Fishing the I&R Services

Many non-profit and government agencies which serve people with disabilities and their families offer an Information and Referral or Information and Resource service.

I&R staff should be able to direct you to resources, furnish leads to assistive technology prescribers and funders in your area, give you new ideas and insights, and, in general, put you in touch with agencies and people who can help you find the information you need.

Some non-profits sponsor assistive technology projects whose staffs will be able to advise you. For example, United Cerebral Palsy Inc. administers the Assistive Technology Funding and Systems Change Project (ATFSCP), that offers individual information and technical assistance. Call: 800-827-0093 (voice) or 800-833-8272 (TDD), 770-493-9111 (fax).

If your state has a technology project funded by the U.S. Tech Act (Technology-Related Assistance Act, PL-100-407), you may find an I&R service there as well. To locate Tech Act resources in your state, contact the RESNA Technical Assistance Project, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 857-1140; or on the Web, check www.resna.org for a list of state assistive tech project phone numbers.

The Technical Aids and Assistance for the Disabled Center (TAAD) just completed a video library for clients. The library consists of videos covering a number of technologies, demonstrations, and disability issues. These videos (40 of them) supplement the center's resource books, magazines and brochures and can be accessed during regular hours. Their number is (312) 421-3373; fax them at (312) 421-3464 or visit their website at http://homepage.interaccess.com/~taad. (2.98)

Feb 2001--New White House Disability Initiative--
Fulfilling America's Promise to Americans with Disabilities
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html