TECHNOLOGY
This page has information on adaptive and assistive equipment and accessible technology for people with disabilities, including:
News
New Technologies in the Works to Detect Brain Injuries, By Lena Groeger, ProPublica, January 05, 2012
FCC adopts video description rules, By Brendan Sasso, The Hill, August 25, 2011
On Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Obama Administration Recommits to Enforcing and Protecting the Civil Rights of All, From the White House, July 26, 2011
Federal Government Website Accessibility – Still a Long Way to Go, By Guest Blogger Dr. Jonathan Lazar, Professor of Computer and Information Sciences; Director, Undergraduate Program in Information Systems; Director, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, Disability Blog, June 29, 2011
How blind people see the Internet, By John Herrman, Gizmodo, April 04, 2011
Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 Proposed Rulemaking Approved!, From the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Weekly Advocacy Monitor, March 09. 2011
Fan Helps Game Designers Open Doors in Virtual World, By John Branch, New York Times, March 05, 2011
The accessibility features of the iPad, By Guest Blogger Amanda Johansson (Testfreaks.com), Disability Blog, January 26, 2011
FCC Chairman Genachowski announces steps to bring 9-1-1 into 21st century, From the Federal Communications Commission, November 23, 2010
FCC Wastes No Time! Comments Sought for New Regulations on 21st Century Communications Act, From the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), October 29, 2010
Obama Signs Technology Access Bill For Disabled, By the Associated Press, October 08, 2010
House acts to improve Internet access for disabled, By Jim Abrams, Associated Press, July 26, 2010
Advocacy Organizations and Informational Resources
The AbilityHub website will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers.
The mission of the Able Project is to provide a network where people with disabilities and their loved ones can effortlessly research, compare, locate and obtain mobility and assistive products, thereby helping them to lead more independent lives.
ABLEDATA provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources.
The Accessible Technology Coalition (ATC) is a project of the Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT) that provides information, training, and support to solve complex AT issues for the disability community
The disABILITY Information and Resources website offers hundreds of links to information on all kinds of assistive technology and much more.
Disability.gov is the federal government's one-stop Web site for information of interest to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and many others. This section of Disability.gov offers a wide range of information on accessibility, assistive and adaptive technology and laws and regulations related to technology.
EnableMart is the worldwide leader in assistive technology distribution. With customers in all 50 states and over 45 foreign countries, EnableMart provides over 3,000 assistive technology and assistive living devices from over 200 manufacturers. EnableMart's market leadership is the direct result of the goal to become an all inclusive source for assistive technology and assistive living devices.
The Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) web site is a source full of assistive/instructional technology resources of interest to families of children with disabilities. The website offers access to monthly newsletters, online discussions moderated by nationally recognized experts, a database of FCTD members which is comprised of more than 3,500 disability organizations, a resource review database with hundreds of reviews of AT resources and more.
Freedom Scientific is the world’s leader in assistive and adaptive technology for individuals who are blind, or have low vision or learning disabilities. Their products include screen reading software for the blind, magnification software for those with low-vision, and other products for accessible scanning and reading, as well as braille displays, notetakers, and the world’s leading accessible PDA for the blind.
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world's largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are visually impaired. APH manufactures textbooks and other educational publications for students who are visually impaired. APH also provides publications useful to adults, such as cookbooks and dictionaries. In addition, APH creates recorded books on a contract basis.
Guide to the Best Apps for People Living with Paralysis - The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has compiled a list of apps for SmartPhones that benefit people living with paralysis of any kind. The list is constructed from a wide range of apps and includes those that were specifically created for wheelchair users as well as apps that might just improve the quality of life for anyone including people living with paralysis.
Infogrip, Inc. specializes in providing people with assistive technology, ergonomic products and training for a healthier and more productive way to interact with computers. The Infogrip website offers a wide variety of assistive technology devices and ergonomic products.
The Kansas Assistive Technology Co- operative (KATCO) provides Kansans with disabilities and their families access to financial resources for acquiring assistive technology. Families on fixed incomes, or who have credit problems related to disabilities, may qualify for loans. KATCO offers assistance with a combination of education, savings and low interest borrowing.
508 Universe is your source for learning how your agency meets the requirements of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended by the Workforce Reinvestment Act of 1998. Here you'll find information and Web based training courses on various topics. You can also download the presentation materials and instructor and participant guides for available classroom courses.
The National Public Website on Assistive Technology was created by Georgia Tech's Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA to provide access to information on Assistive technology (AT) devices and services as well as other community resources for people with disabilities and the general public.
Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) seeks to improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology. They serve that purpose by promoting research, development, education, advocacy and provision of technology; and by supporting the people engaged in these activities.
The Section508.gov web site is a comprehensive source of resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508 for both Federal employees and the public.
The Simon Technology Center (STC) is dedicated to making the benefits of technology more accessible to children and adults with disabilities. Through a collaborated effort involving parents, professionals, and consumers, the STC can provide numerous services for your family, as well as resources and informative answers to your questions.
USA TechGuide is a webguide to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and assistive technology choices. You can read and submit wheelchair reviews, mobility scooter reviews, wheelchair cushion reviews, standing device reviews, and search The TechGuide for all types of assistive equipment.
Your Guide to Choosing a Cell Phone, The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies has developed this guide to help persons with disabilities in choosing a phone to meet their needs.
Publications
ABLEDATA Informed Consumer's Guide to Funding Assistive Technology - This guide discusses a broad range of potential sources of funding and funding information for assistive technology and provides lists of specific organizations and programs from which funding and funding information are available. The guide also discusses other sources of information on funding issues and organizations that assist people to find the funds that they need.