Accessible Renovations

City of Oakland Housing and Community Development–Provides grants for accessibility modifications to owner-occupied properties. Call (510) 238-3909 to request an application.

Complete Construction – For more than 35 years Mark Feinm has been the “go to guy” in the Bay Area for all types of accessibility renovations…including wheelchair lifts, ramps, and elevators.

Disability Access Contractor – Ralph E. Schoenstein & Sons Construction Company, Inc. provides interior barrier-free remodelling and renovations for accessibility. The company serves San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

Life & Accessibility Solutions (Jonathan’s Son) – Provides accessibility products and services to allow disabled people to stay safe in their homes.

Mikiten Architecture – Noted Berkeley based architect. Designs creative multifamily affordable housing and provides new levels of disabled access (universal design).

Rollin’ Along – This Bay Area firm specializes in all kinds of lift and ramp systems, including Stair Lifts, Aluminum Ramps, Scooter Lifts, PowerChair Lifts, Platform Lifts, Turning Automotive Seats, and Patient Transfer Lifts

Sightworks – Sightworks provides architectural design services, with special expertise in the area of accessibility.

Advocacy

Alameda County Developmental Disabilities Planning and Advisory Council – Works for people with developmental disabilities to attain the fullest development of their mental, physical and spiritual potentials, and community living in the least restrictive environment

City of Oakland Mayors Commission on Persons with Disabilities – Represents people with disabiltiies living and working in the City of Oakland

Housing Choices Coalition – Mission is to enhance the quality of lives for people with developmental disabilities by creating quality-housing options. Serves Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterrey Counties

Housing Consortium of the East Bay – Creates affordable, accessible housing for persons with developmental disabilities

National Sclerosis Society – Northern California Chapter – Provides education, equipment, emotional support, exercise classes, family programs, and financial assistance to people with MS and their loved ones

National Spinal Cord Injury Association – Dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) and their families. Publishes SCI Life newspaper.

World Institute on Disability – International advocacy and public research organization for people with disabilities, based in Berkeley, CA.

Disability Benefits

Disability Benefits 101 – Superb site explaining the ins and outs of federal, state, and other benefits available for person with disabilities

DisabilityOnline.com – Provides information on federal government and private disability insurance programs.

Herb Thomas and Associates – Provides information and consulting on conservatorships; trust administration; medi-cal advocacy; Long-term Care Planning; and Financial PlanningDisability Directories

Disability Resources – Online resource and social networking site

Employment and Support Services

Ability Now Bay Area – Mission is to identify the unmet needs of and provide services for persons with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities and help them to achieve their individual goals and aspirations

East Bay Innovations – Provides employment and supported living services to people with developmental disabilities throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Project Hired – Based in Santa Clara county, assists individuals with disabilities to gain and sustain employment, in partnerships with business and the community

Stepping Stones Growth Center – Provides a continuum of programs and services to adults and children with developmental disabilities

The ARC of Alameda County – Provides programs, services, and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities and their families

Toolworks – Provides employment, training, and support services to help individuals with disabilities live independently.

United Cerebral Palsy of the Golden Gate – Advances full integration of people with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities. Supports people to be independent and empowered by providing and facilitating services.

Financing & Financial Planning

Excellent Overview on preparing for home ownership while dealing with disabilityFinancial Planners with expertise in working with people with disabilities:—-Daniel Cutter, Merrill Lynch, 415-955-3902daniel_cutter@ml.com—-Ted Moorhead, Merrill Lynch, 408-554-923ted_moorhead@ml.comMortgageloan.com – Online article about getting a loan and home ownership for people with disabilities

Home Ownership Counselling

City Of Oakland Housing Assistance Center

Lao Family Community Development, Inc. – Provides free multilingual and culturally sensitive housing counseling and support. In Oakland, call 510-533-8850 for further information

Housing

Accessible Housing Matters  –  Podcast (audio interviews) about housing and accessibility

Independent Living Centers

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers – Organization representing California’s 29 Independent Living Centers. Advocates for systems change and promoting access and integration for people with disabilities.

Center for Independent Living – Berkeley – The Berkeley CIL is the most active in the East Bay, offering a myriad of services to support independent living in our community

Community Resources for Independent Living – Serves Southern and Eastern Alameda County

Independent Living Resource – Serves Contra Costa and Solano Counties

Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco – Works to ensure that people with disabilities are full social and economic partners, both within their families and in a fully accessible community

Marin Center for Independent Living – Provides advocacy and services for seniors and persons with disabilities living in Marin County

Silicon Valley Independent Living Center – Provides an array of services to people with disabilities in Santa Clara CountyLegal Services

Achieving Independence – Specializes in estate planning; trusts; special needs trusts; probate; and conservatorships

Disability Rights Advocates – A non-profit law firm dedicated to securing the civil rights of people with disabilities

Disability Rights California – Protects and advocates for the rights of Californians with disabiltiies

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) – A leading national law and policy center in disability civil rightsMobility Aids

Handi-Ramp – Offers a huge selection of ramps all over the country

Other Products/Services

Canine Companions – Enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.

Home Access Network – An online network linking home buyers and home owners with resources to help them find and create accessible living spaces

Lighthouse for the Blind – Provides a wide array of services for people who are blind or visual impaired.

www.service-dog-tutor.com – Pet Training Services

Wheelchair Foundation – Leads an international effort to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen and adult in the world who needs one, but cannot afford one

Referral Services

Bananas – Bananas offers multilingual child care information and referral services for Northern Alameda County, including services to parents of children with disabilities

Eden I&R – Eden I&R is well known as THE source of information on, and referral to, low-cost housing, emergency shelter, and over 1,270 social service agencies for Alameda County Residents

Family Resource Network – Provides referral services for families of children with disabilities in the Alameda County

Proyecto Vision – Provides free bilingual information to connect Latinos with disabilities to jobs and services. Call 866-EMPLEO-1

Social Activities & Entertainment

Access Northern California – Promotes greater access to travel and recreational opportunities in Northern California for people with physical disabilities

Axis Dance Studio – Dance studio for people with disabilities

Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors – BAADS goal is to make all aspects of sailing in the San Francisco Bay Area accessible.

BORP (Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program) – Provides accessible sports and recreation opportunities for children and adults with physical disabilities in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Ed Roberts Campus – This state of the art, universally designed facility is located in Berkeley CA and is the home to many of the Bay Area’s major disability organizations. Plays host to a wide variety conferences, fairs, and social gatherings for the community throughout the year.

Glass Half Full Blog and Podcast –Blog and Podcast for people with a chronic health condition.

Mobility Golf – The mission of Mobility Golf is to increase opportunities for those who can’t walk, to play golf

Piedmont Yoga Community – Offers classes designed for people with disabilities

Trips Inc. – All inclusive vacation packages for travellers with developmental disabilities

Wheeling California’s Coast – This site provides great info about all the accessible trails along the California Coast.Links to third party web sites are provided solely as a convenience to you. If you use these links, you will leave this Site. We do not control and are not responsible for any of these sites or their content. We do not endorse or make any representations about such sites, or any information or materials found there, or any results that may be obtained from using them. We do not endorse, do not make any representations regarding, and are not responsible for, any products, actions or policies (including, but not limited to, any privacy policies or customer relations policies) of any third parties. If you access any third party sites linked to this Site, you do so at your own risk.