminars and workshops
- Assistance with planning health-care transition to adult services
- Networking with parents and caregivers to create family leaders that will become advocates and educators for CYSHCN in Arkansas
- Many other areas of support
We are continually searching for ways to expand our outreach by responding to the unique needs of today’s families. We provide them with supports to more effectively participate in their child’s individual health and educational needs.
Funding is provided through a variety of sources, including grants from the U.S. Department and Health and Human Services-Health Resources and Services Administration and Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Development Disabilities Services-Title V CSHCN Program.