Diversity / Special Interest

Need help? Start here : call 211 Call 2-1-1 when you need to find state or local resources to address urgent needs or everyday concerns, including health & mental health services, food banks, shelter, rental or utility assistance, adult day care, Meals on Wheels, transportation, childcare, crisis intervention services, job training, education, and more. 2-1-1 is free, confidential, multi-lingual, confidential, TTY accessible, and available 24/7 2-1-1 resource specialists will guide callers to the most helpful available resources. Visit the website for more information. NOTE : 2-1-1 calls are generally toll-free; however, if you are calling 2-1-1 from your cell phone, please check with your cell phone service provider first to find out whether you will be charged for the call. You can also reach 2-1-1 by dialing 877-652-1148. (United Way, in partnership with the State of New Jersey)

General Diversity Resources

Belief Net - For those wishing to explore different spiritual paths, Belief Net is a multi-faith site offering resources, tools, and information on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and many other religions, as well as non-denominational spirituality. (Site includes advertisements)

In Motion - An online multicultural magazine dealing with arts, politics, education, health, regional interest, and more. (Site includes advertisements)

Mavin Foundation - Links, articles, and other resources focused on 'mixed heritage people, transracial adoptees, interracial relationships and multiracial families'.

Multicultural Education and Ethnic Groups - Selected Internet sources for multicultural information, arranged by subject/type of material; includes links for cookery, holidays, folklore, myth & literature, music, and religion, as well as sites for specific ethnic groups. Not updated frequently, expect some broken links (2009, California State University). See also Multicultural Education Internet Resource Guide (2010, Northern Arizona University).

Religion in American Culture - 'Based on interviews with more than 35,000 American adults, this extensive survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life details the religious makeup, religious beliefs and practices as well as social and political attitudes of the American public.' Also features articles on religion and politics, covering various political issues and political candidates. (Non-profit non-partisan organization)

Religion Link - Developed by and for journalists, but this website should be of interest to anyone interested in knowing more about religious issues behind today's headlines. Each weekly update contains background information and links to web resources on news stories of current interest.

Religious Podcasts - Directory of links to podcasts on a wide variety of religions as well as atheism / agnosticism. Sound quality varies; may not work in older browsers. (Site includes advertisements)

African-American

Africa Web Links - An extensive, annotated directory of online African studies resources, including business, culture, health, education, and other subjects; covers both Africa and African-Americans. Updated infrequently; expect some broken links. (University of Pennsylvania)

Afro - This website for The Afro-American Newpapers of Washington and Baltimore also offers national news, entertainment, sports, book & movie reviews, history, and more. (Site includes advertisements)

Basic Black - Stories, interviews, and commentaries provide 'a fresh examination of the black experience - the reexamination of racial ideologies, the search for new black leadership, the embrace of a global citizenship, and the continuing search for solutions to pressing concerns.' (WGBH Public Television, Boston)

Black Culture and History Guide to the Web - An extensive directory of websites dealing with all aspects of black history & culture. Not updated frequently. (Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History Library, University of North Carolina).

Black Voices [UPDATED!] - African-American news & opinion, plus articles on lifestyle, money, pop culture, hair & beauty, parenting. (Now part of Huffington Post)

Asian-American

Asia Society - Information on Asian policy & politics, arts & culture, business & economics, education & learning, countries & history, and style & living. Use the menu bar across the top to choose a topic (non-profit organization). See also In Asia, 'a weekly in-depth, in-country resource blog for readers who want to stay abreast of significant events shaping Asia' (Asia Foundation; non-profit organization).

Asian Nation - 'Your one-stop information source on the historical, political, social, economic, and cultural elements and issues that make up today's diverse Asian American community. You can almost think of Asian-Nation as an online version of 'Asian Americans 101'.' (By C.N. Le, a professor of Sociology / Asian-American Studies)

Japan Reference - An extensive web directory covering 'almost every aspect of Japan'. (Site includes advertisements)

NewsLink India - Links to Indian newspapers online. Newslink also offers links to other Asian Newspapers. (Site includes advertisements)

Samachar - Extensive Indian web directory. (Site includes advertisements)

Hispanic-American

Vea también : PÁGINAS en ESPANÕL

Es Mas - News in Spanish, including sports, entertainment, health, personal finance, and more. (Noticias en Español, incluyendo deportes, entretenimiento, salud, niños, finanzas personales y mucho mas.) (Site includes advertisements)

Hispanic Vista - Commentary and analysis on issues of interest to the Latino population. (Sal Osio, Sr., editor)

Other Ethnic / Religious Groups

American Catholic - Information on the Catholic faith (Franciscan Communications; site includes advertisements). Another site featuring news & opinion about Catholics and Catholicism is Catholic Online (site includes advertisements).

Aish.com - Educational resources on the Jewish faith, with articles and resources on spirituality, holidays, family, dating, travel, and more (site includes advertisements). My Jewish Learning has more on Judaism in daily life, history and culture (site includes advertisements). Maven - The Jewish Portal is a comprehensive subject directory for online Jewish resources, covering business, art, travel, holocaust, health, and much more (site includes advertisements). The Jewish Webcasting Guide offers links by subject to a wide variety of online audio and video programs.

Arab Gateway - A site designed to explain the Arabs and their culture to non-Arabs. (By a British journalist; site includes advertisements)

Atheism : Investigating Atheism - Places current debates on atheism in their historical context, and offers a range of perspectives (from all sides) on the chief issues. (University of Cambridge, UK)

Blue Letter Bible - An online Bible searchable by keyword or phrase. An alternate site is Bible Gateway (site includes advertisements).

Christian Classics Ethereal Library - A large library of classic Christian literature and reference works including Bibles and Commentaries, Creeds, Catechisms, Liturgies, Fiction, History, Hymns and more. You can search by keyword or browse topics, authors, or titles. (Calvin College; site includes advertisements)

Crosswalk - A web directory for the online Christian community. (Site includes advertisements)

Hinduism 101 - A brief overview of the basic principles of Hinduism, plus Q & A, demographics, and a recommended reading list. NOTE : Website does not display correctly in Internet Explorer 6. (Hindu American Foundation)

Irish-American Links - Dozens of links on Irish and Celtic culture, including organizations, festivals, music, dance, language, and more. Updated infrequently, expect some broken links (Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey). See also Browse Ireland, an extensive subject directory for online Irish resources, covering business, art, history, travel, government, media, and more (site includes advertisements).

Islam on the Internet - Extensive information on the Islamic religion and related subjects (Submission.org). See also al-Islam, which explores 'the history, law, practice, and society of the Islamic religion and the Muslim peoples, with particular emphasis on Twelver Shia Islamic school of thought' (Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project). For a brief explanation of the basics of Islam, see Islam FAQ (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).

Italian American Foundation - Links to a variety of resources on Italian-American heritage, culture, language, and more. Also offers educational and youth programs including scholarships, grants, heritage travel, and mentoring (non-profit organization; site includes advertisements). See also Italian American Heritage Resources (Italian American Heritage Foundation, San Jose, CA).

Mavin Foundation - Links, articles, and other resources for people of bi-racial and multi-racial ancestry.

Native American Nations - Many links to tribal homepages, arranged alphabetically by tribe name. Scroll to the bottom for links to other websites with Native American information. Not updated frequently (By Lisa Mitten, a Native American librarian). The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs also maintains a Tribal Directory (only for federally-recognized tribes), as does the National Congress of American Indians. See also Homework Links : Indian Tribes / Native Peoples.

Religion Online - Thousands of articles on Old and New Testament, Theology, Ethics, History and Sociology of Religion, Communication and Cultural Studies, Pastoral Care, Counseling, Homiletics, Worship, Missions and Religious Education; written primarily from a Christian perspective. (Claremont School of Theology)

Disabilities

Accessible Housing Resources - A listing of information sources relating to Accessible Homes and Universal Design, including web resources, publications, conferences, products, and manufacturers & distributors. (National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research)

Assistance Animals for the Disabled - A basic overview of the various uses of animals to provide assistance to people with disabilities (updated 2011). The related Companion Animals : Assistance Animals page provides lots of additional up-to-date information (USDA Animal Welfare Information Center). See also Consumer Considerations for People Considering a Service Animal (Delta Society), Service Animals in Places of Business (2002) and Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals in Places of Business (2008) (U.S. Department of Justice).

Assistive Media - 'Audio access to reading materials for anyone with a reading access barrier. Talented volunteers record magazine articles and other short works which are then available for download or podcast'. Most of the recent articles seem to be from The New Yorker and The Atlantic (non-profit organization). See also Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, described below.

Deafness Information - Information related to deaf and hard of hearing children from birth through age 21. Covers the following topics : Babies (0 to 3), Children (3 to 21), Transition to Adulthood, Hearing Loss Information, Language & Literacy, Hearing & Communication Technology, Laws, and Resources. (Gallaudet University)

Disaster Preparation for Individuals with Disabilities new - People with disabilities often need additional time and assistance to prepare for a disaster. This page provides some quick, practical advice, with links to more in-depth information and guidance. (New Jersey Office of Emergency Management )

Disability.gov - Information on government benefits, civil rights, education, employment, health, housing, technology, transportation, and more. (U.S. government website)

Disability Information & Resources - An extensive directory of websites offering information on topics ranging from all kinds of disability-related products & services (assistive devices, medical supplies, clothing, etc.) to health, political, and legal issues (by Jim Lubin; site includes advertisements). See also American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) resources page and UCP Disability Resources (United Cerebral Palsy).

Disability Resources on the Internet - A huge searchable directory of disability resources on the Internet, with 'information about books, pamphlets, magazines, newsletters, videos, databases, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, telephone hotlines and on-line services that provide free, inexpensive or hard-to-find information to help people with disabilities live independently'. There's an A to Z subject index for hundreds of topics, as well as an index to resources by state. Or go directly to the New Jersey page. Not updated frequently; expect some broken links. (Non-profit organization; site includes advertisements).

Disabled Sports USA - Offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability, plus regional chapters, online magazine, advice on How to Get Involved in Sports, related links, and more. Activities include winter skiing, water sports, summer and winter competitions, fitness and special sports events. See also Paralympic Games and Special Olympics.

Disaboom - Information and resources for people living with a disability. Covers a wide range of subjects, including health & wellness, dating & relationships, jobs, parenting & family, travel, and more. (Site includes advertisements)

Employment Info (Disability.gov) - Covers a variety of topics related to employment for people with disabilities, including advice for individuals seeking work; information on employment rights, laws and regulations; and resources for employment programs and job accommodations. For additional disability resources, see Job Accommodation Network (U.S. Department of Labor) and O*NET OnLine Help : Job Accommodation Links (U.S. Department of Labor and North Carolina Employment Security Commission). More information on employment for the disabled is available from the National Organization on Disability. See also Job Central's Disability page (non-profit organization) and South Plainfield Public Library's EMPLOYMENT LAW, HEALTH, & SAFETY links.

Family Village - Another large directory of online resources, with information on over 300 diagnoses, as well as assistive technology, legal rights and legislation, special education, leisure activities and much more. The site is aimed at 'children and adults with disabilities, their families, and their friends and allies.' Not updated frequently. (University of Wisconsin)

Handicapped Plates & Placards (New Jersey) - Information on how to obtain special parking privileges in New Jersey if you are temporarily or permanently disabled. (N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission)

Independent Living Links - Annotated links to a wide variety of disability resources, arranged by subject; international. (Independent Living Institute, Sweden)

Job Tips new - 'JobTIPS is a free program designed to help individuals with communication, socialization, and learning differences explore career interests, seek and obtain employment, and successfully maintain employment.' NOTE: Site may be slow to load and navigate. (Do2Learn, a company offering 'special learning resources for individuals with disabilities, and the professionals & caregivers who serve them.')

Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - Lends braille and audio materials (including magazines), by postage-free mail, to eligible visually or physically handicapped borrowers in the United States, including kids (Library of Congress). See also Described & Captioned Media Catalog (DCMP). You must have a DCMP account number and password to view or order materials online. Individuals, educational programs, and organizations are eligible for service from DCMP. Individuals must be deaf or hard of hearing (or the parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child) to register for service. Locally, the South Plainfield Public Library offers audio books, large print books, and homebound delivery. Call us at (908) 754-7885 for more information.

National Center on Workforce and Disability - Fact sheets on many specific disabilities, with links to related resources.

National Council on Independent Living - Selected links to organizations, agencies, and other resources for the disabled and their families.

National Federation of the Blind - A directory of resources for living, working, learning, and recreation, plus information about vision loss, state & local organizations, publications, and products & technology.

National Organization on Disability - News and useful information for individuals with disabilities, covering social and community involvement, jobs, access, and related issues. Use the menu on the left to choose a topic.

N.J. Division of Disability Services - Primarily serves people who have become disabled as adults, whether through illness or injury, but also has a toll free hotline (1-888-285-3036) providing information and referral assistance for people with any type of disability.

PARENTING : Special Needs Children - Links to selected resources for parents of children with disabilities. (South Plainfield Public Library)

Physical Activity and Disability - Fitness advice for those with disabilities or chronic illness. Use the menu on the left for additional fact sheets and resources on sports, exercise, and fun & leisure. (University of Illinois)

Rehabilitation Information - Thousands of resources, including organizations, agencies, websites, reports, and research projects, to help those with impairments or disabilities live independently. Use the dropdown menu to select a topic. Not updated frequently, so expect some broken links (National Rehabilitation Information Center).

Spinal Cord Injury Resources [UPDATED LINKS!] - Links to a wide range of information covering health, equipment, accessibility, sexuality, disability rights, and more. Also offers links to state and local chapters. (National Spinal Cord Injury Association; site includes advertisements)

Men & Women

Feminist.com - 'Resources and information dedicated to women's equality, justice, wellness and safety.' Includes news, feature stories, interviews, and more. (Non-profit organization)

Gay & Lesbian Resources - A directory of organizations & publications arranged by subject, covering academic/professional resources, archives & libraries, bookstores, business, history & culture, education, health, politics, and more. Last updated in 2009. (University of Washington)

Men's Bibliography - An extensive list of books and articles on men, masculinities, gender, and sexualities. Updated infrequently. Part of XYOnline, a website focused on men, masculinities, and gender politics. (By Michael Flood, a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Wollongong, Australia)

Men's Web - Articles dealing with men's issues such as anger, grief, depression, fathering, relationships, spirituality and more. Not updated frequently, expect some broken links. (Site includes advertisements)

Violence Against Women : Victim Hotlines - If you, or someone you know, are a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or dating violence, help is available from these toll-free telephone hotlines. Includes links to related resources (U.S. Department of Justice). Women's Law provides easy-to-understand legal information and resources to women living with or escaping domestic violence or sexual assault. Inclused state-specific legal information for domestic violence and information on getting help in your community, as well as direct email assistance (non-profit organization). See also 911 for Women and related links. For information on sex discrimination in the workplace, see Sex-Based Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).

Women-Focused Magazines & Journals - An extensive, alphabetical listing of web-based periodicals aimed at girls and women. Brief annotations. (University of Wisconsin)

Women's Studies / Women's Issues Resource Sites - A selective, annotated listing of over 500 web sites arranged by subject; also includes an alphabetical listing. (University of Maryland)

Seniors

See our SITES for SENIORS page.

Veterans, Military Service Members & Their Families

American Widow Project - Provides emotional and practical support for military widows (non-profit organization).

Career Boot Camp for Transitioning Military Personnel new - 'If you're leaving the military and getting ready to look for a job in the civilian world, you may need some basic training on how to present your resume and military skills in a way that will connect with civilian employers. Check out these articles to learn how you can be all you can be on the civilian job market.' (Monster.com; site includes advertisements)

Center for Women Veterans - Information on health care and other VA benefits for women veterans.

Disabled American Veterans - Offers a range of free services to disabled veterans. Also offers links to dozens of websites of interest to veterans, arranged alphabetically. The American Legion also offers information & services to veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families, including Career Resources and Business Resources. (Non-profit organizations)

Feds Hire Vets - Resources and information to help veterans, transitioning service members, and their families find careers in the Federal government (U.S. Office of Personnel Management). For more employment resources, see Vet Jobs, described below.

Heroes to Hometowns [UPDATED LINK!] - 'A transition program for severely injured service members returning home from OEF/OIF. It establishes a support network and coordinates resources for severely injured service members returning home.' (U.S. Department of Defense)

Military Families : Plan My Move - A collection of useful online tools and resources to help military families plan a successful move. Military Youth on the Move offers advice and support for children of military families to help deal with the difficult time of moving, saying goodbye, and starting over in a new place. There are separate sections for elementary, middle, and high school students. (U.S. Department of Defense)

Military OneSource - For active-duty, Guard, and Reserve service members and their families, Military OneSource offers free assistance with just about any need. Also available by phone at 1-800-342-9647. 'Whether you're single or married, a parent or not a parent, Military OneSource can help with the issues that are important to you. For service members and families who live far from military installations, Military OneSource is especially useful. No problem is too big - or too small. If we don't know the answer, we'll find it. Military OneSource also provides free counseling services (up to 12 sessions per person, per issue), face-to-face in the local community, by telephone, and online.' See also Military Homefront. (U.S. Department of Defense)

N.J. Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMAVA) - At this website, you can apply for a distinguished service medal, download a wide variety of DMAVA forms, order DMAVA publications, and find other useful resources for veterans, active military personnel, and military families.

N.J. Military Legal Assistance Program [UPDATED LINK!] - This program provides free legal assistance to New Jersey residents who have served overseas as active duty members of reserve components of the armed forces deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. Toll-free phone number: 888-541-1900 (N.J. State Bar Association). See also ABA Homefront : Legal Resources for Military Families (American Bar Association).

N.J. Veterans Guide - Describes the programs, services, benefits, and honors available to New Jersey Veterans. (N.J. Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs)

U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs / Veteran's Administration (V.A.) - Information on federal government programs for veterans, including online applications for pensions & compensation, education, health, vocational rehabilitation and employment services. My Health eVet is an online service from the V.A. offering a personal health record, materials on healthy living, and other resources 'to enable Veterans to take control of their own health.'

U.S. Military Personnel and Veterans - Links to official U.S. government information and services for active military personnel, veterans, reservists, National Guard, transitioning and prospective personnel, and military families (USA.gov). For links to additional service providers, see Military support programs (U.S. Department of Defense).

Vet Jobs - Offers searchable job listings, employment advice and other employment resources for transitioning military, National Guard, Reserve Component Members and veterans, and their family members (Sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States). See also American Legion Career Resources, Vet Central (Job Central, non-profit organization), Workforce NJ - Job Seekers : Veterans Services, described below, and Feds Hire Vets, described above.

V.A. Facilities Locator - Searchable database of over one thousand Veteran's Administration facilities in the US, including benefits office, medical facilities, and cemeteries. Or go directly to the N.J. Veterans Healthcare Network page.

V.A. Watchdog - This site is designed to 'keep an eye on the politicians and the political appointees who fund and run the Veterans Administration.' Offers news and opinion about policy, regulations, and benefit changes at the Department of Veterans' Affairs, plus advice for vets and links to other useful resources. (Larry Scott, Founder & Editor; site includes advertisements)

Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline - National suicide prevention hotline provides veterans in emotional crisis with free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and press '1' to be routed to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline et al.)

Warrior Care - Official U.S. government resource for wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families. (Office Of Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy)

Workforce NJ - Job Seekers : Veterans Services - 'Veterans receive first priority referral to all jobs and training opportunities for which they are qualified. In the One-Stop Career Center, there is a Veterans Representative who specializes in helping veterans find the jobs and opportunities for which they qualify. In addition to priority referrals to jobs, vets can enroll in free job search workshops, find help developing a resume, learn about career training programs and get help understanding the network of veterans' benefits available through the Veterans Administration, state and local governments.' (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development)