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"Assistive Technology is any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." - Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act
The mission of the ATA is to increase the use of technology by children and adults with disabilities and functional limitations.
ATA publishes the book: Computer and Web Resources for People with Disabilities Fully Revised 3rd ed. The book can be read online. Below are excepts from reviews of this book:
"This book offers something no other does: a guide to maneuvering the growing world of computers, both the mainstream and the assistive technology, to find what is right for you." -from the Foreword by Stephen Hawking
"In your hands is your best guide to choosing computers
and peripherals that are specific to you or your child's needs. It
is thorough, well-organized, and highly readable. This is a book that
can make a tremendous difference."
-Amy Tan, former language development consultant for special
education programs and author of The Joy Luck Club
The website is divided into three sections: Advocacy, Resources, and
Education.
The AT Journal is found in the Resources
section. It’s a monthly newsletter
featuring the latest news on innovative AT devices and statewide disability
news coverage. You can sign up to receive it by email. Past issues available
on the website.
The Services Directory is also in the Resources
section. It’s like a “Yellow Pages” containing over
1,200 AT vendors and non-profit service providers. It can be searchable
by service type or keyword.
FAQ’s is an informative section on evaluation and assessments for AT, Funding for AT, Home modifications, Special Education, Refueling at Gas Stations, Vehicle modifications.
(The AT Network was developed by The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers under contract with the California Assistive Technology System (CATS).)
Located in Berkeley, California, the Center for Accessible Technology was started in 1983 when a group of parents of children with disabilities came together to develop strategies for including their children into mainstream elementary school settings. With an initial focus on computer technology, these parents developed models whereby kids with disabilities could be fully included in the school curriculum.
The Center has kept its inclusion focus, and over time has broadened its goals to include participation in higher education, employment and community:
The National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
has developed a thorough overview about the responsibilities of schools
and parents when obtaining and using assistive technology:
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/nasdse_questions.html
LD in Depth: Has excellent resource section on Technology: http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/technology.html
For more information, see our Disability Disorders Links.
NTFTD was created to address an urgent national need to increase access to and use of assistive technology (AT) by individuals with disabilities. The NTFTD is a blue ribbon panel of nationally recognized leaders from industry, academia, state government and the disability community.
The goal is to forge long lasting attention on public-private partnerships that advocate for effective public policy, are good for business, and most importantly, advance the use of AT in fully engaging people with disabilities in the labor market, educational institutions, the marketplace and society as a whole.
A brief summary on Assistive Technology is available in Spanish, Korean,
Vietnamese, and Chinese
at:
http://www.pai-ca.org/pubs/534104.pdf
The English version is:
http://www.pai-ca.org/pubs/521201.htm
This site contains a buyer’s guide and product reviews (e.g.
Top 6 software for children
with Autism, Top 10 Musical Toys, The Quiet Quilt).
Top 3 Three Outstanding Educational Programs for Children with Autism
Guide Picks:
http://autism.about.com/cs/productreviews/tp/educprograms.htm
Top 6 Software for Children with ASD:
http://autism.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/software.htm
Top 10 Musical Toys for ASD Kids
http://autism.about.com/cs/medicaltreatments/tp/musictoyasd.htm
Accessible Toys: ATA centers (children and staff) evaluated dozens of
toys. The toys listed here were found to be appropriate for children
with a variety of abilities:
http://www.ataccess.org/resources/fpic/accesstoys/
Closing The Gap, Inc. is an organization that focuses on computer technology for people with special needs through its bi-monthly newspaper, annual international conference and extensive web site.
Published six times a year, the Closing The Gap newspaper highlights hardware and software products appropriate for people with special needs, and explains how this technology is being implemented in education, rehabilitation, and vocational settings around the world.
Search for hundreds of past articles in the archives section.
The annual conference (2004 is the 22th annual conference) runs 2-5 days (2 days of pre-conference workshops, 3 days of presentations).
LD in Depth has an excellent resource section
on Technology, with an “up-to-the-minute listing of hardware and
software products for people with learning disabilities, what it does
and where to get it”:
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/technology.html
Some of the reviews are date from 1998 (typing, math, reading, speech recognition, etc.)
Enabling Devices is a company dedicated to developing affordable learning and assistive devices to help people of all ages with disabling conditions.
Founded by Steven E. Kanor, Ph.D. and originally known as Toys for Special Children, the company has been creating innovative toys and switches for the physically challenged for more than 25 years. Enabling Devices still manufactures and sells those same products, but now the company also carries a complete line of products for the physically challenged adult under Products for Independent Living.
Info on: Wheelchair ramp suppliers and “How to build ramps. How to build RAMPS for home accessibility”.
Use this information with discretion because it may not apply to all people and in all situations, yet still very informative and worth reading. The author is Takashi Yogi (read his interesting history at http://members.cruzio.com/~yogi/war.htm ).
WheelchairNet is a community for people who have a common interest in (or in some cases a passion for) wheelchair technology and its improvement and successful application.
This site ontains a bibliographic databases, a series of slide lectures, article reprints and an active discussion area.
WheelchairNet's purpose is to serve the information needs of anyone interested in wheeled mobility. However, its primary audience is the end user-the person who uses a wheelchair.
This website contains much information of importance for all individuals with disabilities, whether they are wheelchair users or not.