Assistive Technology
According to the United States Assistive Technology Act of 1998, assistive technology (also called adaptive technology) refers to any "product, device, or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used to maintain, increase, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." A study commissioned by Microsoft Corpration and conducted by Forrester Research Inc., in 2004 indicates that among adult computer users in united States:
- 1 in 4 has a vision difficulty
- 1 in 4 has a dexterity difficulty
- 1 in 5 has a hearing dificulty
Hence, the assistive technology pertaining to computers and information technology is of immense imporatnce in today's school settings. Considering this importance we hereby provide a list of web resources to guide persons with disabilities about the various assistive technologies.
I. Assistive Technology: Auburn University Resources
II. Assistive Technology Resources: Computing
III. Developing Funding Strategy For Assistive Technology
IV. Case Studies/Success Stories
V. Other Web Resources for Assistive Technology
I Assistive Technology: Auburn University Resources
II Assistive Technology Resources: Software and Hardware Vendors
- Assistive Technology Services
- Auburn University Libraries: Serives and Access for Patron with Disability
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II. a. Assistive Technology at Microsoft
- Types of Assistive Technology Products
- Members of Microsoft Assistive Technology Vendor Program
- Accessibility Features of Microsoft Products
- Guides by Impairment
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II. b. Assistive Technology Resources at IBM
- IBM's Talking Web Browser for people blindness or low vision
- IBM's SpeechViewer III: For people with speech/language/hearing impairments
- IBM's Accessibility and Comfort Features
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II. c. Assistive Technology Resources at EVAS & Dell
- EVAS & Dell Alliance: Technology for Blindness
- EVAS & Dell Alliance: Technology for Low Vision
- EVAS & Dell Alliance: Technology for Physical Disabilities
- EVAS & Dell Alliance: Technology for Hearing Impaired
- EVAS & Dell Alliance: Technology for Learning Disabilities
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II. d. Assistive Technology Resources at HP
- HP Accessibility
- HP: Assistive Technology - Sorted by Product Type
- HP: Selecting Right Assistive Technology Product
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II. e. Assistive Technology Resources at Apple
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III. Developing Funding Strategy for Assistive Technology
- Ability Loans:Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
- AT Network Guidelines - Developing a funding startegy for assistive technology
- Funding Sources - Public and private funding sources for assistive devices
- University of Washington's Center for Technology & Disabilities Study: Guidelines for Funding AT
- Washington Assistive Technology Alliance: Database of Low-Cost/Free/Loan Sources
- Alternative Financing Techniocal Assistance Projects
- Fianancing Assistive Technology:Handbook for Funding
- Neighborhood Legal Servies, Inc.:Links for Funding Resources for Assistive Technology
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IV. Case Studies/Success Stories
- Case Studies: IBM
- Case Studies: Microsoft
- Case Studies: HP
- The Alliance for Technology Access: Success Stories
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V. Other Web Resources for Assistive Technology
- Statewide Technology Access and Response System for Alabamians with Disabilities
- 56 State Assistive Technology Programs (Sorted by States)
- Technology Assistance for Special Consumers
- National Organization on Disabilities
- Addressing the difference in the level of participation between people with and without disabilities through community involvement, economic resources, and access to independence
- Assistive Technology Acronyms & Abbreviations
- Alliance For Technology Access Centers: Listing Sorted by States
- National Center for Accessible Media
- A research and developmentfacility dedicated to the issues of media and information technology for people with disabilities in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communties
- Information About Technology, Disabilities, and Aging in Internet
- AbilityHub Assistive Technology Solutions
- Adaptive equipment and altenative methods available for accessing computers
- rehabtool.com
- Augmentative and alternative communication devices, computer acces equipment, multilingual speech synthesis and voice recognition software.
- Assistive Technology Resources
- Matching needs with state of the art technology
- Internet TV for Assistive Technology
- A single point to find solutions to Section 508 compliance, and to showcase companies responsible for the tecnological breakthoughs necessary to enable true Section 508 compliance
- Closing the Gap: Computer Technology in Education and Rehabilitation
- Focuses on computer technology for people with special needs through its bi-monthly newspaper, annual international conference and extensive web site
- Assistive Technology - What You Need to Know
- ALVA Access Group
- Assist blind and visually impaired persons achieve their professional, academic and personal goals
- Wizzard Speech Programming Tools
- State of the art software developer kits to incorporate speech recognition and text-to-speech into applications
- Washington Assistive Technology Alliance
- Information about specific kinds of assistive technology
- Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center
- Focuses on improving the accessibility and usability of information and telecommunication tehnology, such as computers, websites, and telephones, and on office teechnology, such as copier and fax machines
- United Cerebral Palsy:Life Without Limit for people with disabilities
- An advocate for the rights of persons with any disability
- Frtischi's Assistive Technology Links
- Special Education Technology
- Providing leadreship and service to improve teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in education
- CAST Universal Design for Learning
- Technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- The Boulevard
- A disability resource directory of products and services for the physically challenged, elderly, caregivers, and healthcare professionals
- Disability World: Access & Technology
- A bimonthly web-zine of international disablity news and views
- Recording for Blind and Dyslexic: Learning Through Listening
- Provide accessible educational materials
- Assistive Technology, Inc.
- A developer of hardware and software solutions for people with physical, cognitive , and speech disabilites
- AbleTV.net
- A leader in streaming video with audio description and captioning
- Assistive Technology...Tools for Learning
- Assistive technology advocacy, resource, and education information developed by the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
- American Library Association's Adaptive Technology for Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible to All
- W3C: Web Accessibility Initiative
- DisabilityResources.org: Assistive Technology Resources
- JAWS: Screen Readers
- GW Micro's Window-Eyes Screen Readers
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking: A Tool to Create General Text From Normal Speech
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- Ability Loans:Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
- AT Network Guidelines - Developing a funding startegy for assistive technology
- Funding Sources - Public and private funding sources for assistive devices
- University of Washington's Center for Technology & Disabilities Study: Guidelines for Funding AT
- Washington Assistive Technology Alliance: Database of Low-Cost/Free/Loan Sources
- Alternative Financing Techniocal Assistance Projects
- Fianancing Assistive Technology:Handbook for Funding
- Neighborhood Legal Servies, Inc.:Links for Funding Resources for Assistive Technology
Back To Top
IV. Case Studies/Success Stories
- Case Studies: IBM
- Case Studies: Microsoft
- Case Studies: HP
- The Alliance for Technology Access: Success Stories
Back To Top
V. Other Web Resources for Assistive Technology
- Statewide Technology Access and Response System for Alabamians with Disabilities
- 56 State Assistive Technology Programs (Sorted by States)
- Technology Assistance for Special Consumers
- National Organization on Disabilities
- Addressing the difference in the level of participation between people with and without disabilities through community involvement, economic resources, and access to independence
- Assistive Technology Acronyms & Abbreviations
- Alliance For Technology Access Centers: Listing Sorted by States
- National Center for Accessible Media
- A research and developmentfacility dedicated to the issues of media and information technology for people with disabilities in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communties
- Information About Technology, Disabilities, and Aging in Internet
- AbilityHub Assistive Technology Solutions
- Adaptive equipment and altenative methods available for accessing computers
- rehabtool.com
- Augmentative and alternative communication devices, computer acces equipment, multilingual speech synthesis and voice recognition software.
- Assistive Technology Resources
- Matching needs with state of the art technology
- Internet TV for Assistive Technology
- A single point to find solutions to Section 508 compliance, and to showcase companies responsible for the tecnological breakthoughs necessary to enable true Section 508 compliance
- Closing the Gap: Computer Technology in Education and Rehabilitation
- Focuses on computer technology for people with special needs through its bi-monthly newspaper, annual international conference and extensive web site
- Assistive Technology - What You Need to Know
- ALVA Access Group
- Assist blind and visually impaired persons achieve their professional, academic and personal goals
- Wizzard Speech Programming Tools
- State of the art software developer kits to incorporate speech recognition and text-to-speech into applications
- Washington Assistive Technology Alliance
- Information about specific kinds of assistive technology
- Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center
- Focuses on improving the accessibility and usability of information and telecommunication tehnology, such as computers, websites, and telephones, and on office teechnology, such as copier and fax machines
- United Cerebral Palsy:Life Without Limit for people with disabilities
- An advocate for the rights of persons with any disability
- Frtischi's Assistive Technology Links
- Special Education Technology
- Providing leadreship and service to improve teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in education
- CAST Universal Design for Learning
- Technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- The Boulevard
- A disability resource directory of products and services for the physically challenged, elderly, caregivers, and healthcare professionals
- Disability World: Access & Technology
- A bimonthly web-zine of international disablity news and views
- Recording for Blind and Dyslexic: Learning Through Listening
- Provide accessible educational materials
- Assistive Technology, Inc.
- A developer of hardware and software solutions for people with physical, cognitive , and speech disabilites
- AbleTV.net
- A leader in streaming video with audio description and captioning
- Assistive Technology...Tools for Learning
- Assistive technology advocacy, resource, and education information developed by the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
- American Library Association's Adaptive Technology for Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible to All
- W3C: Web Accessibility Initiative
- DisabilityResources.org: Assistive Technology Resources
- JAWS: Screen Readers
- GW Micro's Window-Eyes Screen Readers
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking: A Tool to Create General Text From Normal Speech
Back To Top
- Statewide Technology Access and Response System for Alabamians with Disabilities
- 56 State Assistive Technology Programs (Sorted by States)
- Technology Assistance for Special Consumers
- National Organization on Disabilities - Addressing the difference in the level of participation between people with and without disabilities through community involvement, economic resources, and access to independence
- Assistive Technology Acronyms & Abbreviations
- Alliance For Technology Access Centers: Listing Sorted by States
- National Center for Accessible Media - A research and developmentfacility dedicated to the issues of media and information technology for people with disabilities in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communties
- Information About Technology, Disabilities, and Aging in Internet
- AbilityHub Assistive Technology Solutions - Adaptive equipment and altenative methods available for accessing computers
- rehabtool.com - Augmentative and alternative communication devices, computer acces equipment, multilingual speech synthesis and voice recognition software.
- Assistive Technology Resources - Matching needs with state of the art technology
- Internet TV for Assistive Technology - A single point to find solutions to Section 508 compliance, and to showcase companies responsible for the tecnological breakthoughs necessary to enable true Section 508 compliance
- Closing the Gap: Computer Technology in Education and Rehabilitation - Focuses on computer technology for people with special needs through its bi-monthly newspaper, annual international conference and extensive web site
- Assistive Technology - What You Need to Know
- ALVA Access Group - Assist blind and visually impaired persons achieve their professional, academic and personal goals
- Wizzard Speech Programming Tools - State of the art software developer kits to incorporate speech recognition and text-to-speech into applications
- Washington Assistive Technology Alliance - Information about specific kinds of assistive technology
- Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center - Focuses on improving the accessibility and usability of information and telecommunication tehnology, such as computers, websites, and telephones, and on office teechnology, such as copier and fax machines
- United Cerebral Palsy:Life Without Limit for people with disabilities - An advocate for the rights of persons with any disability
- Frtischi's Assistive Technology Links
- Special Education Technology - Providing leadreship and service to improve teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in education
- CAST Universal Design for Learning - Technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- The Boulevard - A disability resource directory of products and services for the physically challenged, elderly, caregivers, and healthcare professionals
- Disability World: Access & Technology - A bimonthly web-zine of international disablity news and views
- Recording for Blind and Dyslexic: Learning Through Listening - Provide accessible educational materials
- Assistive Technology, Inc. - A developer of hardware and software solutions for people with physical, cognitive , and speech disabilites
- AbleTV.net - A leader in streaming video with audio description and captioning
- Assistive Technology...Tools for Learning - Assistive technology advocacy, resource, and education information developed by the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
- American Library Association's Adaptive Technology for Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible to All
- W3C: Web Accessibility Initiative
- DisabilityResources.org: Assistive Technology Resources
- JAWS: Screen Readers
- GW Micro's Window-Eyes Screen Readers
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking: A Tool to Create General Text From Normal Speech