DisabilityInfo.gov: Education: Assistive & Adaptive Technology

This Tool Kit explains how universal design can be applied to teaching and assessing students. In a classroom using a universally designed curriculum one might find books on tape, interactive software, magnifiers or highlighted materials.

Database of assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment, including price and information on more than 25,000 assistive technology products.

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Directs the user to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers.

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Provides an overview of the current federal and state laws and policy.

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Accommodations in testing are available for adults with documented physical disabilities as well as learning disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and emotional or psychological disabilities.

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Assists individuals with disabilities in choosing and effectively using assistive technology to achieve their personal goals.

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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.

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Find options for financing assistive technology through grants and loans sponsored by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).

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A project of the Center on Children, Families and the Law at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for families with children with special needs, including disabilities (such as physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities) and chronic illnesses of all types.

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Information about assistive technology and the IEP from DakotaLink, the South Dakota program for Assistive Technology, through the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Human Services.

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Provides background information on the Tech Act beginning with the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act in 1988.

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Text of Public Law 108-364 that amends the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

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Answers to commonly-asked questions about assistive technology from the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Web site.

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A trade association representing the interests of the assistive technology industry to business, government, education and agencies that serve people with disabilities.

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Useful links related to assistive technology from emTech, a Web site with over 15,000 resources organized by topics for teachers, students and parents.

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Details of a plan to increase availability of, funding for, access to and provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.

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Provides information on assistive technology applications that help students with disabilities (including physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities) learn in elementary classrooms.

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Produces spoken-word recordings of copyright-approved material from reputable mainstream periodicals and independent writers that are made easily accessible through the Web.

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Comprehensive database of assistive technology products and links to various disability services and resources from the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access.

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Researches and develops innovative technologies to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

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CATEA supports individuals with disabilities of any age within the State of Georgia and beyond through: expert services, research design and technological development, information dissemination and educational programs.

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Provides practical up-to-date information on assistive technology products, procedures and best practices through a newspaper, annual conference and on-line service.

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Promotes the availability and effective use of technology and media for children with disabilities and/or who are gifted.

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Facilitates technology access for children with special needs.

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Learn how Dolphin delivers magnification, speech and Braille access to mainstream Microsoft Windows applications through the use of Lunar, LunarPlus, Hal and SuperNova.

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Learn about the latest portable device that places the functionality of a reading machine into a multifunction cell phone, and improves print access for the blind, vision impaired and those with reading impairments. View this recording at anytime with Adobe Flash Player. For more information on the TARGET Discovery Series and TARGET Web Connect, visit the TARGET Center Web site.

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Resources for educators and care providers who want to connect technology with the way young children learn.

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Offers a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies to parents, educators and children with disabilities.

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Use the FCTD member database to find organizations and programs in your state that help families of children with disabilities understand and locate assistive technologies.

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The Captioned Telephone is a new technology that allows people to receive word-for-word captions of their telephone conversations.

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Federal RCC uses the same high-quality steno captioners that provide closed captioning for live television, news, sports and weather to deliver live, real-time text streamed to an Internet-connected computer anywhere in the world.

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A federal government service which allows federal employees who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf/blind and or have speech disabilities to have equal communication access.

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FRSO is an internet relay service which allows the user to make telecommunications relay calls from the desktop/laptop.

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A one-stop source of free assistive technology to help enhance the quality-of-life, independence and employability of people with disabilities.

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Press release regarding the establishment of the Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology Mobility Devices.

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Nonprofit professional organization dedicated to promoting the use of information technology in kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms.

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Free service offering guidance on accommodations for people with disabilities in the workplace and in the classroom.

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When HTML coding focuses on structure, a document is more adaptable to different browsing environments, more easily accommodating large fonts, special colors, speech synthesizers, and Braille tactile feedback devices.

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Promotes the use of electronic and information technology for students and employees with disabilities in educational institutions at all academic levels.

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N.O.D. offers the latest information on assistive technology, technological accessibility and technology's impact on the participation and contribution of people with disabilities.

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Home page of the National Weather Service's Standards for Electronic and Information Technology program, which includes information on Web use by people with disabilities, trends and resources.

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The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the release of the updated publication Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children With Hearing Loss and the Spanish version, Que se abran las puertas: Opciones de tecnologia y comunicacion para los ninos con perdida auditiva. These publications provide background on early intervention, the use of technology and other support available to children with hearing loss and their families.

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Analysis of the first year of operation of the Federal Alternative Financing Program for Individuals with Disabilities, which provides loans to purchase assistive technology for people with disabilities. Document is in .pdf format but is also available in text only format.

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Association working to improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology.

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Program sponsored by RESNA that provides technical assistance to the 56 state and territorial assistive technology programs as authorized under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

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Reuse of assistive technology makes common sense. Many people can't get the AT they need because they can't afford new devices and can't get funding from private insurance or federal, state or local sources. People in need of AT may turn to AT reuse programs because these programs often do not have eligibility requirements. In addition, used AT is generally more affordable, if not free.

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State by state information from the Alternative Financing Technical Assistance Project on assistive technology and telework financial loan programs.

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A study produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security for the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer.

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Information on how to design equipment, World Wide Web sites, information kiosks, etc. that are accessible.

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Computer-based testing has been called the "next frontier in testing" as educators, testing companies and state departments quickly work to transform paper and pencil tests into technology-based formats.

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