Assistive Technology

• Read more about the Assistive Technology Act of 1998
• General Resources
• Sample Research Centers
• Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Home, School and Workplace

• The Family Guide to Assistive Technology, prepared by Parents, Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK), offers an excellent overview of assistive technology. Though primarily targeted at families with children with disabilities, the guide is a good introduction for anyone interested in AT. The article includes a definition of assistive technology, how to qualify for AT, how to fund AT, how to determine what types of AT may be needed at home and in school or other educational setting.
• ABLEDATA bills itself as the "premier source for information on assistive technology." And it certainly has extensive information on issues, research, and products. Check out their Information Centers, which have all of the Internet resources known to them on a selected disability issue—sucs as organizations, publications, and products.
• Assistivetech.net describes itself as "an online information resource providing up-to-date, thorough information of assistive technologies, adaptive environments and community resources." Search their site for general information, for discussion groups, for product info, for information about and links to state AT Act projects, and for links to chat rooms on all categories of disabilities.
• The RESNA Technical Assistance Project, funded by the AT Act, provides a library of information that is particularly useful for information about policy and legislation issues. The site also provides links to the web sites of all State and U.S. Territory TA projects.
• The National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project of Neighborhood Legal Services presents information on issues of AT advocacy, including funding issues. They also offer a number of information booklets that can be useful to individuals even when the target audience is lawyers or advocates.

• The Trace Center, established in 1971 at the University of Wisconsin, is a pioneering research center in AT. The Center focuses on information and telecommunications technologies.
• Wireless RERC, a Rehabiltation Engineering Center at Georgia Institute of Technology, is one of a number of research centers throughout the country. The Wireless RERC's mission is "to Promote universal access to mobile wireless technologies and explore their innovative applications in addressing the needs of people with disabilities."
• AAC-RERC details projects and resources in Augmentative and Alternative Communication and provides links to projects at partner research centers at a number of universities.

• ABLEDATA's Products for the Workplace web page profiles equipment and tools for offices (tasks such as dictating or filing, workstations, etc.), agriculture, carpentry, electronics, and adaptive tools.
• ABLEDATA's Home Management web page profiles products for food preparation and housekeeping as well as furniture.
• Assistivetech.net also provides product reviews.
• Breaking New Ground Resource Center provides information and resources, including product profiles, for persons who work in agriculture or other rural employment and who have disabilities.
• The Assistive Technology USA TechGuide from the United Spinal Association offers reviews of a large number of assistive devices that are written by the people who use them. Readers may post their own reviews. The site also provides links to other assistive technology sources.
• Assistive Technology Solutions provides plans for do-it-yourself assistive devices. The plans can be ordered or downloaded-a few are free; most charge a modest fee of approximately $3 to $5. If you have invented a great device you can submit your own plan.