This area provides a comprehensive list of sites that we feel are of interest to the TelAbility community. Use the search interface above to search by keyword or category for sites related to your area of interest. We are constantly reviewing and adding new links so please check back often.

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Abledata ABLEDATA is a federally funded project whose primary mission is to provide information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources to consumers, organizations, professionals, and caregivers within the United States. Choose the low graphics version of the website to get a faster download or to better accomodate users with visual and hearing impairments.

Access-Able Travel Source Access-Able Travel Source is dedicated to aiding travelers with disabilities and the mature traveler. They offer practical information needed to go cross town or around the world. The site includes information on transportation, accommodations, attractions, adventures, access and equipment. It is a little difficult to navigate this site but is fun to explore if you want to get some good tips on traveling with disabilities.

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing An international membership organization comprised of parents of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, adults with hearing loss, and professionals who serve children with hearing loss. This website offers information about the organization and its events, publications, periodicals, resources, and information about captioned movie loan programs.

Alliance for Technology Access The Alliance for Technology Access (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.

American Rehabilitation Counseling Association ARCA is an organization of rehabilitation counseling practitioners, educators, and students who are concerned with improving the lives of people with disabilities. Its mission is to enhance the development of people with disabilities throughout their life span and to promote excellence in the rehabilitation counseling profession. ARCA's goal is to provide the type of leadership that encourages excellence in the areas of rehabilitation counseling practice, research, consultation, and professional development. ARCA is equally interested in eliminating environmental and attitudinal barriers so that more opportunities are available with regard to education, employment, and community activities to people with disabilities. These goals are addressed by ARCA through public education and legislative activities. One of ARCA's primary goals is to increase public awareness of rehabilitation counseling as a profession and to extend its influence by encouraging members to become involved in the association's outreach and educational efforts. Other goals are to help members develop their leadership skills through participation in ARCA's organizational activities and to work with state officials to develop appropriate licensure requirements.

Assistive Technology Exchange Post Hosted by Partnerships for Assistive Technology, this online exchange post puts AT equipment that is not currently being used into the hands of someone who can benefit from it. Updated monthly.

Assistive Technology Funding Booklets A complete set of assistive technology funding booklets published by United Cerebral Palsy and Neighborhood Legal Services, Buffalo, NY

Assistive Technology Training Online Project Funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education and located the SUNY-Buffalo's Center for Assistive Technology this website provides around the clock access to information on assistive technology applications that help students with disabilities learn in elementary school classrooms. This website offers a introduction to using AT, basic tutorials on different software programs, and links to other good resources

Augmentative Resources A website that offers literacy aids, picture schedules, visual aid displays and choice boards, and communication books to aid teacher in establishing a successful and intergrated classroom.

BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Inc. A Non-Profit Agency Providing an Objective Approach to Meeting the Diverse Needs of Families with Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and the Professionals Who Serve Them

Bridging Apps A Houston-based not-for-profit organization that seeks to bridge the gap between assistive technology and people with disabilities. This website offers links, forums, community boards as well as a special App tool (called Insignio) designed to help users identify apps that will help people with disabilities better communicate and function in different situations.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) Information about apraxia and dyspraxia of speech in children, from the not for profit Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America. The most comprehensive site on this topic currently available. This website provides information about the organization, an extensive resource directory, links to community support groups and other related sites, a public message board, how to find a speech-language therapist, a monthly newsletter, calendar of events, and much more.

Clinical Center for Development and Learning A multidisciplinary research, technical assistance, and leadership training center dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. A component of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, this nationally renowned center provides exceptional programs for people with developmental disabilities and their care providers. This website provides an overview of the center, descriptions of its programs, biographies of its faculty and staff, links to relevant websites, and other information

Closing the Gap - Computer Technology in Special Education and Rehabilitation A Minnesota-based organization that focuses on computer technology for people with special needs. Offers a bi-monthly newspaper, annual international conference and web site (with advertising). 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.

Communication Aid Manufacturer's Association The Communication Aid Manufacturers Association (CAMA) is a not-for-profit organization of the world's leading manufacturers of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) software and hardware products. This website provides information about the companies who make up this organization, and lists the more than thirty 1-day workshops offered throughout the United States each year.

D-B Link The National Information Clearinghouse On Children Who Are Deaf-Blind, is a federally funded information and referral service established to collect, develop and distribute information to help improve the education and lives of children and youth with vision and hearing impairments, ages birth to 21. On this website, you can find the DB-LINK Catalog database listing articles, books, and other materials, the DB-LINK Resource database listing agencies, organizations, and personnel, DB-LINK publications, bibliographies, and job opportunities for professionals in the field of deaf-blindness.

Disability World The web-zine of the International Disability Exchanges and Studies (IDEAS) Project 2000-2004, supported by the U.S. Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation.

Disabled Children's Relief Fund Non-profit organization that provides disabled children with assistive devices, rehabilitative services, and support for arts and humanities projects. DCRF provides disabled children with equipment, prostheses, and rehabilitative services throughout the United States. DCRF focuses special attention on helping children that do not have adequate health insurance, especially the physically challenged. In some cases, DCRF may be the last resort.

DynaVox Technologies DynaVox Technologies is a company that creates tools to make it easier for individuals challenged by significant speech, language, learning and physical disabilities to communicate and take control of their lives. At this website you can learn more about their products, funding resources, tech support, and more.

Early Childhood LINK Based within the Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Early Childhood LINK program provides training and technical assistance to improve the ability of local providers to offer transdisciplinary early intervention services to young children with autism, hearing impairment, visual impairment/blindness and/or mental health challenges. While currently concentrating its training activities and services in Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, and Pender counties, the LINK website offers information and resources about these low incidence disabilities to people across the state and beyond.

Easter Seals UCP North Carolina Easter Seals UCP North Carolina creates opportunities, promotes individual choice and changes the lives of children and adults with disabilities by maximizing their individual potential for living, learning and working in their communities. Services include individual and family support, children's therapy, advocacy, recreation, equipment, and support groups. This website includes descripitons of their services, news about their programs, job opportunities, and more.

Enabling Devices-Toys for Special Children Enabling Devices, a division of Toys for Special Children, Inc., is a New York based company dedicated to developing affordable play, learning, and assistive devices to help people with disabling conditions. This site allows you to learn about and purchase their many toys and assistive technology products.

Family Center on Technology and Disability This program is designed to assist organizations and programs who serve families of children with disabilities by providing information and support on accessing and using assistive technology. It is run through the United Cerebral Palsy Associations and their project partners, Alliance for Technology Access (ATA), the Parent Advocacy Center on Education (PACER), Academy for Educational Development (AED), and InfoUse. This link will take you to their front page where you can choose between their text-only or graphical websites.

Family Centers Web Discussion Group The purpose of the Family Center's Web Discussion Group is to facilitate communication and collaborative efforts among organizations that serve families of students with disabilities. The Discussion Group will be an on-line arena for individuals to discuss topics related to technology. Discussions will be moderated by the Family Center staff.

Family Support Network of North Carolina This organization provides information about disabilities, services and agencies which serve families of children who have special needs. Their Central Directory of Resources is a computerized database housing over 15,000 files of information and materials that may be helpful to families of children who have or are at risk for developmental disabilities. Contains links about resources, organizations,special education, advocacy, and assistive technology. Be sure to look at their listings of local Parent to Parent Support Groups to find one near you. To contact them by phone, call 1-800-852-0042.

Family Village A wonderful program for anyone with a disability, this website integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the internet for persons with disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support. Includes informational resources on specific diagnoses, communication connections, adaptive products and technology,adaptive recreational activities, education, worship, health issues, disability-related media and literature.

Funding of AT Booklet series A complete set of assistive technology funding booklets published by United Cerebral Palsy and Neighborhood Legal Services, Buffalo, NY.

Generations Tadpole Assistive Technology Lending Library Based in the Murdoch Center in Butner, NC, Generations-Tadpole lends and delivers low-tech assistive technology devices and toys to families and professionals all across North Carolina. At this website, you can learn more about this organization, search its inventory and borrow materials for free.

Healthy and Ready to Work This is the website for a federally supported program that promotes a comprehensive system of family centered, culturally competent, community-based care for children with special health care needs may need assistance in making the transition from pediatric to adulty health care and to post-secondary education and/or employment. It provides information about the program, a calendar, related links and other materials.

Institute for Child Health Policy The Institute for Child Health Policy is a state-wide Institution of Florida's State University System, headquartered at the University of Florida with affiliates at other state institutions across Florida. The Institute focuses its attention on issues related to children in managed care with an emphasis on children with special health care needs. Access, utilization, cost, quality and family involvement are this program's principal areas of interest. This excellent website contains information about the program, policy statements and other products, presentations from other programs funded through the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and a large arrray of useful links. Be sure to look through their set of resources available to help young adults with disabilities transition to work and adulthood.

Jim Mullen Foundation Computer Giveaway Application An application for free computer equipment from a national, non-profit organization based in Chicago, Illinois. Helpful for people who need computers for augmentative communication, vocational training, and more.

LD Online The website of The Learning Project, sponsored by PBS station WETA in Washingtom,DC. This exceptional website is a wonderful source of information about learning disabilities and resources available to optimize students' learning experiences. You can participate in special education bulletin board discussions and online chat rooms, shop their LD resource store, or subscribe to their newsletter. Also available in spanish.

Lekotek The National Lekotek Center aims to contribute to the knowledge base about the link between play and early learning for children with special needs. This website provides information and resources for parents and professionals, including a listing of play and toy ideas developed for different conditions.

NC Assistive Technology Exhange Post This is a service of Partnerships for Assistive Technology (PAT). This site allows parents and professionals to buy, sell, or exchange assistive devices.

National Association of the Deaf Founded in 1880, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the oldest and largest organization representing people with disabilities in the United States. Programs and activities include grassroots advocacy and empowerment for people with hearing impairment, captioned media, certification of American Sign Language professionals; certification of sign language interpreters; deafness-related information and publications,legal assistance, policy development and research, public awareness, and youth leadership development.

National Deaf Education Network and Clearinghouse/Info To Go Info to Go, formerly the National Information Center on Deafness, is a centralized source of accurate, up-to-date, objective information on topics dealing with deafness and hearing loss in the age group of 0-21. Info to Go responds to a wide range of questions received from the general public, deaf and hard of hearing people, their families, and professionals who work with them. Info to Go collects, develops, and disseminates information on deafness, hearing loss, and services and programs related to children with hearing loss from birth to age 21.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Established in 1988, NIDCD is mandated to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. This website contains health information for parents, a directory of national resources, listings of clinical trials, quarterly newsletters, and more.

National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association A professional organization whose membership consists of automobile manufacturers, adaptives equipment dealers, driver evaluators and trainers for the disabled, physicians, lawyers, insurance adjusters, and consumers. This website contains links to related agencies, membership rosters, publications, and guidelines set by the organization's Quality Assurance Program.

National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers A website listing Certified Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers who have passed the ATS (Assistive Technology Supplier) credentialing examination administered by RESNA. Use the sites search engine (Find NRRTS Member) to find medical suppliers in any state.

North Carolina Assistive Technology Project The NC Assistive Technology Program is dedicated to creating a statewide system that coordinates assistive technology services. Activities include awareness and training, consumer groups, expansion projects, funding information, technincal assistance, and much more. Be sure to take a look at the Check-It-Out program - an assistive technology equipment loan program for North Carolinians with disabilities, their families, and their service providers.

Partnerships in Assistive Technology Partnerships in Assistive Technology (PAT) is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is "to increase knowledge about and access to Assistive Technology (AT) for North Carolinians with disabilities." Here you will find resources to help you with: AT programs, devices and aids to enhance independence; computer access, augmentative communication, mobility aids, environmental control units, and more.

RESNA The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assisitive Technology Society of America (RESNA) seeks to improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology. This nonprofit organization promotes research, advocacy, education, and the provision of technology. Has a large number of helpful and informative links.

Rifton Adaptive Equipment Adaptive Equipment for Children and Adults Rifton manufactures gait trainers, standers, adaptive tricycles, special needs chairs, wheelchair desks, bath chairs, toileting aids, and other adaptive equipment designed to help children and adults achieve their goals.

Snug Seat A national supplier of pediatric rehabilitation equipment, Snug Seat provides families with a wide variety of mobility, positioning, and transportation product options. Shower/bath products, standers, strollers, car seats, bath seats, and daily living devices are all available through Snug Seat dealers. In-depth descriptions of each product as well as a list of dealers across the nation are available on this website.

Speaking to Write: Realizing the Potential of Speech Recognition for Secondary Students with Disabilities Homepage of the Speaking to Write project, a cooperative venture between the Education Development Center, Inc. and te Communication Enhancement Center at Boston Children's Hospital. Materials in PDF format address the use of assistive technology including speech recognition software (or voice recognition) for writing by secondary students with disabilities.

Speechville Express A national online resource for families, educators, and medical professionals, offering information about language development, and helping those who care for children with apraxia, stuttering, pervasive developmental disorder, dysarthria, and aphasia. At this site, you can learn about different conditions, read articles, participate in online discussion groups, subscribe to listservs and more.

State Partnership Initiative This website, based at Virginia Commonwealth University's Rehabilitation and Research Training Center, serves as an information outlet for highlighting the activities of the State Partnership Systems Change Initiative States, as well as, a central source of information and resources on the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, benefits assistance, Medicaid buy-in programs and employment resources. Be sure to look at North Carolina's participating program, looking to overcome the barriers to work faced by many teenagers with disabilities who are trying to transition to adulthood and work.

The Alliance for Technology Access The Alliance for Technology Access (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.

The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) is a nonprofit organization that provides support for professionals in the field of driver training and tranportation equipment modifications for persons with disabilities. Fact sheets with information of how different disabilities can impact driving as well as the adaptations that can be made in order to enable everyone have a safe driving experience are included on this website. The site also has information on educational conferences, research, a guide to locating driver rehabilitation specialists and equipment dealers across the country, and links to related sites.

The Family Center on Technology and Disability A national resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities by offering a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies and augmentative communication. Includes a searchable database containing reviews of books, articles, and research, a monthly newsletter, updates on legislation and regulation, online conferences, and presentation materials on the subject of assistive technologies. Funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs.

UNC Hospital School UNC Hospitals is host to the state?s only accredited Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade (PK-12) Hospital School. The school helps children keep up with their classroom studies during their hospital stay and works with the local schools to provide a smooth transition back to school. There are two separate locations for the school within the UNC Hospitals complex. The pediatric component of the school is located on the seventh floor of the Children?s Hospital, and the psychiatric component is located on the second floor of the Neurosciences Hospital. At both locations, there are classrooms, offices and a media center or computer lab. Although there are classrooms and physical space designated as ?school? where students ?go to school?, school often goes to them. When needed, teachers work with students at bedside or on the patient?s units where they are being treated. To learn more about the Hospital School, click here: http://chccs.k12.nc.us/hospital

Van Products, Inc. Van Products, located in North Carolina, modifies vehicles to individual needs, offering sales and service of both adaptive equipment and new/used wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Vocational Rehabilitation This is the website of the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. This division of the state's Department of Health and Human Services assists people with disabilities who have work-related needs or questions about their transition to adulthood. Contains descriptions of the various programs and services available, lists local offices with contact information, updates job listings, and has related links.

WebABLE! Web site for disability-related internet resources. mission is to stimulate education, research and development of technologies that will ensure accessibility for people with disabilities using information systems and emerging technologies.

Wheelchair Net Wheelchair Net is an Internet community providing free information and services on wheelchair technology, its improvement, and its successful application. WheelchairNet is a vehicle for assisting people in: 1) asking questions about wheelchair selection and use; linking to information about wheelchair products and services; and learning about and participating in wheelchair research projects.

Wheelchairs Used as Seats in Motor Vehicles These guidelines, including the Society of Automotive Engineers' Standards for wheelchairs used as seating systems in motor vehicles, are the recommended guidelines to ensure the safety of children and adults with mobility impairments.

Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative The Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) seeks to make assistive technology devices and services more available to children. The WATI website includes links and material that can be helpful to residents of all states, not just those in Wisconsin. The assistive technology and art link is especially unique and interesting where parents and service providers can access software and assistive art products for children.

Zot Artz Arts for All A Wisconsin-based company that makes special art tools (paint roller and chalk holder attachments for wheelchairs) designed so participants with limited movement or lack of fine motor skills can be successful in using what mobility they have to create, paint, draw, print and more. This website offers information about the company, contact information, and an online catalog.

iPod and iPad Apps Resource An online handout/booklet from the Pacer Center that helps families and educators learn how to use iPod and iPad technologies to help children with special needs.