Best of the Web: History & Social Sciences » Disability Information

A fee-based subscriber service that provides high-interest, low-reading level digital text in html for people with a documented disability that prevents reading standard print.

Offers special testing with extended time and in alternative formats at specially arranged times for people with disabilities.

Vendor of ZoomText screen enlarger, BigShot Magnifier, and VisAbility.

Tips, ideas, recipes, and articles on saving money, health, and printable coupons, and lots of links of interest to seniors.

Through the National Center, physicians, parents, administrators, and other health care professionals have access to educational, resource, and advocacy materials, guidelines for care, evaluation tools, and technical assistance.

Membership organization of blind and visually impaired people that provides services that includes a Jobs Bank, resources, and advocacy.

Promotes the independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life.

Contains copies of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), ADA regulations, technical assistance manuals & documents, and links for further ADA information.

Site includes a large text version. Products available include National Library Service compatible cassette players.

Resources, advocacy, research, events, articles, and more on this comprehensive site.

The Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO) provides information on AT applications that help students with disabilities learn in elementary classrooms.

Offers support and information to families of children with ADD, adults with ADD and professionals through a network of AD-IN chapters.

A fee-based service that includes 4,500 audiobooks and 14,000 other audio programs in a broad range of subjects. Available for downloading to a computer, for transfer to a player, or for burning onto a CD.

A collection of hypertexted primary documents relevant to law, history, economics, politics, diplomacy, and government.

Yale University's Project Avalon makes available in digital format full text documents in the fields of Law, History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government. This phenomenal resource includes documents as varied as the ancient Code of Hammurabi, the Communist Manifesto, and the Treaty of Versailles.

Legal advocacy for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental disability.

Classic fiction, drama, poetry, short stories, and contemporary articles and interviews. Also has study guides, reference books, author biographies, and book summaries.

Includes links to resources on access, blindness, braille history, braille literacy, deaf-blind, disabilities and more.

A password-protected site that offers books at all grade levels, submitted by teachers and transcribers, for people with visual or other print disabilities. Site is maintained by the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

C TECH is a distributor of low vision aids and adaptive technology for the blind, visually impaired and learning disabled. They provide on-the-job and at-home demonstrations, installation, and training.

"Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, The Center for An Accessible Society is a national organization designed to focus public attention on disability and independent living issues by disseminating information developed through NIDRR-funded research to promote independent living."

Promotes accessible information technology with the WWW, and accessible based business practices that ensure inclusion and full participation by people with disabilities.

"CODA--Children of Deaf Adults, is a nonprofit organization for the adult hearing sons and daughters of deaf parents."

Established in 1978, the Computer Center for Visually Impaired People (CCVIP) at Baruch College, offers a range of non-credit computer classes in a college environment for beginners and experienced users. The Center provides information and training on assistive computer technology for professionals and the business community, and conducts research to explore innovative ways of using the computer to improve the quality of life for visually impaired people.

Index of links to local, state, and national informational resources, developed by the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Provides effective teaching and promotes research to enhance the education and lifespan development of individuals with learning disabilities.

Tactile (embossed) illustrations that make pictures visible to people who are blind or who have visual impairments, dyslexia, autism, cognitive learning disabilities, or other special needs.

The Making of America is a digital library of primary sources in American social history. Items are currently located in two separate databases at the University of Michigan and Cornell University. Search each of these databases for "Staten Island" to find the full text of hundreds of books and articles that mention Staten Island. The University of Michigan database spans the years 1800-1925. Items of interest include: History of the State of New York (1853-71), History of New Netherland (1855), A Record of the Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, privates, of the Regiments Which Were Organized in the State of New York (Civil War) 1864-68 and Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy and Adjoining Country (1856).

Nonprofit organization created to advance the civil rights of disabled persons. Site provides information about the organization, news on civil rights cases across the country, advice on how to commit oneself to fight for civil rights of the disabled, and links to major sites containing information on the ADA and other legislative and advocacy sites for the disabled.

Federal programs, services, and resources for Americans with disabilities and their families.

Voice recognition software.

Assists children and adults with disabilities and their families through a nationwide network of more than 450 service sites. Each center provides services tailored to meet the specific needs of the particular community it serves. Advocates for passage of legislation that helps people with disabilities achieve independence.

A not-for-profit organization, Elderhostel offers opportunities to explore ideas places across the U.S. and around the world.

Has approximately 70,000 humanities texts in many languages including related images such as book illustrations, covers, and manuscripts.

A global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support.

Offers information on money management, how to correct banking errors and protecting against identity theft, as well as other quick links of interest to consumers.

Sells ebooks in various formats.

Timely and useful information for seniors on a host of topics including consumer protection, health, retirement and money, taxes, and travel and leisure.

Information about the only liberal arts college in the world designed exclusively for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Clearinghouse of information, including referrals, public service announcements, medical developments, and links to related topics.

From the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped

Serves as a national clearinghouse on post-secondary education for individuals with disabilities. Acts as an information exchange about educational support services, policies, procedures, adaptations, and opportunities at American colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools, and other post-secondary training entities.

Large variety of products for the blind and visually impaired, including National Library Service compatible cassette players.

ICDRI is a United States non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. Its mission is to compile outstanding disability resources. Also includes calendar of disability events around the world.

Over 1,000 electronic braille books, including classics and publications of the National Federation of the Blind. Files are in contracted braille ASCII format and may be red online or downloaded.

The Jewish Guild for the Blind (The Guild) is one of the country's foremost vision care agencies. The Guild has been assists visually impaired, blind and multi-disabled people of all ages through a wide range of programs designed to support and enhance physical, emotional and intellectual functioning. The Guild is nonsectarian.

Works to improve the quality of life of children and youth, particularly those with special needs, through teaching, research, and leadership in the use of technology.

An interactive guide to learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and children in English and Spanish.

Identifies causes and promotes prevention of learning disabilities and seeks to enhance the quality of life for all individuals with learning disabilities and their families. Fosters research and advocates for the rights of individuals with learning disabilities under the law. Has online resources that include publications to download and links to state and government agencies.