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ABLEDATA has a searchable datable of AT products and manufacturers, both domestic and international. The category AT Resources allows one to search for assistive technology grants and loans.
Toy evaluations by an independent nonprofit agency that fosters play for children with disabilities. The online database rates the toys for suitability for children with cognitive, physical, sensory, or communicative disabilities (searchers may combine two categories).
This NLS Factsheet describes the braille system and its history, introduces the alphabet, and includes a brief biography of Louis Braille.
Source: National Library Service for the Blind and Print DisabledSome of the visual skills that need to be evaluated as part of a child's comprehensive vision examination.
Source: Optometrists NetworkThis overview of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) includes information about sensory-avoiding children and sensory-seeking children, as well a list of common motor skill problems. There are numerous links to other aspects of SPD on this site.
Source: Sensory Processing Disorder FoundationUp-to-date, reliable information on the most common eye diseases and disorders; research on new treatments and diagnostic tools.
Source: Schepens Eye Research InstituteAccess World is an AFB publication with product comparisons and reviews of assistive technology for people with visual impairments; archives are fully searchable.
Source: American Foundation for the BlindThis is a catalog of audio-described videos available for purchase.
Source: Media Access Group at WGBHA selected list of museums with exhibit consideration for people who are blind or visually impaired, such as touch-tours and multi-sensory exhibits
Source: New York Public LibraryStudents who are blind should not be excluded from physics courses because of inaccessible textbooks. The modules in this collection present physics concepts in a format that students with visual impairments can read using accessibility tools, such as an audio screen reader and an electronic line-by-line braille display. These modules are intended to supplement and not to replace the physics textbook.
Source: Richard BaldwinThis interactive website is full of practical ideas for hands-on lessons, resources, materials, and more. Subscribe to the blog, ask questions, and share your ideas with an online community of practice of educators interested in making science accessible to students with visual impairments.
Source: Perkins eLearningThis section of the interactive website includes information about products and instructional materials for teaching science to students with visual impairments.
Source: Perkins School for the BlindIn this webcast, Perkins science teacher Kate Fraser outlines teaching strategies and adaptations to make science lessons and activities accessible to students who are visually impaired. Find even more resources more at the Perkins Accessible Science website.
Source: Webcast, Perkins School for the BlindThis free online resource provides information about accessibility, education policy, and more.
Source: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)Aimed at parents, this page provides a brief overview of the challenges facing teenagers with visual impairment who are studying geography and history.
Source: Family Connect for Parents of Children with Visual ImpairmentsMartha Majors, of the Perkins Deafblind Program, defines literacy for students with blindness, deafblindness, or additional disabilities. and explores alignment of the curriculum with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Source: In Touch, 2008, New England Consortium of Deafblind Projects"The AccessSTEM website is a space where K-12 teachers, postsecondary educators, and employers learn to make classroom and employment opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) accessible to individuals with disabilities, and share promising practices."
Dr. Bruce shares examples of action research studies that were conducted at Perkins School for the Blind.
Source: Perkins eLearning, Perkins School for the BlindA project developed between Penrickton Center for the Blind in Michigan, Perkins School for the Blind, and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides resources and a community of practice around the work of Dr. Lilli Nielsen and Active Learning. The site includes discussion of Active Learning principles, assessment, implementation, materials, equipment, and other events and resources. Active Learning is most effective for those with significant multiple disabilities and in the 0-48 month developmental level.
This is an excerpt from Dr. Lilli Nielsen's book, Early Learning Step by Step. It outlines her Active Learning Approach and explains the importance of the learning environment for childen with visual impairments and multiple disabilities.
Source: Future Reflections, 2004, National Federation of the Blind (NFB)