Advocacy Organizations

GRADSA's mission is to enable families enriched with Down syndrome connection to share resources, build friendships, and advocate together for the future of individuals with Down syndrome.

The Human Development Institute's (HDI) mission is to advance efforts that build inclusive communities, address inequities, and improve the lives of all people who experience disability across the lifespan. We achieve our mission through leadership and community partnerships across Kentucky and the Nation. HDI’s vision is the full participation and contribution of all people with disabilities in all aspects of society.

At Independence Place we have one goal—empowering people with disabilities to live life to the fullest. We are advocates, partners, and facilitators. We come alongside individuals of all ages and disabilities to teach skills that build toward self-directed achievement of independence and community inclusion. As a consumer-driven, community-based Center for Independent Living (CIL), our non-residential organization provides the following independent living services: information and referral systems and individual advocacy, peer support and mentoring, independent living skills training, and transition and diversion services. We believe equal opportunities and rights are for everyone.

The Kentucky and Southern Indiana Stroke Association (KSISA) is dedicated to the prevention of stroke through education and awareness. KSISA strives to be the primary resource center for those throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana affected by stroke. We provide speakers and information on prevention and recovery to the general public and our survivors and families through local community events, health fairs, stroke clubs, support groups, etc.

KARRN is a network of people with spinal cord injury, stroke and brain injury, healthcare providers, educators, researchers and other community members committed to the health and well-being of people with neurological impairments who live in the Appalachian region. KARRN improves the quality of life and community participation of individuals in rural Kentucky through educational seminars, advocacy efforts, and information about clinical trials and other resources available to clients and their families.

The mission if the Kentucky Autism Training Center is to strengthen our state's systems of support for persons affected by autism by bridging research to practice and by providing training and resources to families and professionals. In 1966, the KY General Assembly established the KATC to serve as a statewide resource for families and educators. KATC is housed at the University of Louisville's College of Education and Human Development. Besides having many resources and programming for parents and professionals, families can request a copy of "Kentucky's Family Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders (2nd Edition)”, or click link below to access online. Additionally, to increase awareness of currently available resources, the KY Autism Training Center is gathering information about services to create a KY Autism Supports and Provider Services Directory.

Comprised of individuals who, as advocates and attorneys, have represented children with disabilities with school-related problems for a number of years. The endeavor of this organization is to provide this assistance, but to do so without families incurring financial hardships.

The Kentucky Guardianship Association is a non-profit membership organization with the goal of improving adult guardianship in Kentucky. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in adult guardianship. We seek to improve guardianship by developing training for persons appointed to serve as guardian of an adult with a disability, training for persons seeking to be appointed as guardian, attorneys representing alleged incapacitated persons, and professionals including social workers, psychologists, and medical personnel, appointed to interdisciplinary evaluation teams for the purpose of evaluating the capacity of adults responding to a petition for appointment of a guardian or conservator.

The Kentucky Office of Autism coordinates statewide efforts to enhance the quality of life of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and provides support to families and caregivers. The Kentucky Office of Autism also provides administrative support to the Advisory Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. (KASAP) is the statewide coalition of the 13 rape crisis centers in the Commonwealth. The mission of KASAP is to speak with a unified voice against sexual victimization.