United Cerebral Palsy Associations (UCPA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities. UCPA's 140 affiliates nationwide provide direct services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, and their families, including therapy, early intervention, assistive technology acquisition and training, employment, community living, family support, advocacy, social and recreation programs, and information and referral. UCPA is consistently rated as one of the nation's most efficient health charities, with 85 cents of every dollar spent directly on programs and services benefiting people with disabilities.

For over 20 years, Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) has served as a national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance for independent living. Established in 1977, ILRU works closely with independent living centers, statewide independent living councils, disability rights organizations, and others working to promote full participation in life by people with disabilities. Some of ILRUs current research activities include personal assistance services, managed care, emerging issues for people with disabilities, ADA training, outreach to ethnic populations, and funding diversity of centers. Additional information about ILRU is available at our web site: www.ilru.org. ILRU is staffed primarily by people with severe disabilities whose personal experience with barriers in all aspects of life enables ILRU to focus its activities on the most significant concerns facing the independent living field. ILRU is a program of The Institute of Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) in Houston.

The National Council on the Aging, Inc. (NCOA) is a center of leadership, innovation, and nationwide expertise in the issues of aging. A private, nonprofit association of more than 7,500 members (organizations and individuals), NCOA is committed to promote the dignity, self-determination, well-being and contributions of older persons and to enhancing the field of aging through leadership and service, education, and advocacy. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Washington, DC, it has a diverse national membership that includes professional and volunteers, service providers, consumer and labor groups, businesses, government agencies, religious groups, and voluntary organizations.

ADAPT is a national disability rights organization in forty-four cities in thirty-eight states with over 6,000 members. ADAPT focuses on promoting services in the community instead of warehousing people with disabilities in institutions and nursing homes. ADAPT is working to get 25% of the MediCaid long term care funds redirected to pay for a national, mandated attendant services program. The national organization is made up of local groups and individuals who want to be part of ADAPT and are willing to fight for accessibility and community-based attendant services. Groups cover cities, states, regions but there are many lone warriors out there too.

The World Institute on Disability is a non-profit public policy center dedicated to the promotion of independence and full inclusion in society of people with disabilities. Founded in 1983 by leaders of the Independent Living/Civil Rights Movement for people with disabilities, WID is committed to transforming policy into action.