DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES

Groups working with persons with physical disabilities or life-long illnesses and agencies providing services for such persons. Mental health groups listed under Health and Healing.

ALDA-Maine
drstorck@caregiving-online.com
http://www.alda.org
Lauren Storck
Association in Maine for late deafened or hard of hearing people.

AbilityMaine
PO Box 106
Wilton, ME 04294
abilitymaine@gmail.com
www.AbilityMaine.org
This website is a place for collecting and sharing information about living with disabilities.  Our intent is to provide a place on the web for people to get information that will help them create better lives for themselves and others.  We want to empower people to make themselves activists to achieve the quality of life they desire.

Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine––See Health, Mental Health Section

Alpha One
127 Main St.
South Portland, ME 04106
800-640-7200-Tel/TTY, 767-2189-Tel/TTY  Fax 799-8346
info@alpha-one.org
www.alpha-one.org
Leaders in disability information services and products.  Contact the office closest to you.  All numbers are both voice and TTY.

1048 Union St.
Bangor, ME 04401
800-300-6016-Tel/TTY
bangor@alphaonenow.com

Brain Injury Association of Maine--See Health and Healing

Center for Therapeutic Recreation
222 St John St. #G4
Portland, ME 04102
772-0504 
ctrrec@aol.com
Karen McPhee
Provides therapeutic recreation services to children and adults with special needs.

Community Partners, Inc
66 Pearl St. #212
Portland, ME 04101
780-9575  Fax 780-9577
cpartner@gwi.net
Working for self-advocacy of disabled people ("empowerment through independence") and providing services for independent living, health care, and jobs. Offices in Portland and Biddeford.

PO Box 363
Biddeford, ME 04005
282-7113  Fax 282-6810

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Organizations
Persons involved in these organizations can be reached through TTY phone services, allowing  people to type out their messages. If you want to call someone with a TTY phone, call an operator at 800-457-1220 and your call will be relayed. 

Disability Rights Center
PO Box 2007
Augusta, ME 04338
800-452-1948, 626-2774   Fax 621-1419
advocate@drcme.org
Statewide nonprofit group advocating for protection and enforcement of legal and civil rights of eligible persons with disabilities through litigation, advocacy, education, and information and referral.

Employment Programs for Persons with Disabilities
A list of about 70 such programs is available from the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Maine Department of Labor, at 624-5951. Three examples of such programs are:

Creative Work Systems
443 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101
879-1140
Provides jobs, job coaching, and support for independent living to persons with disabilities. Also has offices in Saco and Lewiston.

Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
353 Cumberland Ave.
Portland, ME 04101
774-6323
Works for the inclusion of people with disabilities into the workforce and the community.  Programs include employment, housing, deaf services, brain injury rehab, case management, etc.  Also educational programs about living with disabilities.

Nezinscot Guild
PO Box 121
Turner, ME 04282
225-2444  Fax 225-2445
nezguild@megalink.net
www.megalink.net/nezguild/
Employment and job skills for persons with developmental disabilities or brain injuries in western Maine.

Flying Changes
PO Box 127
Topsham, ME 04086
729-0168
Provides therapeutic riding opportunities to persons with disabilities.  

Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center
63 Justin Merrill Rd.
Buxton, ME 04093
929-4700
Riding opportunities for persons with disabilities; costs are on a sliding scale.

IRIS Network/Maine Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
189 Park Ave.
Portland, ME 04102
774-6273; 800-715-0097 Fax: 774-0679
http://www.theIris.org
Rehabilitation center for person 18 and older who are blind or visually impaired. Offers counseling, vocational training, Braille instruction, and equipment. Local groups in Augusta, Bangor, Brewer, Ellsworth, Houlton, Lewiston, Rockland, and Saco.
Rehabilitation center for person 18 and older who are blind or visually impaired.  Offers counseling, vocational training, Braille instruction, and equipment.

Jeremiah Cromwell Disabilities Center
57 Exchange St. #203
Portland, ME 04101
775-9955 fax 775-9959
Advocating for young people with developmental and other disabilities so they will not experience isolation and anonymity. Programs include a special library of books related to youth with special needs, trainings of elementary school teachers and students, and "Get Out the Vote."

Learning Disabilities Association of Maine
PO Box 67
Oakland, ME 04963
ldame@ldame.org
http://www.ldame.org
The LDA of Maine is committed to assisting individuals with learning and attention disabilities through advocacy, support, and education.

Maine Action Coalition for Disabled Persons
1160 Ohio St.
Bangor, ME 04401
942-9111
dennis1022@adelphia.net
Greg Martin
Disabled and non-disabled persons working together for the benefit of people with disabilities.  Meets the 3rd Saturday of every month.  Lunch 12-1 p.m.  Meeting 12-2 p.m.  Call for more information.

Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation
174 Main St.
Bangor, ME 04401
888-877-8305, 942-1032 
pelle@agate.net
www.maineadaptivesports.com
David Pellegrini
We offer a variety of recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.  Some adaptive equipment is available for loan.  Wheelchair basketball, special ice hockey for kids with developmental disabilities, skiing and youth programs.

Maine Center on Deafness
68 Bishop St. #3
Portland, ME 04103
797-7656 Tel/TTY  Fax 797-9791
sjarvis@maine.rr.com
We provide information, advocacy, resources, and referral services statewide to serve the deaf and hearing communities, as well as the population of late-deafened adults. We provide the community with information that will secure for all deaf and hard-of-hearing the highest advantage available to them; to educate the public, including employers, on matters concerning deafness; to hold workshops.  Contact us for a list of local deaf groups and ASL classes.

Maine Developmental Disabilities Council
225 Western Ave., Kennebec Mall
Augusta, ME 04333
287-4213, 800-244-3990  Fax 287-8001
aroth-wells@maineddc.org
http://maineddc.org
Promotes the interests of individuals in Maine who are termed developmentally disabled. Programs include the Disability Leadership Institute and Maine Disability Advocates Coalition (MEDAC).

Maine Handicapped Skiing
8 Sundance Lane
Newry, ME 04261
824-2440, 800-639-7770  Fax 824-2440
info@skimhs.org
www.skimhs.org
Teaches activities on snow at no charge to persons with disabilities using specially trained instructors and adaptive equipment.  Fully accessible lodge at Sunday River for disabled skiers.

Maine Leap
YWCA, 87 Spring St
Portland, ME 04101
774-1130 
www.ywcaptldme.org
A mentoring program for women and girls with disabilities.

Maine Parent Federation--Special Needs Parent Information Network (SPIN)
PO Box 2067
Augusta, ME 04338
800-870-7746-Voice/TDD Fax 582-3638
parentconnect@mpf.org
www.mpf.org
Statewide organization that serves parents and professionals who are concerned with children and young adults with disabilities.  We offer information and referrals and are available to answer simple requests, or help parents find the answers to more complex problems.

Maine Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
Liz Baldwin, Admin. Asst.
Statewide Independent Living Council
PMB #200
126 Western Ave.
Augusta, ME 04330
info@mainesilc.org
http://www.mainesilc.org/
A council overseeing the planning and coordination of independent living services for people with disabilities throughout Maine.

Mid-Maine Transition Council
PO Box 2166
Augusta, ME 04338
626-3429 
Works with families and schools to provide opportunities for young adults with disabilities. Training, information, referrals.

Multiple Sclerosis Society, Maine Chapter
170 US Route One
Falmouth, ME 04105
1-800- FIGHT-MS
www.msmaine.org
Provides programs and services to people affected by MS, their families, friends, co-workers, health care practitioners, and the general public through equipment loans, information and referrals, short-term counseling, in-home visits, lending library, self-help groups, advocacy, professional education, wellness programs, educational programs.

National Education for Assistance Dog Services--See Animals

National Federation of the Blind of Maine
31 Wyndham St.
Portland, ME 04103
207-797-8254
bbatron@maine.rr.com
We are blind people speaking for ourselves. Through our research, evaluation, and training, we are changing what it means to be blind!

National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped
PO Box 1138
Belfast, ME 04915
338-6894   Fax 338-6075
ntwhcrby@mint.net
www.ntwh.org
Dean Kevin Curtin
We are a training, production, and advocacy organization serving persons with disabilities who are interested in the arts. We welcome able-bodied people also.  Founded in 1977.

Natural History Education, Science, Technology (NHEST)
402 Atkinson Road
Bradford, ME 04410
327-1453  Fax 327-1025
info@nhest.org
www.nhest.org
Don Tarbet
We produce nature education materials, computerized and hands-on, for blind and visually impaired children and adults.

Northern Aroostook Association for People with Special Needs
RR 3, Box 2014
Fort Kent, ME 04743
834-3820 
Edeltraut Thiele
We provide parent support, education, and information through meetings, seminars, and newsletters.  We sponsor social/recreational events and Special Olympics for people with special needs to encourage understanding and awareness of people's special needs. Clearinghouse for information and referral in northern Maine.

Project for Supported Living
PO Box 4036
Portland, ME 04101
775-7486, 253-1647
http://www.pslstrive.org
Assisting adults with intellectual and emotional disabilities in utilizing resources within their community so they can claim their identities and participate as viable members of the community. Focuses on empowerment and provides services in the Portland area such as housing assistance, drop-in center, and vocational options. STRIVE project focuses on teens and young adults

Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 1928
Windham, ME 04062
892-2813  Fax 892-2813
rtt@gwi.net
www.ridingtothetop.org
Sarah Bronson
We are dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding services to individuals with physical, emotional and/or learning disabilities in a nurturing environment, encouraging each participant to reach their highest potential through individualized riding plans.  Experiencing horses and horseback riding is a powerful tool for improving the lives of people with disabilities and helping others is a powerful tool in building stronger communities.

Southern Maine Parent Awareness
886 Maine Street Suite 303
Sanford ME 04073
(207) 324-2337 or 800-564-9696
fax (207) 324-5621
support@somepa.org
http://www.somepa.org
Southern Maine Parent Awareness is dedicated to providing information, support, and training opportunities to families who have children with special needs. We are a family-cantered organization committed to promoting partnerships among families, schools, communities, and policy makers.

Speaking Up for Us of Maine
PO Box 1065
Gardiner, ME 04345
623-7109, 877-207-4077
http://www.sufu.org
SUFU helps people to be self-advocates, to help self-advocates to connect with each other, and to help people know and speak up for their rights. Offices in Presque Isle (764-1234) , Augusta (623-7109) and Lewiston (333-3336).

Spindleworks--See Art, Music, and Culture

Surry Music Therapy Center
8 Crossroads
Surry, ME 04684
667-1308  Fax 667-6752
alanmt@prexar.com
Alan Wittenberg
We provide clinical music therapy services -- assessments, evaluations, individual and group music therapy sessions -- as well as seminars and international conferences. Services for people with disabilities, children, and geriatrics.

Talking Books Program--Special Services
Maine State Library,
 State House Station 64
Augusta, ME 04333
287-5650, 800-762-7106
Talking books for persons with visual, physical, or reading disabilities.

Uppity-Disability
http://www.uppity-disability.net
Mike Reynolds
A web site with very uppity and leftist views about disability and for people with disabilities.

VSA Arts of Maine
PO Box 4002
Portland, ME 04101
761-3861 (V/TTY)  Fax 761-4740
me@vsarts.org
http://www.vsartsmaine.org
We advocate for and collaborate with comprehensive programs and initiatives in all the arts to create avenues for people throughout Maine with disabilities to participate in the mainstream society. 

Work Group for Community-Based Living
PO Box 3641
Portland, ME 04101
800-331-4902, 800-809-4501 (TTY)
http://www.mainepubliccomment.org
This group seeks comments on how to make community-based services for people with disabilities more effective and then transmits the information to the state of Maine and the public.