Resources > Assistive_technology
Assistive Technology and Universal Design
Assistive Technology Access
- Mass AT Loan
is an alternative financing project that gives people with disabilities and elders access to low interest cash loans to purchase assistive devices and services. The program has many options that can help — even for people who don’t think they would qualify for a loan. - Mass Match - The Massachusetts Initiative to Maximize Assistive Technology in Consumer's Hands - works to coordinate Assistive Technology services throughout Massachusetts. By partnering with community-based organizations, this website has almost everything related to Assistive Technology in MA. Mass Match has the exchange program listed below, as well as a loan program, and a list of AT Regional Centers to ensure that everyone has access to the AT that they need.
- Get AT Stuff - the New England Assistive Technology Exchange - with a goal to get unused assistive technology items into the hands of people who need and can benefit from them.
- Easter Seals provides services to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play. They are a national leader in Assistive Technology.
- MA Equipment Distribution Program is a state government service that provides residents with a permanent disability access to the telephone network in their homes.
- FCTD - The Family Center on Technology and Disability is a resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. We offer a range of information and services on the subject of assistive and instructional technologies.
- AbleData has a downloadable catalog of assistive living devices from different companies and organizations that supply or sell them. It is an excellent site to start looking for devices that might assist you in ADL or work activities.
- Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library is a free, accessible public library service that loans audio books, magazines and the equipment necessary to listen to them to any Massachusetts resident having a print disability.
Wheelchairs
- USA Tech Guide is a web guide to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and assistive technology choices.
- The mission of The Wheelchair Recycler is to collect, refurbish, and re-issue used power wheelchairs at little or no expense to the new user. Most equipment is 90% below market value. David Heim's service is located in Marlborough, MA.
Universal Design
- The Institute for Human Centered Design is an international non-governmental educational organization (NGO) committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities. The IHCD is based in Boston.
- Universal Design in Housing has many practical design ideas from IHCD.
- Universal Design in Housing
- The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at SUNY Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning has conducted many studies and recommendations for making environments and products more usable, safer and healthier in response to the needs of an increasingly diverse population. The IDeA Center’s activities are based on the philosophy of Inclusive Design, often called “Universal Design” or “Design for All.” They even have presented an initiative entitled "Rural Aging in Place".
- How to Adapt has all kinds of ideas on how to adapt to specific challenges - even how to Wheelchair Waterski!
Accessible Technology
- AccessibleTech.org has a mission to promote full and unrestricted participation in business and society by persons with disabilities through the use of electronic information technology that is universally accessible. Note: the Accessible Tech site is a project of ADA National Network , which also provides regional resource information at the New England ADA Center .
- Section508.gov has resources for understanding and implementing Section 508. Section 508 requires that Federal agencies’ electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities.
- AccessIT , based at the University of Washington, promotes the use of electronic and information technology (E&IT) for students and employees with disabilities in educational institutions at all academic levels. The site has lots of resources on this topic.