New Web Site to Help Children With Disabilities

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Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

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A new Web site www.childrenwithdisabilities.ncjrs.org will offer information and resources to disabled children, their families and service providers. The site, part of a joint effort by several federal agencies to promote a national agenda for children and foster positive youth development, will provide information on learning disabilities, debilitating conditions and physical disabilities. "Children with disabilities and their families face many challenges. Finding critical information should not be one of them," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "This Web site will provide quick and easy access to a broad array of information ranging from the latest research to programs and events designed specifically for young people with disabilities."

The site includes information on advocacy, education, employment, health, recreation, training and housing, and is divided into eight categories:

• Federal Resources -- Provides information on federal agencies and offices and their related initiatives and services
• State/Local Resources -- Presents information about agencies, organizations and programs that serve all 50 states, D.C., the territories and federally recognized Indian tribes.
• National Resources -- Provides links to national organizations such as the Children's Defense Fund and the National Transition Alliance for Children or Youth with Disabilities.
• Youth to Youth -- Contains activities, games and an online bulletin board where children can post messages and share their experiences with other children.
• Research and Statistics -- Includes links to journals, articles and other publications.
• Grants and Funding -- Provides links to information on funding from federal agencies and the private sector.
• Calendar of Events -- Provides access to upcoming events from sources such as the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
• Highlights -- Presents the latest news concerning children with disabilities and identifies site's new features.

"Disabilities are one of the many risks associated with juvenile crime and drug abuse," said Shay Bilchik, Administrator of the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). "The knowledge and support available through this Web site may well serve to prevent future delinquency." The site was developed by the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which is chaired by the Attorney General and includes the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, and Housing and Urban Development and juvenile justice professionals appointed by the Senate, House and President. Mr. Bilchik serves as Vice-Chair of the Council.

CONTACT: Information about the Coordinating Council and information about OJJDP publications, programs and conferences are available through the OJJDP Website at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org and from OJJDP's Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, Box 6000, Rockville, Maryland 20857. The toll-free number is 1-800/638-8736. Information about other Office of Justice Programs (OJP) bureaus and program offices is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov.

* OJP and its component agencies' press releases are available for use without restriction.

Feb. 2, 2000