Page Index

Accessibility Resources, Canada, USA, Related Documents

Accessibility Resources

Accessible Web Authoring Resources and Education: A project the HTML Writers Guild, their mission is to serve as a central resource for web authors to learn about universal  web accessibility. 

Accessibility Tools for Adobe PDF Documents: This site provides a set of free tools that allow visually disabled users to read documents in Adobe PDF format. These tools convert PDF documents into either HTML or ASCII text which can then be read by many screen reading programs.

CAST - Center for Applied Special Technology: Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST is an educational, not-for-profit organization that uses technology to expand opportunities for all people, including those with disabilities.  Of interest to web designers is their WebExact accessibility analysis program.  BOBBY is a free service provided by CAST to help Web page authors identify and repair significant barriers to access by individuals with disabilities. 

Designing More Usable Websites: A very complete and technical listing of accessibility resources and forums, project descriptions, tools and techniques.

The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre: Based the University of Toronto, Canada, the ATRC provides a wealth of education materials, special services and links to very useful resources on accessibility software as well as technical information on how to make your website disability accessible.  Highly recommended. 

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI): WAI, in coordination with organizations around the world, pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development.  WAI is a project of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the lead organization developing technical standards for the Internet.

Canada

Abuse of People with Disabilities: Information for Service Providers: Introductory and background information for service providers on the abuse of people with disabilities, including defining abuse, the warning signs, who can abuse, how widespread it is, and what to do when you encounter it. An Adobe Acrobat file.

Ontario Disability Directory for Abused Women: A provincial directory of services for women with disabilities.

United States

Abuse and Women with Disabilities: Information on the physical and sexual abuse of women with disabilities.

Americans with Disability Act Home Page: Included is information on the act itself, it's enforcement, technical assistance and links to sites of interest.

Center for Abused Children with Disabilities: This page describes the research program based at Boystown, including a short description of available services.

Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project:  The Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project is a national effort coordinated by the Council of State Governments (CSG) to help local, state, and federal policymakers and criminal justice and mental health professionals improve the response to people with mental illness who become involved in, or are at risk of involvement in, the criminal justice system. The Consensus Project promotes practical, flexible approaches to this issue through educational presentations, technical assistance, and the dissemination of information about programs, research, and policy developments in the field.  The Consensus Project Web site provides access to the Project Report, information about relevant research, statistics, and Web-based resources, and a directory of program profiles from around the country, which allows visitors to communicate with program administrators online. Their Report formed the basis for the creation of this project.

Deaf Victims Advocacy Services: This service, based in Vermont, believes that deaf people in Vermont have the right to live in a violence-free environment. Our mission is to ensure that deaf victims have equal access to support services. Their services include education, training and support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Deaf Women of Iowa Against Abuse: This organization provides services to deaf, hard-of-hearing and deaf-blind people and their families who experience domestic violence or sexual assault.

DisabilityInfo.Gov: This Web portal is a directory of government links relevant to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and other community members.

Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission:  The DPPC works to protect adults with disabilities from abusive acts and omissions of their caregivers through investigation, oversight, public awareness and prevention.

SafePlace Disability Services Program: Disability Services staff provide training on the issue of abuse against individuals with disabilities at sexual assault, disability, and domestic violence conferences throughout the United States. Project staff are also available to provide training and onsite consultation at disability, domestic violence, and rape crisis agencies across the country. Additionally, the National Training and Technical Assistance Project is partnering with three national disability advocacy organizations: American Council of the Blind, The Arc of the United States, and United Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc.. These national partners recommend local affiliates to participate in invitational "Train-the-Trainer" institutes.

Victims of Crime with Disabilities: A Training and Technical Assistance Resource: the Victims of Crime with Disabilities Resource Guide, an online database of programs and products focused on people with disabilities who have been victims of crime. On this site, you will find descriptions of hundreds of resources, which are intended to be helpful to professionals, self advocates and lay persons who need information on the victimization of people with disabilities.