Toys "R" Us partnered with the National Lekotek Center, the National Parent Network on Disabilities, and with Maria Shriver, in publishing the eighth annual Toy Guide for Differently Abled Kids. Find toys in categories Auditory; Creativity; Fine Motor; Gross Motor; Language; Self-Esteem; Social Skills; Tactile; and Visual

Beyond Play (http://www.beyondplay.com/index.htm) Early Intervention products for children birth to age 5. A catalog of products divided into the following categories; Active Play, Augmentative Communication; Bubble Toys; Cause and Effect; Children's Books; Dramatic Play; Early Exploration; Fine Motor; Furniture; Language; Mirrors; Musical Toys; Oral Motor; Positioning; Professional Resources; Puzzles; Rattles and Teethers; Sensory Stimulation; Sorting and Stacking. Products have been considered and selected through consultation with a variety of OT, PT and Speech therapists.

Exceptional Parent (http://www.eparent.com/toys) Toy experts give their picks for new toys and some classics. Toys tested and reviewed by parents, therapy professionals, and kids. Readers give suggestions for toys, toy adaptations, and play time activities that work for their children. Information on: The power of play; Selecting toys for children with disabilities; Adapting board games; Toys and products that are Latex free; and lots more information..

Guide to Kids and Toys (http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/toys_ply.html) Website tells about the Toy Industry Foundation, Toy Facts, Parenting Organizations, FAQ's, Toy Safety, Power of Play and Educational Material.

Let's Play Project (http://letsplay.buffalo.edu/PROJINFO/contact.htm) University of Buffalo - Center for Assistive Technology. The Let's Play! Project looks to provide ways for families to promote play opportunities for their young children with disabilities. Play section describes what play is, examples of adaptations, a toy characteristics sheet, adapting toys fact sheet with a list of vendors, and a list of toy catalogs for children with special needs. The family section describes enhancing a family's ability to play with AT, a guideline for professionals to help families select and use AT, a checklist for Family-directed AT assessment, and links for families and Early Intervention. AT section defines what AT is and categories, Child positioning aides, Switches and Switch Toy Vendors, and Early communication devices.

National Lekotek Center (http://www.lekotek.org/) A central source on toys and play for children with special needs. National Lekotek provides family play centers and learning libraries, and helps to select and adapt items for children. Check on-line for a site near you, or for information on how to start one. Information is available for professional trainings and the website also provides resources on toys and play for children with disabilities, and links.

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (http://www.toyportfolio.com/Index.asp) Thousands of toys are reviewed and rated. Search by keyword or by age. A section is available for Children with Special Needs. Products are ordinary toys that can be adapted for use by kids with special needs. There are dozens of suggestions for using these conventional toys in extraordinary ways.

TFH (USA) LTD (http://www.specialneedstoys.com/usa/index.asp) Unique, adapted toys and fun products for children and adults with special needs. Recreational products are specifically designed for people with physical disabilities. Specialist in Multi-Sensory environments. Other categories included: Outdoor Play; Furniture; Switches and Rewards; Music Play, and Mobile Stimulation.

Toy Guide (http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=62) Introduction to toys and play. Provides pages with reviews of toys, information, recommended age and price. Categories are infant/preschool toys, Vehicles; Musical, Pretend/Role Play, Creative, Dolls/Stuffed, Educational, Activity/Outdoor, Building and Games.

AT WEB-BASED INFO RESOURCES & ARTICLES back

AAC-RERC (http://www.aac-rerc.com/pages/news/webcasts2005.htm) The mission of the AAC-RERC is to assist people who rely on augmentative and alternative communication to achieve their goals by advancing and promoting AAC technologies and supporting the individuals who use, manufacture, and recommend them. The website offers webcam productions of lectures relating to AT and AAC technologies and approaches. This group also has a newsletter as well as an informative websitebsite.

AAC Intervention (http://aacintervention.com/) This site is full of great tips and strategies for using Augmentative Communication with children. Make sure to check out the Tips, Tricks, and Cheat Sheets as well as the Tip of the Month. Software setups and other products from Caroline Musselwhite and Julie Maro are available from this site.

AAC Service Delivery with Children: Twenty Frequently-Asked Questions (http://www.unl.edu/barkley/present/cress/questions.html tp) This is a good overview about augmentative communication, giving answers to frequently asked questions with references.

Assistive Technology Act (ATA) of 1998 (http://section508.gov/docs/AT1998.html) A federal law enacted in 1998 providing financial assistance to states. The ATA of 98 replaces the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Connecting Young Kids (YAACK) (http://home.hawaii.rr.com/wenlu/yaack/toc.html) Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Connecting Young Kids (YAACK) is a website that covers issues related to AAC and young children. Its purpose is to provide information and guidance to families, teachers, speech/language pathologists and anyone else who is involved with a child with special communication needs. It is intended to be easy to understand and practical, and to cover a wide range of topics dealing with AAC and AAC-related issues of children at various ages and stages of communication ability, and with different strengths, disabilities and learning characteristics.

Books on Assistive Technology (http://www.at-center.com/book.html)

Dreamms for Kids (http://www.dreamms.org) A non-profit information learinghouse facilitating technology access for children with special needs. Sign up for a free monthly newsletter called "Directions: Technology in Special Education", which focuses on the use, application and funding of AT. Order "Directions: Electronic Digest" on CD-rom, for the entire archive of newsletters from 1994. Website also provides links, a calendar of conferences, and lists Tech Act Projects for states.

Family & Advocates Partnership for Education (http://www.fape.org) On-line newsletter and archives of IDEA success stories. Partnership contact directory, IDEA law and regulations, Promising Practices (Research Briefs), Special Education Topics (IDEA, school reform, etc.), Culturally diverse material, Familyand children success stories, Self-advocate information, Significant Court decisions in IDEA, Policy Issues and many resource links.

Family Center on Technology and Disabilities (FCTD) (http://www.fctd.infot) Plans include developing an on-line, searchable database of information on assistive technology, reviewed and evaluated by a team of technology experts; developing a catalog of technology resources; Links and success stories. Funded by the Office of Special Education U.S. Department of Education. (Under Construction)

Family Guide to Assistive Technology (http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html) An on-line guide prepared by Parents, Lets Unite for Kids (PLUK) (62 pages if printed). Covers defining, making, and funding technology, making AT a part of a child's education, and advocating for technology. A glossary, examples and resources are also provided. Links to Parent Training Information Centers, Alliance for Technology Access Resource Centers, and State Tech Act Projects.

Family Village: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison (http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/) This site contains extensive resources. For example, check out assistive technology under school and visit the library which contains information about disability-related topics and specific disabilities or conditions. This is a global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with mental retardation and other disabilities, their families, and those that provide them services and supports.

NCIP - Media and Materials - (http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/) National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education through technology. NCIP Libraries: Instructional Uses of Video & Captioning; Multi-media; Organizing Tools; Providing Access to Portable Tools; Technology in Early Childhood Education; Technology for Students who are Visually Impaired; Telecommunications; Word Prediction. Video Profiles. Early Childhood Guided Tours (on-line). Spotlight on Voice Recognition. Online workshops and events and lots of links.

Simplified Technology (http://www.lburkhart.com/main.htm) AAC and AT Basics: What We Have Learned About Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology. This is a handout describing the general philosophical basis for using augmentative communication and assistive technology with young children, who have disabilities, and children functioning at young levels. Handouts: Make Your Own Talking Switch; Make a Mouse House. Dynamic Displays. Selected Resources and Vendors. Mail order books and products. Links. Technology integration for Elementary and Middles School.

Augmentative Communication News and Alternatively Speaking (http://www.augcominc.com/articles.html) Each issue focuses on one augmentative communication topic with current best practices, research and equipment. Some excellent past articles are archived online at this site.

Articles

Update on Use of AT among Infants and Toddlers- (http://www.resna.org/taproject/library/bulletins/current.html) RESNA Technical Assistance Project. Update on the Use of Assistive Technology Among Infants and Toddlers, a TAP Bulletin for July 2000.

.Augmenting Play and Communication http://www.unl.edu/barkley/present/cress/cress2.html Standard strategies for play and communication assessment/intervention often require vocal and physical skills unavailable to children at risk for being nonspeaking. This article presents systematic differences in early play development introduced by physical disabilities, and demonstrate strategies for integrating AAC, early communication and play intervention, including videotaped case examples By Cynthia J. Cress, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Presentations

Improving AAC Use by Children and Adults (http://aac.unl.edu/drb/part1/part1.htm) By David Beukelman, Cara Ullman, Laura Ball, Susan Fager, Robert Tice, Christy Horn, Tom Carrel

AAC Technology Learning (http://aac.unl.edu/drb/tech2000/index.htm) By David Beukelman

AT NETWORKS, CENTERS & INSTITUTES back

AT Center for Assistive Technology (http://www.cat.buffalo.edu) The Center for Assistive Technology at the University of Buffalo conducts research, education, and service to increase knowledge about assistive devices for persons with disabilities. The Center works in four related areas: (1) Research and development of assistive devices for education, employment, leisure, and daily living; (2) Education for students, professionals, and consumers; (3)Assistive device service provision; (4)Dissemination of information about Assistive Technology..

Westchester Institute for Human Development (http://www.wihd.org/at/at_index.html) Part of the New York Medical College. Sections on the website about: Lower Hudson Regional Technology Center; Loan programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers; About the technology team; and trainings.

The Alliance for Technology Access (http://www.ataccess.org) The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a California based network of Community-Based Resource Centers located in 25 states listed below. Developers, Vendors, Affiliates, and Associates provide information and support services to people with disabilities.

The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) (http://www.nationaltechcenter.org)The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI), funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), advances learning opportunities for individuals with disabilities by fostering technology innovation. We seek to broaden and enrich the field by providing resources and promoting partnerships for the development of tools and applications by researchers, developers, and vendors.

The National Early Childhood AT Center (NECTAC) (http://www.nectac.org/topics/atech/atech.asp)  Many Assistive Technology resources.

Assistive Technology Partners (http://www.uchsc.edu/atp/index.htm)  Many Assistive Technology resources.

ALABAMA

Birmingham Alliance for Technology Access Center mikenorris@mindspring.net

Technology Assistance for Special Consumers http://tasc.ataccess.org

ARIZONA

Technology Access Center of Tucson (TACT) http://www.ed.arizona.edu/tact/index.htm

ARKANSAS

Technology Resource Center atrce@aol.com

CALIFORNIA

Center for Accessible Technology - http://www.cforat.org

Computer Access Center http://www.cac.org

iTECH - Parents Helping Parents http://www.php.com

San Diego Assistive Technology Center ucpsdatc@pacbell.net

Team of Advocates for Special Kids http://www.taskca.org

GEORGIA

Tech-Able, Inc. http://www.techable.org/

HAWAII

Aloha Special Technology Access Center http://www.geocities.com/astachi/index.html

IDAHO

United Cerebral Palsy of Idaho, Inc. http://ucpidaho.ataccess.org

ILLINOIS

Northern Illinois Center for Adaptive Technology http://www.nicat.ataccess.org

Technology Assisting All People with Disabilities (TAAD, Inc.) http://www.taadinc.org

KANSAS

Technology Resource Solutions for People http://www.occk.com/trsp.htm

KENTUCKY

Bluegrass Technology Center http://www.bluegrass-tech.org

MARYLAND

Learning Independence Through Computers, Inc. (LINC) http://www.linc.org

MINNESOTA

Simon Technology Center-Pacer Center http://www.pacer.org

MONTANA

Parents, Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) http://www.pluk.org

NEW JERSEY TECH

Connection Assistive Technology Solutions http://www.techconnection.org/

Center for Enabling Technology http://cetnj.ataccess.org/

NEW YORK

Techspress Resource Center for Independent Living rose.roberts@rcil.com

OHIO

Easter Seals Technology Resource Center http://www.trcd.org

RHODE ISLAND

Tech ACCESS Center of Rhode Island http://www.techaccess-ri.org

TENNESSEE

East Tennessee Technology Access Center, Inc. http://www.korrnet.org/ettac/

Technology Access Center of Middle Tennessee http://tac.ataccess.org

West Tennessee Special Technology Access Resource Center (STAR) http://www.starcenter.tn.org

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Virgin Islands Resource Center for the Disabled, Inc. vircd@islands.vi

VIRGINIA

Tidewater Center for Technology Access http://tcta.ataccess.org

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AT ASSOICATIONS AND SOCIETIES back

Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) http://www.atia.org/

Assistive Technology Partners (ATP) http://www.uchsc.edu/atp/

Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) http://www.fernuni-hagen.de/FTB/AAATE.html

Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) http://www.arata.org.au

International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication http://www.isaac-online.org/

Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America http://www.resna.org

SEARCHABLE DATABASES back

The following is a list of databases of assistive technology products that are searchable by keywords, products, function and/or manufacturer. Please notify us if a link no longer works, or to suggest other database links.

ABLEDATA – database of product info- http://www.abledata.com

ABLEDATA is a national database of information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources. It contains information on more than 29,000 assistive technology products with detailed descriptions of each product including price and company information. The database also contains information on non-commerical prototypes, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-it-yourself designs. ABLEDATA does not produce, distribute or sell any of the products listed on the database, but will provide you with information on how to contact manufacturers or distributors of these products. They do not produce any type of catalog.

ADLS - The Adaptive Device Locator System - http://www.adaptworld.com/adlsweb4.html

A set of databases that help users obtain information about specialized equipment and devices for people with physical needs. The Locator can help identify assistive and adaptive devices that can increase independence, facilitate education, and improve quality of life.

Assisitvetech.net - global assistive technology explorer - http://www.assistivetech.net

Includes a “Search for Technology” which allows you to use four tools to find products that match your needs: Function/Activity; Keyword/Search; Product Type; Vendor Search.. The database contains thousands of products. Other information on this website lists Information Links, Discussion Groups, AT Act Projects, and Vendor Product Interface. Created by the Georgia Tech Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA).

ATA - The Alliance for Technology Access – http://www.ataccess.org

The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a California based network of community-based Resource Centers located in 25 states (listed on the website). Developers, Vendors, Affiliates, and Associates provide information and support services to people with disabilities. An on-line book and manual are provided in the Resource section. The “Family Place in Cyberspace” has info on: Integrating assistive technology in K-12 school; 20 accessible play ideas for children of all abilities; students transitioning from public school; FAQ’s, Success Stories, Technology and Enhancing Early Learning Experiences, Glossary, Acronyms and Abbreviations, and Linked resources.

Closing the Gap - http://www.closingthegap.com

A guide to the selection of the latest computer-related products available for children and adults with special needs. Search all products by keyword or producer. Search hardware by disability, computer, device type etc. Search Software by disability, software type, skills level, academic level etc. Search other products by disability, academic skill, or product type. This database is part of a resource directory that contains over 2,000 products.

Dragonfly – Special Needs Store - http://www.dragonflytoys.com

Browse thousands of on-line products by categories and subcategories of skills, child profile search, or product profile search. Includes switch operated, adapted toys, art equipment, books, and playground equipment. Wish List for each child, allows best-fit gifts from friends and family. Alerts for new items or products that match your interest. Product lists purchased for each child always maintained.

Infinitec http://www.infinitec.org

Infinitec, Inc.is a joint effort of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago and United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc., Washington D.C.  The UCPA Chicago program sponsors the Infinitec Web site and its many Infinitec Programs. Infinitec brings assistive technology to people with disabilities of all types, in the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane.

Family Center on Technology and Disabilities (FCTD) –AT information and support - http://www.fctd.info

Plans include developing an on-line, searchable database of information on assistive technology, reviewed and evaluated by a team of technology experts; developing a catalog of technology resources; Links and success stories. Funded by the Office of Special Education U.S. Department of Education. (Under Construction)

Learning Disabilities Online - LD Indepth: Technology Information http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/technology.html

This site provides extensive information on learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and other professionals. The site includes a section on Technology which has useful articles, briefs, and overall helpful information on AT and technology for all ages.

Early Intervention Assistive Technology Resource Chart back

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