12.02.2008 - 09:10am ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TASH Inc., a leading international disability association working on equity, diversity, and quality of life for people with significant disabilities announces the official launch of Bridges -- a free peer-to-peer resource directory accessible to people with disabilities, family members, educators, advocates and professionals.

Established by a generous grant from NEC Foundation of America, Bridges is designed to help the members of the disability community, particularly those with complex support needs, get in touch with experienced peers regarding over twenty topics including access to health care, long term financial planning, inclusive education advocacy support, employment, inclusive community recreation and self determination.

"People with disabilities and their families are usually on their own to wade through complicated federal, state and local bureaucracies. They have to figure out how to receive and maintain important services and benefits without access to complete or accurate information. With a grant from NEC Foundation of America, we have created Bridges so that people with disabilities can get help from experienced peers, often located close by, when dealing with complex bureaucracies. Bridges is easy to use, it's free, and is available to anyone," said Barbara Trader, executive director of TASH, Inc.

Users can log-in at www.TASH.org to access Bridges, enter a zip-code, select an area of interest from a menu, and start networking with experienced self-advocates, parents and professionals. To date, 120 volunteers are involved as on-line resources in this peer-to-peer network.

For more information, visit http://www.TASH.org

NEC Foundation of America was established in 1991 and endowed at $10 million by NEC Corporation and its United States subsidiaries. Income generated by the endowment is donated to nonprofit organizations in the United States in support of programs with national reach and impact in the arena of assistive technology for people with disabilities. Through its grants, NEC Foundation of America underscores its philosophy of advancing society through technology and enabling individuals to realize their full potential. www.necfoundation.org.

For 33 years, TASH has been an international leader advancing inclusive communities through research, education and advocacy. TASH members are people with disabilities, family members, fellow citizens, advocates and professionals working together to create change and build capacity so that all people, no matter their perceived level of disability, are included and involved in all aspects of society.