Assistive & Information Technology

Database that contains information on more than 29,000 assistive technology products.

Instructions from the U.S. Department of Commerce on making on-line forms accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Provides technical guidance for designers of telecommunications products, with the understanding that Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act does not impose requirements on manufacturers but does require Federal agencies to comply with accessibility regulations when procuring, developing or using electronic and information technology.

Serves USDA employees, their federal partners and members of the public interested in accessibility and ergonomics.

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

Powerpoint presentation from the National Center for Information Technology Standards, an industry consensus standards group.

The American Foundation for the Blind is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that Americans who are blind or have visual impairments enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other citizens.

Checklist developed for the National Assistive Technology Research Institute to guide the development of assistive technology policies.

Information provided for Web site managers as resource material to assist in meeting the U.S. Department of Commerce policy on Web site accessibility for persons with disabilities.

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

A frank discussion of Section 508 (Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998) compliance from the National Weather Service.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) program that assists DoD and other federal agencies by purchasing assistive technology and related services, providing training on using assistive technology, advising on creating accessible electronic environments and assisting in accommodating workers with disabilities.

Assistive technology and services for people with disabilities, wounded service members returning with dexterity impairments including upper extremity amputees, vision or hearing loss and cognitive injuries such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Do the CAP Online Needs Assessment.

Information on and from the FCC Technology Advisory Council's focus group charged with analyses of technology and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Learn about controlling your computer with your voice, from the USDA TARGET Center Discovery Series.

Do you find yourself typing the same text over and over? Or searching for sent emails to copy and paste the same information? Learn a more efficient method by creating email templates in both Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007 as part of the USDA TARGET Center Discovery Series.

Learn how Dolphin delivers magnification, speech and Braille access to mainstream Microsoft Windows applications through the use of Lunar, LunarPlus, Hal and SuperNova. This link is in Connect Pro Meeting format.

Watch a recording of the TARGET Discovery Series from February 25, 2009 and learn how to reframe your approach to Section 508 and Web accessibility by thinking in terms of universal design, rather than simply meeting a list of requirements. Experience Web sites from the perspective of all users; including those using assistive technologies.

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.

A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) list of keyboard alternatives to using a mouse to access electronic files.

Comprehensive list of disability information and assistive technology resources.

Amendments to the FTC's administrative procedures for resolving discrimination complaints filed by individuals with disabilities to include access standards for electronic and information technology.

A list of links from the FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau related to disability issues, including closed captioning, 911-TTY compatibility, telecommunication relay services and various sections of the Rehabilitation Act.

A collection of guidelines, information and procedures to ensure that the FCC is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

This research group focuses on technologies and services that eliminate communication barriers traditionally faced by deaf and hard of hearing people.

GSA's Information Technology Accessibility and Workforce (ITAW) provides assistive technology solutions to eliminate barriers for people with disabilities.

Technical assistance on Section 508 from the Access Board.

The Interagency Disability Educational Awareness Showcase (IDEAS) is GSA's premier event focused on partnering industry and education with government to meet the requirements under Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The 2008 event was held on November 14 in Arlington, VA.

Report from the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division containing results of the first Executive Branch-wide evaluation of compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Information from the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center regarding access to information technologies.

Nonprofit professional organization dedicated to promoting appropriate uses of information technology in education.

A portal to Internet resources for people with vision loss or impairment, and information on low vision aids and low vision rehabilitation services.

Paper describes a set of techniques for improving access to VRML environments for people with disabilities.

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

A summary of assistive technology developed by NIST.

Describes a core set of tools that can assist Web authors in meeting the accessibility requirement of Section 508 Amendments of 1998.

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.

Since issuing its standards for electronic and information technology under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the U.S. Access Board has maintained a program of continuing on-line guidance and training on compliance with the standards.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has released a follow up to last year's Roadmaps for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology (AT). Roadmaps II provides an overview of federally funded AT programs; a summary of some of the barriers that affect the use of AT by individuals with disabilities; and recommendations to increase the employment of individuals with disabilities though AT. The complete report can be downloaded in PDF or Word format.

Report from the National Council on Disability (NCD) exploring trends in information and communication technology and the potential opportunities and problems these trends present for people with disabilities. Also available in .pdf format.

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.

An interdisciplinary gathering of people who share a common interest in assistive technology and disability-related issues. This conference is designed by and for people interested in the use of assistive technology to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. This year's conference will be held from June 23-27, 2009 in New Orleans, LA. Download the registration form in Word format.

This brochure available in text and .pdf formats, provides information about assistive technology (AT) reuse programs, as well as resources available to those interested in learning more about these programs across the country.

Information to help federal agencies evaluate whether their Internet pages are accessible to people with disabilities.

This tutorial from the U.S. Access Board illustrates the application of the Section 508 requirements for Software Applications and Operating Systems, Technical Provisions.

Information on meeting the U.S. Department of Commerce policy on Web site accessibility for persons with disabilities as it concerns downloadable software "plug-ins."

U.S. Department of Commerce 2000 report on the increasing usage of the Internet among Americans, with special attention given to users with disabilities.

Links to information, assistance and a tutorial from the U.S. Access Board, which developed the accessibility standards for the various electronic and information technologies covered by Section 508.

Information on technology-related assistance and federal laws regarding accessibility.

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.

Information from the U.S. Department of Education about testing web pages to ensure they meet Section 508 standards.

Remarks by Robert Neff, U.S. Mint, to the 8th Annual Federal Depository Library Conference, 1999

Information on how the GPO intends to ensure compliance with Section 508 for its Web pages.

A list compiled by the U.S. Department of Commerce of web sites that may be helpful to Web developers attempting to make their Web sites fully accessible.

Describes how to handle TTY calls and provides a list of TTY abbreviations and syntax often used by persons with speech and hearing impairments.

Information from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) on how voters with disabilities can vote privately and independently thanks to newly available technologies and the Help America Vote Act of 2002.