Kornreich Technology Center: Assistive Technology Links
Also see: assistive technology information on this site
This page lists Internet sites relevant to people interested in assistive technology. We avoid comprehensive sites that offer a wide variety of information. Instead, we select sites that offer specific information on a topic within assistive technology. Sites are selected for being informative, intelligible, easy to use, and well-designed. We do not list sites that primarily sell products or services. Inclusion on this page does not indicate endorsement of the site, or ensure the accuracy of the information included there.
Website of the Month
Of Interest to AT Professionals
Custom
Solutions Tutorials — A wealth of valuable information
and tools are available, free of charge, on these three websites. This is in-depth
content suitable for novices and those experienced with assistive technology alike.
The tutorials are well illustrated; many contain video content and/or interactivity.
- www.customtyping.com/tutorials Custom Typing
presents comprehensive information regarding all aspects of text input, typing and
computer access. Structured assessments for access with assessment forms are included.
Extensive information and curricula are available for training speech recognition
and for switch access. These tutorials are part of the Custom Typing training and
testing web site — which covers training and testing for ALL input types.
This web site was initially developed for users of alternate input systems and has
grown to include all students with a range of disabilities as well as regular ed.
students.
- www.learningtools.us Learning Tools provides a collection of
practical, day-to-day suggestions and ideas for the use of technology to enhance
learning for people with disabilities. This web site highlights the use of new tools
with information, video tutorials, cheat sheets and case study photographs and videos.
Topics covered in the tutorial videos include: Speech input — voice recording
and speech recognition, switch connections, time and information management programs,
ultra portable computers, and more.
- www.customsolutions.us/mouse Assessment of alternate mouse input that allows for documentation of test conditions (type of mouse device, screen resolution, size of cursor, speed of cursor, and many other variables...), recording of observations and subjective opinions, all while recording real time scores, data and speeds for each of the tests. A formal report can be printed and emailed.
Rehabilitation Engineering &
Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) —
Beginning in 1988, Congress passed a series of laws to provide for the operation
of assistive technology programs in each state and territory. Among its other responsibilities,
each state program is mandated to provide information related to the availability
and benefits of assistive technology devices and services. To contact the program
in your state, consult the State
Contact List on the website of the
RESNA Technical Assistance Project.
Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center
on AAC
— Deals with a variety of issues related to
AAC. In particular, as information about Medicare Funding of
AAC technology becomes available, it will be included on this
site.
Of Interest to Consumers
The Assistive
Technology Training Online Project provides internet-based
training in both general and specific areas of adapted computer use. They focus
on AT applications that address
the needs of students with disabilities in elementary classrooms.
Free Search for assistive technology products
— Need expert advice to find the right assistive technology or select best
products? Rehabtool.com offers a free service that
can help. Tell them about your needs by completing a questionnaire and they will
try to find information about the product you're looking for. Note that the
free search may only be used once, and doesn’t guarantee search
results.
Assistive Technology Glossary – The
Family Center on Technology and Disability has a glossary of terms that can help
parents learn about the kinds of assistive technologies that are currently available
and how they can be used. It’s available on the website, or as a downloadable .PDF
file. Lots of other interesting resources are available on the FCTD site as well.
YaacK is a website that
covers issues related to AAC and young children. Its purpose is to provide information
and guidance to families, teachers, speech/language pathologists and anyone else
who is involved with a child with special communication needs. It is intended to
be easy to understand and practical, and to cover a wide range of topics dealing
with AAC and AAC-related issues of children at various ages and stages of communication
ability, and with different strengths, disabilities and learning characteristics.