Disability Resource Websites
Compiled by John W. Wilde, Ph.D.
Note: This list of websites is for your examination; it is not necessarily comprehensive and is not an endorsement of any of the services and information offered/described. If you find information in this list that is incorrect, offensive or otherwise inappropriate, please contact me. Likewise, if you would like to offer feedback, or if you know of an additional resource not listed that you feel should be included because it may be of help to others, please let me know. You may phone me at (415) 452-5484 x3 or write Dr. John Wilde, City College of San Francisco, c/o R323, 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112 or email me at jwilde@ccsf.edu.
HISTORY OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Smithsonian Institute's History of Disability Rights Movement.
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/disabilityrights/welcome.html
Disability History Museum
http://www.disabilitymuseum.org
Disability Social History Project
http://www.disabilityhistory.org
History and anniversary info about Section 504 or the Rehabilitation act of 1973
http://search1.npr.org/opt/collections/torched/wesu/data_wesu/seg_142484.htm
AIDS
AIDS Education Global Information System (AEGiS). This site offers a clearinghouse of AIDS resources.
http://www.aegis.com/sitemap.asp
Centers of Disease Control (CDC). Frequently Asked Questions on HIV/AIDS
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/faqs.htm
ADVOCACY
The Council for Disability Rights. A non-profit organization in Chicago providing public education, information, referrals, counseling, job training, and many other services to the disabled community. Though many of their programs are local to the Chicago area, much of the information they provide is not.
http://www.disabilityrights.org
The Ragged Edge Magazine. Covers the disability experience in America - what it means to be a disabled and living at the start of the 21st century.
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com
Steve Gold's Treasured Bits of Information Newsgroup Archive
http://www.stevegoldada.com/
DAIS. Resource to the higher education community, providing a listing of services for those concerned with disability and access in higher education.
http://www.daisacademy.com
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Center for Applied Technology (CAST). An educational, not-for-profit organization that uses technology to expand opportunities for all people, including those with disabilities
http://www.cast.org
Bobby test of accessibility of web sites. Created by CAST to help Web page authors identify and repair significant barriers to access by individuals with disabilities.
http://www.cast.org/bobby
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board's accessibility standards for electronic and information technology covered by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998.
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/508standards.htm
Information about voice to speech technology
http://readplease.com/rpdemo.phtml
Tech Connections. Information and dissemination project funded to assist VR agency staff and others on applications of assistive technology (AT). Supported through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Target audiences are vocational rehabilitation programs and agencies, rehabilitation training programs, schools, community rehabilitation programs interested in using technology resources and services. Toll-free information service, resources and information on applications of assistive technology, information resources and technical assistance on ways that AT can be better used to assist persons with disabilities find employment and independence.
http://www.techconnections.org/about/summary.cfm
Website offering information on the latest web-based technology for people with disabilities.
www.webaim.org
"How to Design Accessible Web Pages." Article presented by WEB TEACHIING
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~webteach/articles/access.html
"Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles for Creating Web Sites, 2nd Ed." and has a matching website
http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual
Educational transcription service for Students who need Alternative or Additional Support
http://www.typewell.com
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Voluntary organization that develops and maintains the common standards and protocols for the Internet. Facilitates access to the contents of web sites for persons with disabilities.
http://www.webaccessguides.org
Information on access to books for visually impaired and otherwise print disabled individuals. Shows how to Enable book scans to be shared, thereby leveraging the collections of thousands of individuals who regularly scan books, eliminating significant duplication of effort. http://www.bookshare.org/web/Newsletter.html
Information on experimental Computerized Note-taking approaches http://chronicle.com/free/2002/01/2002012401t.htm
COMPUTERS TO HELP PEOPLE. A private, nonprofit organization that applies computer technology to the problems of people with disabilities, especially to increasing their employability and productivity. Main activities are providing books on science and mathematics in Braille and e-text on a worldwide basis, and providing assistive technology and used computers for low-income people in our local area. This site is designed to be friendly to people using screen reader programs.
http://www.chpi.org
Demystifying Assistive Listening Devices. Website that offers "clearing house" of information.
http://www.wou.edu/education/sped/nwoc/demyst/index.htm
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). An interdisciplinary association of people with a common interest in technology and disability.
http://www.resna.org/
ATTITUDINAL BARRIERS/DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAINING
Disability awareness training. Self Direction is an organization supporting a wide variety of people related issues, providing counseling, advocacy, advice, guidance, support and training to the community
http://www.selfdirection.org
Program Development Associates - Disability Awareness. Organization that provides ideas, trainings and solutions for disability professionals.
http://www.pdassoc.com/da.htm
Disability awareness training. A membership-based organization representing the concerns of people with all types of disabilities and based in Manitoba, promoting equal rights, full participation in society, and facilitating positive change through advocacy and public education.
http://www.mlpd.mb.ca/annualreport/training.html
BRAIN INJURY
Brain Injury Association. The mission of the Brain Injury Association of America is to create a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education and advocacy.
http://www.biausa.org/
BLIND/LOW VISION
National Federation for the Blind. The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is two-fold-to help blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect and to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind.
http://www.nfb.org
American Council for the Blind. The Council strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.
http://www.acb.org
American Foundation for the Blind. The American Foundation for the Blind-to which Helen Keller devoted more than 40 years of her life -has been eliminating barriers that prevent people who are blind or visually impaired from reaching their potential. The American Foundation for the Blind is dedicated to addressing the critical issues of literacy, independent living, employment, and access through technology for the ten million Americans who are blind or visually impaired.
http://www.afb.org
Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic. Changed their name in 1995 to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, to serve all people with "print disabilities" - those who can't effectively read standard print because of a disability. Today, they serve more than 102,000 members worldwide, distributing 243,029 titles in 2001. More than 70 percent of their membership - which includes students in kindergarten through graduate school, as well as working professionals - are recognized with learning disabilities.
http://www.rfbd.org
Story from the Boston Globe on how blind need better access to texts
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/133/metro/Lack_of_Brailled_textbooks_leaves_blindstudents_in_bind+.shtml
Tutorial Assistance
http://www.tsbvi.edu/math/
and
http://dots.physics.orst.edu/~gardner/ScienceEd.html
ALL DISABILITIES/CROSS DISABILITIES
National Organization on Disability. Promotes the full and equal participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.
http://www.nod.org
World Council on Disability. An internationally recognized public policy center organized by and for people with disabilities. Stated mission is to strengthen the disability movement through research, training, advocacy, and public education so that people with disabilities, throughout the world, enjoy increased opportunities to live independently.
http://www.wid.org
How welcoming is your religion? The intent of The National Organization on Disability "Seminar Project" is to help seminaries welcome people with disabilities and to better equip future religious leaders to serve, and serve with, children and adults with disabilities and their families.
http://www.nod.org/cont/dsp_cont_loc_hme.cfm?locationId=14&locationNm=Religion
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago has been ranked the "best Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report. See what they have to say about themselves.
http://www.rehabchicago.org/
List of websites used by New York Times staffers covering a whole host of information settings guaranteed to answer any questions.
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/reference/cynavi.html
The National Disabled Students Union (NDSU) is a nationwide, cross-disability, student organization concerned with civil rights. We work to ensure that all disabled students have the opportunities they need to learn, the opportunities they need to live and work, and the opportunities they need to be full participants in their communities and full members of American society.
http://www.disabledstudents.org/
LEARNING DISABILITIES
Link that presents information about several areas of disabilities, including learning disabilities
http://www.ldonline.org
The Frostig Center. Specializes in working with children who have learning disabilities. Dedicated to a three-part mission of: Conducting research on the causes/effects of learning disabilities; Providing parent, tutor, educator training and consultation in how to work with children who struggle to learn; and Offering direct instructional services to children with learning. Also recommends research publications in the area of postsecondary education.
http://www.frostig.org/contact/aboutus.htm
and
http://www.frostig.org/research/publications.htm
Drew University offers information on how to teach students with learning disabilities. Has much information in special approaches/strategies to teaching writing and composition.
http://www.users.drew.edu/~sjamieso/Ldtudents.htm
HEALTH RESOURCES AND MEDICAL RESEARCH
Medical Research Tailored to Your Needs
http://www.thehealthresource.com
Customized Research Reports On Any Medical Condition Or Health Topic
http://www.mrhealthsearch.com
On-Line Services, Inc., founded by cancer survivor who gathers information on any and all types of cancer or other illness directly for clients. Claims that their researchers have extensive on-line experience and training from the National Library of Medicine and from other medical database providers. Searches databases for clients and provides a report of the current developments and experiments.
http://www.findcure.com
The Moss Report. More than 200 reports on various types of cancer, covering conventional and alternative treatments. Monthly updates.
http://www.cancerdecisions.com
National Center for Biotechnology Information. Database a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Contains textual information, pictures, and reference information.
http://www3.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Omim
National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc (provides information about rare diseases).
http://www.rarediseases.org
Information about Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD)
http://www.mindspring.com/~docld/document/adhdneur.htm
PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.
http://www.nami.org
Internet Mental Health, a free encyclopedia of mental health information clearinghouse
http://www.mentalhealth.com/fr01.html
The National Mental Health Association (NMHA), the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans, especially the 54 million individuals with mental disorders, through advocacy, education, research and service.
http://www.nmha.org
DISABILITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AT OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
Steven F. Austin State
http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/index.htm
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
http://www.siu.edu/~dss/
Harvard University
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~sdr/
Stanford University
http://www.stanford.edu/group/dss/
San Francisco State University
http://www.sfsu.edu/~drc/
San Jose State University
http://www.drc.sjsu.edu
University of California - Berkeley
http://dsp.berkeley.edu/
De Anza College
http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/depts/specialed/dss/
Foothill College
http://socrates.fhda.edu/fh/al/cdbsp.html
Skyline Community College
http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skyline/sts/able.html
Mills College
http://www.mills.edu/DSS/dss.home.html
Center on Disability Studies in Hawaii
http://www.cds.hawaii.edu/
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Division of Rehabilitation-Education Services
http://www.rehab.uiuc.edu/faculty/teaching.html
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Postsecondary Academic & Curriculum Excellence (P.A.C.E)
http://www.ualr.edu/~pace
DEAF/HEARING IMPAIRMENT
Harris Communications, assistive products designed for deaf and hard of hearing people
http://www.harriscomm.com
Post Secondary Education Programs Network; hearing impairment related resources
http://www.pepnet.org
National Information Center on Deafness
http://www.gallaudet.edu:80/~nicd
EDUCATION
Post-secondary access. Resource to the higher education community, providing a menu of services re: disability and access in higher education
http://www.janejarrow.com
Disabled Student Services in Higher Education listserv archives
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/archives/dsshe-l.html
Association on Higher Education and Disability
http://ahead.org
President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education (PCESE). On October 3, 2001, President George Bush established a Commission on Excellence in Special Education to collect information and study issues related to Federal, State, and local special education programs with the goal of recommending policies for improving the education performance of students with disabilities.
http://www.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation
Accommodating Students with Disabilities in the Post-Secondary Environment. Information designed to help college faculty and instructors understand their role in the educational accommodation process.
http://das.kucrl.org/iam/inclass.html
Web Resources for Assisting College Students with Disabilities. This is a document supported by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
http://das.kucrl.org/iam/resources.html
FOR EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS
The Faculty Room. This is a space for faculty and administrators at postsecondary institutions to learn about how to create classroom environments and activities that maximize the learning of all students, including those with disabilities. This site includes six primary areas that address issues faced by postsecondary educators.
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/
EMPLOYMENT
US Department of Labor. Means to design, develop, and administer innovative programs that further career and competitive employment goals of individuals with disabilities and/or support integration of One-Stop Center system.. .
http://wdsc.doleta.gov/disability
Consortium of businesses dedicated to increasing the employment of people with disabilities through a coordinated effort of North America's largest employers
http://www.abletowork.org
National Business & Disability Council - (free resume posting)
http://www.business-disability.com
Job Search Assistance
http://www.joboptions.com
American Association of People with Disabilities
http://www.aapd-dc.org/jobs
Job Accommodation Network (JAN), West Virginia University, (800) 526-7234 (V/TTY). Free consulting service providing information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.
http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu
Virtual Career Fair for people with disabilities.
http://www.disabilitiescareerfair.monster.com
Special Reports on Disabilities in the Workplace.
http://equalopportunity.netscape.monster.com/articles/workplace/
Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD). A unique consortium composed of large and small universities, well - known national employers and US Government agencies focused on the career employment of college graduates with disabilities. COSD is funded through a grant provided by the U. S. Department of Labor Office of Disability and Employment Policy.
http://www.cosdonline.org
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
1 (800) 669-4000 (voice)(800) 669-6820 (TTD). Established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and began operating on July 2, 1965. The EEOC enforces federal statutes.
http://www.eeoc.gov/welcome.html
Faculty and Staff Positions in College and University Disability Programs and Departments.
http://www.HigherEdJobs.com
GOVERNMENTAL ACCESS AGENCIES
U.S. Department of Justice (and phone numbers for information (800) 514-0301 = Voice; (800) 514-0383 = TTY)
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada
ADA Technical Assistance Program
http://www.adata.org
Vocational Rehabilitation, State-by-State Directory
http://www.naotd.org/vocrehab.htm
Social Security Administration
(and phone numbers (800) 772-1213=voice; (800) 325-0778=TTY)
http://www.ssa.gov/work
and
http://www.ssa.gov/regulations/rin0960 af12.htm
National Council on Disability. An independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress on issues Americans with disabilities. Composed of 15 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In its 1986 report Toward Independence, first proposed that Congress should enact a civil rights law for people with disabilities.
http://www.ncd.gov
Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Phone numbers (800) 421-3481=voice; (800) 521-2172, TTD// e- mailto: OCR@ed.gov)
http://www.ed.gov/ocr
US Department of Health & Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation, Disability, Aging & Long Term Care Policy.
http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/home.htm
For information about the United States Department of Education
http://ed.gov/about/offices.jsp
INFORMATIONAL SITES FOR PARENTS
A Parent's Guide to College. A guide to help understand the transition process from high school to college for your child with a disability
http://das.kucrl.org/iam/parentbro.html
Focus Adolescent Services. Provides a wealth of information for parents who want to learn more about learning disabilities and other learning problems.
http://www.focusas.com/LearningDisabilities.html
Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education. Web site of a federally funded project whose mission is to provide technical assistance and information dissemination concerning techniques for preventing and resolving disagreements related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/
GENERAL INFORMATIONAL SITES
Center for Applied Special Technology
http://www.cast.org
Computers to Help People, Inc
http://www.chpi.org
Disability Information Center
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/3721
Discussion Network about disability related issues
http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~disabil
National Clearinghouse on Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCHRTM), distance learning Master's degree programs in Rehab Counseling and other information related to Rehab.
http://www.nchrtm.okstate.edu/pages/distance_learning_prog.html
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
http://www.adata.org/dbtac.html
Information about service animals and how they can help people with disabilities to be more mobile.
http://www.deltasociety.org/alertv09n01.htm
Disability information for those interested in the nursing profession
www.healthsciencefaculty.org
Disability information for journalists who what to convey the "disability experience" correctly (Can be passed on to the schools and university journalism professors for their students too).
www.journaliststoolbox.com/newswriting/disabled.html
ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG)
As amended through January 1998
http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm#4.1.4
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Information. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a service of the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration
http://www.health.org/
Site with disability-related news and commentary from around the world.
http://www.disabilityworld.org/
SEARCH ENGINES. The first one, dogpile, does multiple searches simultaneously. The second one, seti-search, lets you pick among many websites particularly accessible to users with visual impairments.
1) http://www.dogpile.com/
And
2) http://www.seti-search.com/
LEGAL
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF). A national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.
http://www.dredf.org
Summary chart of the Supreme Court cases relevant to Disability Law for the 2001-02 years produced by DREDF.
http://www.dredf.org/cases/summchart.html
United States Department of Justice Web Page that Addresses ADA Issues.
www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Agency charged with the responsibility of investigating and enforcing employment laws.
www.eeoc.gov
Disability Rights Activists (DRA). Legal Center dedicated to protecting the rights of people with disabilities around the world.
http://www.dralegal.org
Legal assistance for Persons with Disabilities
http://www.protectionandadvocacy.com
Listing of International Laws on Disability Rights
http://www.dredf.org/symposium/lawindex.html
Listserv for those who want to discuss ADA case law (this is not a url)
ADA_LAW_IMPACT-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Commonly asked questions about service animals and answers from the Department of Justice
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/qasrvc.htm
The Center for Individual Rights (CIR). Nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to the defense of individual liberties.
http://www.cir-usa.org
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Print publication designed to put information about funds: Review the 2002-2004 edition of Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their Families.
http://www.rspfunding.com/products/rspbooks/disabled.html
The San Francisco Mayor's Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities is the local extension of the President's Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities that was established in 1947. A collaboration of public and private employers, and community-based organizations that are dedicated to creating awareness and opportunities for the employment of persons with disabilities.
http://www.disability-employment-sf.org/
California Association on Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED) Scholarhship information.
http://www.caped.net/scholarship.html
SPORTS AND DISABILITIES
The official website of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association
http://www.nwba.org
HOUSING INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE BAY AREA
National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse. Connects individuals with disabilities with apartments that have been designed for, or adapted to meet their needs. Claims to be the only national database of accessible apartments, with a registration of more than 46,000 units. A resource for the disabled community and for apartment owners and managers to market their accessible apartments.
http://www.forrent.com/naac/