The Sierra Group

What we do

The Foundation has been established as a 501C(3) non-profit organization that invests our resources in three areas. They are:

* Establishing sustainable forums and tools that connect people to existing resources. All too often the systems designed to save a job for a person with a disability are complicated to navigate. The Foundation seeks to deploy tools and training that allow for easier access to the funded infrastructure already in place.

* Supporting relevant research on accessible technology in the workplace and supporting high levels of professional standards and credentials. Accessing reliable information and consistent advice lies at the center of every sustainable business process. The Foundation seeks to share best practice ideas that can transform the recruiting and hiring process allowing more qualified candidates with disabilities to secure competitive employment.

* Providing grants to support job-seekers with disabilities in securing the tools they need to secure competitive employment. Transportation, wardrobe, and adaptive technology costs can sometimes stand in the way of a person realizing an opportunity that they are qualified to accept. The Foundation seeks to provide resources to help eliminate these obstacles so that qualified people can succeed in employment

FODAC

Friends of Disabled Adults & Children

FODAC provides over $8 million each year in equipment and services to the community at little or no cost to the recipients. FODAC is a 501(c)(3) and does not have direct funding from Medicare/Medicaid for the services offered. Most equipment is issued for a suggested donation but some services have mandatory fees.
Our Philosophy and Strengths:

We provide home health (mobility and daily living) equipment to people of any age or any disability, temporary or permanent, for medically necessary and medically helpful reasons. These items are provided for a suggested donation. Clients do not have to qualify financially but our waiting lists place a priority on Medically Necessary and low income individuals.

Medically Necessary:
We strive to meet the short term needs for medically necessary situations while waiting on benefits to take over. Examples include injuries with no existing insurance, a child outgrowing a wheelchair, a back up piece of equipment, all shower equipment, or caregiver aids.

Medically Helpful:
We strive to further assist individuals who have specific community interests that require mobility for traveling long distances. Examples include recreation, school, church, shopping, and doctor’s appointments.
Client info and Responsibilities:

We accept phone or walk in requests for equipment. Medically necessary requests receive top priority followed by medically helpful requests.
We can only provide equipment as it is donated to us. Some requests may go on a waiting list that could take several days or several weeks to fill depending on availability.

FODAC does not perform repairs on a walk-in basis. Many people who arrive to get a repair without calling first are asked to make an appointment and come back on another date. Those who schedule repairs should bring their confirmation number with them.

FODAC requires a mandatory contribution fee of $25.00 for each repair plus the cost for any parts that must be purchased. This is to be paid IN ADVANCE of the repair. (The average home health care company charges $60 per hour for labor).

We have DME vendor partners that will help you check your benefits for you and help you get the process started.

Parents with Disabilities

Greetings! Welcome to Parents with Disabilities Online! We've been providing information, support and resources to parents with disabilities since 1996, when we were known as Diana Michelle's Home Page: The Internet's One-stop Resource for Parents with Disabilities.

For too long, people with disabilities had been told that having families of our own was not an option. The truth is, though, that we have always been parents, and as our society evolves, more and more of us will have access to that opportunity. If you are a parent with a disability, a person with a disability who is planning to become a parent, or a nondisabled partner of a disabled parent, this site is for you. We hope that this page is a good place to start on your own journey toward independent parenting.

Disability Information and Resources

Here is a link to tons and tons of links and resources for people with disabilities.

Financial Resources for Assisted Technology

Below are some listings of resources in the US to help finance assistive technology such as wheelchair accessible vans, adaptive technology and computer programs that can assist those with special needs as well as the accessories needed to help you achieve your goals to name just a few. Getting loans is currently the most sought-after solution for financing business ventures but hopefully the information below will provide those in the assistive technology niche an alternative. If you have suggestions or some new resources, please send them to icdri@icdri.org. We will get them up on the this page as soon as possible.

Be aware that you will have to make a number of contacts and be persistent in contacting the resources as well as being specific as to what you needs are. It is useful to have a this all written down as many of these organizations will require written documentation as to the specifics of what you are asking for assistance with, and the needs of the person who will be the direct recipient of the benefits of this assistance.
Not all organizations listed will provide direct assistance, but they are good organizations and may well be able to help find resources that can provide direct help in the areas needed.

Student Financial Aid - If you are seeking aid for a student with a disability, go to our page at http://www.icdri.org/Financial%20Aid/finaid.htm and check out the resources listed there.

Nat'l Foundation of Denstriy for Handicapped

The National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped (NFDH); a charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association; is committed, through collaboration, to arranging comprehensive dental treatment and long-term preventive services to needy disabled, elderly or medically compromised individuals through a national network of direct service programs that involve more than 12,900 volunteer dentists and 2,700 volunteer laboratories.

NFDH offers three direct-service programs:

Donated Dental Services (DDS)

Bridge/Campaign of Concern

HouseCalls

NFDH’s work is clear – real help for real people with real problems. For every $1 spent, NFDH provides $15 worth of care. Charitable treatment and other program services account for 93% of activities with 5% needed for administration, and 2% needed for fundraising. Annual Reports

DentaCheques, a revenue generating coupon book for dentists is the dental intersection of value and values.