Child Sponsorship
Thinking about child sponsorship? Learn how these programs work, how funds are used, and what questions to ask before committing to a donation.
Wise Giving Wednesday: Celebrate National Disability Independence Day by Giving Wisely
Your support can help disability charities expand access, independence, and opportunity.
Why National Disability Independence Day Matters
On July 26, we celebrate Disability Independence Day, which commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Beyond celebrating the ADA, Disability Independence Day seeks to promote disability rights and inclusion by raising awareness of the experiences of people with disabilities and breaking down the barriers they face.
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, affording protections similar to those the Civil Rights Act of 1964 affords people on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. In addition to prohibiting discrimination, the ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities and establishes accessibility requirements for places of public accommodation, including private businesses and facilities that are open to the public.
It’s likely that most of us know someone with a disability covered under the ADA. Beyond physical conditions such as amputations, blindness, mobility impairments, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and many others, the ADA also protects people with mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental disabilities, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia, to name a few.
5 Tips for Supporting Disability Charities
Disability charities support many different communities through direct services, advocacy, research, and other programs. These five tips can help you find an organization that reflects your giving priorities.
1. Decide What Kind of Disability Charity You Want to Support
Charities serve people with a wide range of physical, mental health, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, including blindness, PTSD, intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy, to name a few.
Consider (1) which disability or community the organization serves, and (2) the type of work the organization does.
Some charities provide direct services to improve quality of life, while others focus on advocacy and civil rights or advancing research and treatment. Visit the charity’s website to learn about its mission and programs so you can support the work that matters most to you.
2. Consider Cash and In-Kind Donations
Monetary donations, especially recurring monthly or annual gifts, help charities plan ahead and sustain their operations.
Other organizations may also welcome in-kind donations, such as clothing, furniture, or food, to support people with disabilities. Don’t hesitate to contact a charity to learn about its most pressing donation needs.
Here’s a helpful resource to look over when giving in-kind gifts.
3. Volunteer Your Time and Skills
Just as with other causes, organizations supporting people with disabilities often rely on volunteers to deliver their programs and services.
Reach out to find out whether you can help. If you have specialized skills or experience related to a particular disability, you may be especially well suited to volunteer.
4. Support Veterans with Disabilities
Keep in mind that many charities also support veterans and active-duty service members with disabilities. Consider supporting these organizations as well.
For more information, including a list of BBB Accredited Charities in this category, visit our Veterans and Military Service Charities resource page.
5. Verify the Trustworthiness of a Disability Charity Before You Give
Visit Give.org before you give to see if the disability charity you are considering supporting is a BBB Accredited Charity (i.e., meets all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.)
Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
