Resources by Topic >> Technology

The DC Board of Elections & Ethnics' iVotronic voting machine allows voters to cast their ballots using touch screen or audio controls. Click here to learn more .

The Adaptech Research Network has developed a number of resources over the years that may be helpful to members of the community, including an extensive database of free and inexpensive adaptive technology and a set of demonstration videos highlighting the capabilities of some of these tools.

This webpage, created by Understood.org, provides general information and resources relating to the following topics:

• Assistive Technology: Tools That Help With Learning
• 8 Examples of Assistive Technology and Adaptive Tools
• At a Glance: How the IEP Team Decides on Assistive Technology
• Who Pays for Assistive Technology? Parents or Schools?
• Universal Design for Learning: What It Is and How It Works
• Text-to-Speech Software: What It Is and How It Works
• Checklist: What to Ask Colleges About Assistive Technology
• How Does Optical Character Recognition Help Kids With Reading Issues?
• How Can I Get My Child a Free Laptop or E-Reader?
• What Happens to My Child’s Assistive Technology If We Change Schools?
• Assistive Technology That’s Built into Mobile Devices

This webpage is designed to help you get started learning about assistive technology and the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA). It addresses the following frequently asked questions:

• What is Assistive Technology?
• How do you choose the right Assistive Technology?
• Who pays for Assistive Technology?
• What is the Assistive Technology Industry Association, and how can it help you find out about Assistive Technology?
• Can you attend an ATIA conference and what will you learn?
• Can you attend an online Assistive Technology webinar?

• Disability benefits (guides, programs, applications, etc.)
• Civil rights (ADA information, accessibility guidelines, employment rights, complaint procedures, etc.)
• Community life (history of the independent living movement, personal care assistance services, sports and leisure activities, etc.)
• Education (IDEA and IEP information, teaching materials and strategies, classroom supports, college prep, etc.)
• Emergency preparedness (inclusive emergency planning, disaster recovery assistance, emergency service accessibility, etc.)
• Employment (career planning, workforce development, internship programs, hiring and recruiting information, etc.)
• Health care (disability and condition information, services and providers, caregiving options, financial assistance, etc.)
• Housing (housing laws, home buying guides, supportive housing options, home modification, etc.)
• Technology (accessible technology guidelines and standards, assistive information technology, assistive educational technology, financial assistance, etc.)
• Transportation (laws, travel guides, providers, vehicle modification, safety and complaint procedures, etc.)

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to provide critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military wounded—physically or psychologically—after defending our safety and our freedom.

We achieve this mission by:

• Providing an online resource database that allows veterans to navigate the complex process of seeking benefits that they are entitled to as a result of their military service, as well as additional resources they need.
• Offering direct financial support to veteran organizations that address the unique needs of veterans, and whose missions align with that of DVNF.
• Providing supplemental assistance to homeless and low-income veterans through the Health & Comfort program and various empowerment resources.
• Serving as a thought leader on critical policy issues within the veteran community, and educating the public accordingly.

Web accessibility is not improving very quickly despite the efforts of many experts. The scale of the problem is huge and there is a need for culture change amongst web developers and website owners. Our solution is to make it super easy for people facing accessibility issues (such as many disabled and older people) to report problems with websites. Volunteers do the work of contacting the website owners and signposting them to support. In doing this work, volunteers will understand more about e-accessibility for themselves, as well as giving crucial information to website owners.

Freedom Scientific makes and sells a variety of adaptive devices designed to help individuals with visual impairments or learning disabilities achieve or maintain their independence. The company's line of assistive technology products includes:

• Reading and Magnification Software
• Large Print Computer Keyboards
• Electronic Notecards and Writing Templates

This brief describes how technology may follow students with disabilities as they transition to college, VR, or the workplace.

LAYC provides multi-lingual, culturally sensitive programs in the following areas:

• Educational Enhancement
• Social Services
• Workforce Investment
• Community Wellness
• Art + Media
• Advocacy

This NCLD article provides information about 14 different educationally focused assistive technology tools designed to:

• Enhance or aid memory
• Improve literacy
• Build math skills
• And more

Powered by Student Veterans of America and in conjunction with The HSC Foundation, the National Veterans Center’s (NVC) mission is to empower military veterans to reach their full potential. This partnership between non-profit organizations accomplishes its mission by acting as a central conduit that pairs service providers from the public and private sector with veterans and military families seeking resources. The NVC serves as America’s laboratory for developing, testing, and digitally delivering new solutions to veterans in order to assist them with overcoming disability, completing their education, finding meaningful employment, and thriving in their communities.

Users of the online, interactive Career Navigator tool can take a career assessment to determine career paths that best fit them. They learn about each career including job outlook, pay potential, and the amount of education or training required. The Career Navigator connects students to local educational institutions where they can obtain the related post-secondary education. Additional resources are provided to further empower youth and young adults to make informed decisions about their careers. Real-life success stories of New Futures Alumni are also shared.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)'s Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology Overview:

• Defines rehabilitative and assistive technology and identifies its common names
• Addresses frequently asked questions about rehabilitative and assistive technology
• Identifies the priorities of NICHD rehabilitative and assistive technology research
• Provides links to NICHD Clinical Trials on rehabilitative and assistive technology
• Provides links to rehabilitative and assistive technology resources and publications

PEATworks.org is the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology's central hub for accessible technology-related resources and collaborative activities. Our content focuses primarily on tools and information to help employers and the technology industry adopt and promote accessible technology as part of everyday business practices, for the benefit of all businesses and workers.

The Accessibility Program supports the Smithsonian in making all visitors feel welcome by providing consistent, effortless access to the Institution’s programs, collections and facilities.

Responsibilities include:

• Advising on and implementing policy, practices, and procedures related to access for people with disabilities;
• Reviewing facility and exhibition designs;
• Providing technical assistance;
• Conducting outreach to the disability community and other cultural arts organizations;
• Providing staff education on disability topics; and
• Working with Smithsonian museums and offices to provide direct visitor services, including sign language interpretation, real time captioning, and alternate formats of publications.

Programs include:

This webpage offers a series of educative articles, compiled by Five 9 Call Center Software, on hearing impairment and accessibility issues. These articles provide specific information about:

• The history of telecommunications devices
• Telephone relay services
• Using a TTY system
• Accessing 9-1-1 emergency services
• Ongoing efforts to improve telecommunication
• Overcoming isolation through social media
• Making distance learning courses more inclusive
• The challenges of communicating in the workplace
• Accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act

This webpage also offers informative resources related to hearing impairment. These resources include:

• Webpages devoted to deaf culture
• Reviews of assistive technology products
• A database of closed-captioned, educational DVDs

This Video Caption Corporation (Vicap) webpage explains:

• How closed captioning works
• The benefits of closed-captioning
• Federal captioning laws, regulations, and exemptions
• New innovations in captioning and hearing assistance technology

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.

This free toolbar is designed to help web designers and developers test the accessibility of their pages.