ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

INTERNET RESOURCES: Electronic resources on disabilities

Jennifer Church is information commons librarian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; e-mail: jchurch@nevada.edu; Sharon Drouin i…ibrary assistant an…ember of the ADA Task Force at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; e-mail: sdrouin@nevada.edu; Katherine Rankin is special formats cataloger at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; e-mail: krankin @nevada.edu

A wealth of information on topics from jobs to recreation

Individuals with disabilities represent the largest minority group in the United States. Members of this diverse population seek information that can help them lead happier, more productive lives. Fortunately, the rapid development of electronic resources has enabled new levels of ease and access to this information. Libraries can enhance this opportunity by developing comprehensive guides for locating relevant resources.

Web sites, electronic journals, and electronic discussion lists offe…road range of topical coverage related to the concerns of those with disabilities. These include information on areas such as assistive technology; education; organizations and associations; designing or renovating buildings for accessibility; the text of the Americans with Disabilities Act; finding and adapting to jobs; recreational opportunities; guides with information on accessible hotels, motels, restaurants, and sights; and information on bein…arent o…hild wit…isability.

In addition to supplying information directly to people with disabilities, there are also electronic resources that furnish information for professionals who work with the disabled. There are even numerous sites that focus on design tips for making the Web friendlier for people with disabilities.

This selected list of electronic resources identifies information sources on disabilities in general, assistive technology, associations and organizations, government resources, and sites centered on specific disabilities, as well as Web page accessibility.

General Web sites and directories

• Abledata. This site is part of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), which is part of the U.S. Department of Education. It includes general information on disabilities, assistive technology, Tech Act projects, the U.S. government, independent living, equipment resale, disability research, and disability periodicals. Access: http ://www. abledata. com/Site_2/links. htm.

• CODI: Cornucopia of Disability Information. CODI cover…ide range of topics including education, statistics, government documents, computer access, laws, books, aging, assistive technology, and universal design. Access: http://codi.buffalo.edu/.

• College and University Disability Resources. This site links to disability resources services, especially at colleges and universities. Access: http://www.disserv. stu. umn.edu/UDS/.

• Disability Resources Monthly (DRM) Regional Resource Directory.…irectory of resources for librarians assisting patrons with disabilities. This site has general information about library services for patrons with disabilities, mail lists and electronic journals, professional organizations, technology for patrons with different types of disabilities, and also ha…onthly newsletter on disabilities in general. Access: http://www.geocities. com/~drm/DRMreg.html.

• DO-IT: Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetwork, and Technology. Lists programs for high-school students with disabilities who are pursuing academics and careers. This site covers the use of technology to maximize independence, productivity, and participation of people with disabilities; includes development resources for Web accessible design. Access: http://www. Washington.edu/doit.

• Empowerment Zone. This site has information on how to find assistive technology, civil rights, education, relationships, sexuality, and housing for people with disabilities. Access: http://www.empowemientzone. com/.

• Indie: The Integrated Network of Disability Information and Education. Indie ha…ide range of topics of interest to people with disabilities including lifestyles, Web sites for particular disabilities, rehabilitation, transportation, organizations, housing, media, recreation and culture, resource centers, libraries, and social development. Access: http ://•www. indie. c…ndex, html.

• JAN: Job Accommodation Network. Internet toll-free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations for people with disabilities and the employability of people with disabilities. Also lists Web sites about different disabilities and discusses disability etiquette. Access: http:// janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/.

• NARIC: The National Rehabilitation Information Center. Covers topics about rehabilitation, such as research projects, organizations, databases, directories, guides to periodicals on rehabilitation, assistive technology, and Internet resources. You have to browse by the listed areas and cannot type in search topic. Access: http://www. naric.com.

• Yahoo. Yahoo’s disability Web pages cove…ide range of topics, including library standards for service to patrons with disabilities and library resources. Access: http://clir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/ Disabilities.

Electronic journals

• Able Informer.#x2026;onthly online newsletter of resources for people with disabilities. Includes disability and medical resources…irectory of products, resources and services, business and employment opportunities, having fun, travel, sports, dating, dining, books, speaking up, classified ads, and other Web sites. Access: http://www. sasquatch.com/ableinfo/.

• Disabled News.#x2026;onthly newsletter b…erson wit…isability on topics related to living wit…isability. Access: http:// www.pioneerpublications.com/disabled.htm.

Discussion groups

• ADAPT-L. An online discussion group that focuses on adaptive technology and libraries. Access: Subscribe at listserv@ american.edu.

• AXSLIB-L. An online discussion group for librarians concerned with accessibility issues. Access: Subscribe at listserv@maelstrom. stjohns.edu.

• DISLISEM. An online discussion group for librarians with disabilities and library science students with disabilities. Access: Subscribe at listserv@vm.sc.edu.

• DSSHE-L. An electronic discussion group for college students with disabilities and for office staff who provide services to students with disabilities at universities and colleges. Access: http://otpt.ups.edu/listservs/ DSSHE-L/home.html.

• University of Maryland Disability Listserv Lists. Lists many electronic discussion groups having to do with disabilities. Access: http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/ Topic/Diversity/Specific/Disability/Listservs/.

Assistive technology

Web Sites and directories

• Alliance for Technology Access (ATA).#x2026;ational network of technology resource centers and technology vendors dedicated to connecting children and adults with disabilities to technology tools. The site contain…ibrary of assitive technology resources, links for advocacy issues, and opportunities for membership. Access: http:// www. ataccess. org/.

• The Archimedes Project This project i…art of the Center for the Study for Language and Information (CSLI), an independent research lab at Stanford University. Its primary goal is to educate software and hardware developers about the barriers and opportunities that technology presents for individuals with disabilities. Access: http://www-csli.Stanford. edu/arch/ index. html.

• EASI: Equel Access to software and Information. EASI is part of the Teaching, Learning and Technology Group, an affiliate of the American Association for Higher Education. EASI provides “information and guidance in the area of access-to-information technologies by individuals with disabilities.” The site includes live and archived Webcasts. Access: http… www. rit. edu/~eas i/.

• Microsoft Accessibility Site. This comprehensive site featuring Microsoft products offers coverage under the headings Accessibility; News & Events, Products & Aids, Training, and Developing Technology. Access: http:// www. microsoft. com/enable/.

• National Center for Accessible Media. NCAM i…esearch and development facility sponsored through public television station WBGH in Boston. It works to make “media accessible to underserved populations such as disabled persons, minority-language users, and people with low literacy skills.” Access: http://www.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/ ncam/.

• Trace Research & Development Center.

Trace is an interdisciplinary research development and resource center on technology and disability centered at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. It is funded through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Trace is designated as the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Information Technology Access. Access: http://www.trace.wisc.edu/.

• WebABLE! This site is designed to “stimulate education, research, and development of technologies that will ensure accessibility for people with disabilities to information systems” and technologies. It include…atabase listing Internet-based resources on accessibility as well as books, press releases, white papers, articles, plans, standards, reference guidelines, and journals. Access: http: // www. webable. com/.

Electronic journals

• Information Technology and Disabilities.#x2026;efereed journal concerning the theoretical issues surrounding the development and effective use of new and emerging technologies by computer users with disabilities. It can be read on the Web or subscribed to individually and received via e-mail. Access: http:// www. rit. edu/~easi/ itd. html.

Web accessibility

• All things Web: Could Helen Keller read your page? Discusses how to make Web pages accessible to people with visual disabilities and to people with physical disabilities. Also discusses how to minimize load time of Web pages and general Web design fundamentals. Access: http://www.pantos.org/ atw/354l2.html.

• Bobby.#x2026;eb-based tool developed by researchers from the Center for Applied Special Technology and Web consultants that analyzes Web pages for their accessibility to people with disabilities and also lists browser compatibility errors. Onc…ite receive…obby-approved rating, it can display the Bobby icon. Access: http://www. cast.org/bobby/.

• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). This site includes resources on making Web pages accessible, guidelines, news, and lists of interest groups. Access: http://www.w3.org/ WAI/.

Associations and organizations

• ADDA: National Attention Deficit Disorder Association. Provides information about research, treatment, and support groups. Access: http://www.add.org/.

• American Association of People with Disabilities. AAPD i…onprofit, cross-disability, advocacy-centered organization that focuses on issues of economic circumstances, productivity, independence, full citizenship, and total integration into all aspects of society. Access: http://www.aapd.com/.

• Disabled People’s International. The purpose of Disabled People’s International (DPI) is to promote the human rights of people with disabilities through full participation, equalization of opportunity, and development. DPI has member organizations in more than 110 countries with consultative status to ECOSOC, UNESCO, and the ILO. DPI also has official observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. Access: http://www.dpi.org/.

• Learning Disabilities Association or America. LDA i…ational organization with 50 state affiliates and more than 775 local chapters. It is devoted to defining and finding solutions to the broad spectrum of learning problems and issues, such as attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, transitional concerns, and testing. Access: http:// www.ldanatl.org/.

• NAD (National Association of The Deaf)- Offers information on conference workshops and publications. Access: http:// www.nad.org/.

• National Organization on Disability. The National Organization on Disability promotes the equal participation of America’s 54 million men, women, and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. Access: http:// www.nod.org/.

Electronic journals

• NAD E-Zine: National Association of the Deaf.#x2026;imonthly electronic journal that focuses on issues and concerns relevant to the deaf and hearing-impaired community. Access: http ://www. nad. org/ezinehome. html.

Government resources

• FCC Disabilities Issues Task Force Homepage. This federal task force centers on issues of telecommunication accessibility for the disabled. The site include…ection called Disability Issues an…ection concerning current events and trends that pertain to telecommunication access. Access: http:// www. fee. gov/dtf/.

• President’s Committee on Employ ment of People with Disabilities

Homepage for the federal agency whose mission is to facilitate the communication, coordination, and promotion of public and private efforts to enhance the employment ol people with disabilities. Access: http:// www50.pcepd.gov/pcepd.

• Social Security Disability Informa tion. Information on disability programs offered by Social Security, including the complete text to the 1997 13^th edition of the So cial Security Handbook. Access: http://www ssa.gov/odhome/odhome.htm.

• U.S. Access Board: Accessibility for People with Disabilities. Independent federal agency whose primary mission is accessibility for people with disabilities. The Access Board develops minimum guidelines and requirements for standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). Access: http://www.access-board.gov/.

• U.S. Census Bureau. Provides information and statistics on disability from the U.S. Census Bureau. Access: http://www.census, go v/hhes/ww w/disable. html.

• U.S. Department of Justice ADA Home Page. This site contains comprehensive information on the ADA, interpretation, enforcement, new or proposed regulations, technical assistance program, and more. Access: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahoml.htm.

• U.S. General Services Administration, Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA). Features information for accessible information environments, services, and management practices. Access: http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/cita/index.htm.

Sites on specific disabilities

Blind and vision impaired

• American Foundation for the Blind.

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) serves a…ational resource for the blind and visually impaired.

Also serves to educate the general public. A ccess: http://www. igc. org/afb/.

• The Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The Library of Congress administer…ree library program that circulates. Braille and recorded materials to eligible borrowers throug…etwork of cooperating regional and subregional (local) libraries. Reading materials and playback machines are sent to borrowers and returned to libraries by postage-free mail. Access: http:// lcweb.loc.gov/nls/.

• Low Vision Gateway. This site was created a…tarting point for accessing information on the Web related to low vision and blindness. This site is sponsored by the Internet Low Vision Society with support from the Low Vision Centers of Indiana. Access: http://www. lowvision. org/.

• The National Federation of the Blind. Provides public education about blindness, information and referral services, scholarships, literature, and publications about blindness. Also provides information on aids, appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, advocacy services, and protection of civil rights. Contains links to Braille, guide dogs, scholarships, and other services for the blind. Access: http://www.nfb.org/.

• NYISE Blindness Resource Center. Developed by the New York Institute for Special Education, this site contains links to resources in access, history, literacy, online information, organizations, and vendors specializing in technology for the blind. Access: http://'www. ny ise. org/bl ind. htm.

• Recording For The Blind & Dyslexic.

A national nonprofit organization, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic i…omprehensive source of material and equipment designed to support the education and professional goals of individuals unable to read standard printed text. Access: http://www. rfbd.org/.

Deaf and bearing impaired Web sites and directories

• Deal Resource Library. Covers all sorts of deaf and hard-of-hearing-related topics and discusses deaf culture in the United States and Japan. Includes connections to magazines and newspapers dealing with deaf issues, TDD directories, mail-order catalogs that cater to the deaf, deaf-blind issues and resources, the ADA, how to make Web pages accessible, resources for the hard-of-hearing and the late deafened, deaf-owned businesses, and Web pages of members of the deaf community. Access: http://www. deaflibrary.org/.

• DeafWeb Washington. Covers events, assistive technology, Black deaf resources, education, government, deaf culture, tinnitus, job information, resources for children, resources for parents, an…ist of more than 1,000 books on deafness from Amazon.com. This site ha…trong Washington State slant, but does include national information. Access: http://www. deafweb. org/.

• The Listen Up Web. Developed a…esource to parents, teachers and speech pathologists, this site contain…omprehensive series of links for auditory, speech, language, deaf, and vestibular disorders. Access: http://www. listen-un.org.

• Project HIIT: Internet for the Hearing Impaired. Covers many topics that would be of interest to people wit…earing disability such as closed captioning, service dogs, disability access symbols, how to communicate with the deaf-blind, and electronic resources. Access: http://www.dpa.org.sg/DF/ databases.html.

Electronic journals

• Deaf Magazine. Compiles articles of interest on deafness and files of information on such topics as cochlear implants. Access: http://WWW.Deaf-Magazine.Org/.

• DeafNation.com (Deaf newspaper). Covers sports, news, classified ads, job market, maps to events, religion, mailing lists, and telnet sites of interest to people with hearing disabilities. Access: http:// www.deafnation.com/.

Discussion groups

• Deaf Notes. This is an electronic discussion group on issues of interest to people with hearing disabilities. Access: http://www. deafnotes.com/. ■