University of Connecticut |
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Disability-Related Resources
Assistive Technology
CONNECTICUT Connecticut Tech Act Project, Connecticut Department of Social Services The Connecticut Tech Act Project provides information and advocacy services to individuals regarding assistive technology issues. The Project's goal is to make sure that Connecticut's residents (all ages) with disabilities get access to assistive technology. Disability Resources is a nonprofit organization established to promote and improve awareness, availability and accessibility of information that can help people with disabilities life, learn, love, work, and play independently. They serve thousands of individuals with disabilities through a multidisciplinary network of service providers and consumers. In order to reach as many people with disabilities as cost effectively as possible, they target their services and publications to libraries, disability organizations, independent living centers, rehabilitation facilities, educational institutions, and health and social service providers. Visit their site for Connecticut resources via the above link or visit their home page at www.disabilityresources.org.
The NEAT Center at Oak Hill enriches lives by enhancing independence and quality of life for people with disabilities including visual impairments. It sets the standard in providing innovatibe solutions, program excellence, services and advocacy for people with disabilities. The NEAT Center at Oak Hill is a place to learn about products, equipment, and services that assist people with day-to-day activities that they have trouble doing themselves, either because of a disability or the effects of aging. It si also a place to donate or buy durable medical equipment. At Onion Mountain Technology, assistive technology is their business... and their passion! They believe that every student has the right to be as indepenedent and successful as possible and they believe that there are tools, techniques, and strategies that can help kids learn and grow to the best of their abilities. Onion Mountain Technology provides consultations, evaluations, training, workshops, and presentations as well as a full line of low and mid tech tools in their LoTTIE Kit (Low Tech Tools for Inclusive Education) product line.
AbilityHub, Assistive Technology Solutions AbilityHub.com's purpose is to help you find information on adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers. Searching the Internet for accurate information on assistive technology is much like "looking for a needle in a haystack". This website attempts to reduce the size of the haystack and bring you the information in an organized fashion. ABLEDATA provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources. Although ABLEDATA does not sell any products, they can help you locate the companies that do. Ai Squared has been a leader in the assistive technology field for 18 years. The company's flagship product, ZoomText, is the world's best magnification and reading software for the vision impaired. Ai Squared prides itself on delivering the highest quality software products and superior technological support.
The ATA is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers, Vendors, and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. Since 1985 Apple has bee committed to helping people with disabilities access their personal computers. Apple's commitment to accessibility is evident thorughout the Mac OS X operating system, which is not only easy to use by design, but also includes a wide variety of features and technologies specifically designed to provide access to users with disabilities.
Visit the above link for an extensive list of assistive technology resources maintained by the Office of Special Education, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia. The goal of AT508.com is to provide the public with a single point to find solutions to Section 508 compliance and to showcase the companies responsible for the technological breakthroughs necessary to enable true Section 508 compliance.
Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST has earned international recognition for its development of innovative, technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). CAST staff includes specialists in education research and policy, neuropsychology, clinical/school psychology, technology, engineering, curriculum development, K-12 professional development, and more.
The CAT conducts research, education, and service to increase knowledge about assistive devices for persons with functional impairments of all ages. The Center works in four related areas: research, development, transfer, and commerciailization of advanced technologies and assistive devices; education programs for professionals, students, and consumers; client assessment and training services in computer access for education and employment; and dissemination of best practices and information about assistive technology devices and services.
CATEA was established at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1980. By the 1990's CATEA was an established interdisciplinary research and design center devoted to applications of technology to alleviate problems of human need, providing service, research, and education under the auspices of a world class academic institution. With the new millenium, CATEA has taken another leap forward, using the best tools of the digital age to reach an ever-expanding number of consumers. Multiple web resources, teleconferencing and new media production allow Center staff to provide technical assistance and information dissemination across the globe. Visit their website to see their growing number of projects and resources. Through their newspaper, annual conference, and website, Closing the Gap provides practical up-to-date information on assistive technology products, procedures, and best practices. Visit their website to request a free sample copy of their newspaper, view their resource directory, look back at their annual conference, and read on-line forums.
The database is designed to provide a comprehensive, searchable bibliography of journal articles summarizing research on cognitive technologies for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The database is structured to allow visitors to identify research articles relevant to their specific needs and is intended to help generate bibliographies for researchers and students, support providers, and other professionals, families, and consumers with disabilities about existing and emerging technologies for persons with I/DD. Policy makers and I/DD agency officials may also find this bibliography a helpful resource in their efforts to provide and finance cognitive technology devices and services. Disability.gov is an award-winning federal web site that contains disability-related resources on programs, services, laws, and regulations to help people with disabilities lead full, independent lives. With just a few clicks, visitors can find critical information on a variety of topics including benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, housing, health, technology, and transportation. The Technology section offers a wide range of information on acessibility, assistive and adaptive technology, and laws and regulations related to technology. Based in the United Kingdom, a team of professionals from education, technology, service, and training at dyslexic.com provide a wide range of services and products covering a list of things from A-Z.
This year (2006) marks the sixth anniversary of EnableMart as home to the greatest and best-known assistive technology products in the world. In the course of their work, the EnableMart Team has built their company based on the idea that there should be no barriers to experiences in life. Their far-reaching goals continue to have this ideology at their foundation, always with the customer in mind. They believe that their evolution over time is a great example of what is to come. They continue to focus on excellence and strive to be the company you return to for technology solutions.
Serves as a resource to the education community (colleges, universities, K-12 schools, libraries, & the workplace) by providing information and guidance in the area of access-to-information technologies by individuals with disabilities. Offers on-line workshops and seminars via the Internet and publishes a quarterly electronic journal, Information Technology and Disabilities.
The Family Center is a resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. They offer a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies. Whether you are an organization, a parent, an educator,or an interested friend, they hope you will find information that supports you in your efforts to bring the highest quality education to children with disabilities.
Freedom Scientific's mission is to develop, manufacture, and market innovative technology-based products and services that those with vision impairments and learning disabilities use to change their world. They provide technology tools that ensure successes that are educationally sound, easy to learn, and are powerful and flexible.
A state-of-the-art training and support facility for community college faculty and staff wishing to acquire or improve teaching skills, methodologies, and pedagogy in assistive computer technology, alternate media, and web accessibility. IndependenceFirst is a non-profit agency directed by, and for the benefit of, persons with disabilities, primarily serving the four-county Milwaukee (Wisconsin) area. They do indicate their Assistive Technology Program "is for anyone, of any age, with any disability, who is looking for a way to accommodate their needs through technology." InfiniTec is a joint effort of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago and United Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc., Washington, DC. The mission of InfiniTec is to advance independence and promote inclusive opportunities for children and adults with disabilities through technology. The InfiniTec staff helps people with disabilities find and get access to information, technology services, training, assistive equipment and specialists by creating partnerships that maximize resources. MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus bring together authoritative information from NLM, the NIH, and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated Medline searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news. Provided here is a direct link to their section on Assistive Devices. Microsoft's mission is to enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential. They are committed to developing technology for everyone - including individuals who e3xperience the world in different ways because of difficulties or disabilities.
Origin Instruments was founded in 1990 by ex-aerospace engineers. The company is a developer and manufacturer of advanced electro-optical instruments and associated software. Their assistive technology products are generally used by individuals with motor disabilities such as quadriplegics, persons with repetitive stress injuries, and people with muscular degenerative diseases. These products allow efficient hands-free access to computers and augmentative communication devices.
RESNA is an interdisciplinary association of people with a common interest in technology and disability. RESNA's purpose is 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 the provision of technology and by supporting the people engaged in these activities. Founded in 1979 as a not-for-profit professional organization, there are currently over 1600 individual and 150 organizational members. rehabtool.com is an information technology company that develops and markets innovative hardware and software integrated into solutions to assist individuals with disabilities and special needs. They also offer many free services such as a personalized product search and referral service to help you choose appropriate assistive technology solutions and locate product vendors; a quarterly newsletter to keep abreast of assistive technology developments; and access to their AT Links Library, a comprehensive collection of links to the largest assistive technology catalogs, databases, and vendor directories in North America. rehabtool.com's mission is to help children and adults with disabilities enhance their lives, increase their independence and productivity, and gain greater social inclusion through leading-edge assistive and adaptive technology.
Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory Federal agency within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration. NIST's mission is to develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. Under the category of Assistive Technology, the website includes such information as: What is Assistive Technology?; Federal Law Impacting the Assistive Technology Industry; Accessibility Guidelines and Standards; State Laws, Policies, Standards or Guidelines on Accessibility; Assistive Technology Classification; and Assistive Technology Resources. The Boulevard is a disability resource directory of products and services for the physically challenged, elderly, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
Tobii ATI is a premier developer of innovative hardware and software solutions for people with disabilities. The company is located in Boston, Massachusetts. Its close proximity to many of the nation's top teaching hospitals and education institutions helps foster close research and testing relationships with several of these facilities.
The Trace Center's mission is to prevent the barriers and capitalize on opportunities presented by current and emerging information and telecommunication technologies, in order to create a world that is as accessible and usable as possible for as many people as possible.
WAI, in coordination with organizations around the world, pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development.
WebAIM is administered through a grant provided by the Fund for th Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Learning Anywhere Anytime Partnerships. WebAIM's goal is to improve accessibility to online learning opportunities for all people; in particular to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities who currently may have a difficult time getting access to postsecondary online learning opportunities.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops interoperable technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and tools) to lead the Web to its full potential. W3C is a forum for information, commerce, communication, and collective understanding.
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