Adaptive Technologies and the Internet

CNIB Library's VISUCAT CANADA
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind's VISUCAT CANADA sytem provides access to over 60,000 titles in various formats via both telnet and the web. The system also offers tutorials to facilitate usage and provides access to partner catalogues as well, including the National Library of Canada, the Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, and the National Library for the Blind in the United Kingdom.

Web Accessibility Initiative
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), in co-ordination with organizations around the world, is pursuing accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education & outreach, and research & development. Their site contains an enormously detailed "Resources"section (categorized on their main page) covering all aspects of ICT and accessibility, and other sections detailing WAI's mission, history, and news.

Builder.com - Web Authoring
CNET and Builder.com provide this resource for building accessible websites. It includes qualified links and follows the WAI initiatives using a simple, straightforward menu approach, with a number of examples and clearly written coding guidelines. The site includes a broad range of further resources from industry heavyweights such as MicroSoft and IBM.

The Trace Research Center
The Trace Research Center at the University of Wisconsin was a pioneer in the realm of specialized engineering and adaptive technologies, and remains in the forefront of the field. The site provides extensive information and links across the entire ICT realm including documents, websites, hardware, software, and telecommunications. An exceptional resource at the cutting edge of ICT and adaptive technologies research.

The Accessible Canadian Library II

A PDF version of the "Accessible Canadian Library II" by Wendy Scott and Ann Archer (NLC publication). This is a long document (or short book) that focuses primarily on physical rather than technological or electronic access . In tandem with ICT accessibility, this work is very valuable as part of a comprehensive, overall access program in a library.

SNOW (Univ. of Toronto)

The U of T's SNOW (Special Needs Opportunity Window) provides a wealth of info on Ontario- specific as well as international information, links, documents and resources regarding adaptive technologies. Emphasis is geographic, but links cover the range of issues, age groups, and technologies, and the site is well laid out and easy to navigate. The site also includes links to a number of tutorials and workshops, and has a kids page as well.

Sweden's Institute of Independent Living organization has created a portal with a huge number of links for all types of disability issues, including a large section on ICT and computers. Of particular value is the site's international focus, with links to content from Europe and in languages other than English.

Digital Divide: People with Disabilities
This article, written by Cynthia Waddell and commissioned by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is entitled "The Growing Digital Divide in Access for People with Disabilities: Overcoming Barriers to Participation in the Digital Economy". Its core focus is on website design and barriers to access that current web design perpetuates. Notably, the "digital divide" phrase used herein is broadened beyond its normative connotations of financial and economic differential among people and groups to incorporate issues of disabled access.

Web-4-All
This Government of Canada site seeks to provide accessible web access for all, and has developed a hardware and software system that can quickly be adapted to accommodate the needs of individual public access computer users on a sign-in basis. Pilot programs are currently in place in a number of settings across Canada.

Equal Opportunity
This government of Ontario site is an enormous portal with literally thousands of links to articles and resources concerning all aspects of ability and disability. It has an alphabetized index and notes Canadian articles with a maple leaf for quick identification. The link is situated on the index entry for "Adaptive Devices and Assistive Technology", but the breadth of the site provides a great deal of context and reference for extended information. Plugging "libraries" into the search feature provides over twenty articles specifically focused on libraries, accessibility, and adaptive technologies.

Adaptech - Assistive Software
The AdapTech Project at Montreal's Dawson College provides a site of downloads - some free, some at cost - designed to assist computer usage for people with a wide range of disabilities. These include speech recognition, cursor enhancements, magnification software, and many others. The downloads tend to be inexpensive, and may assist libraries in adapting some of their hardware for dedicated usage. In addition to these downloads, the site offers access to a large assembly of articles and publications on ICT, education, and adaptive technologies.

Adaptive Technology for the Internet
This is an online version of Barbara T. Mates' book "Adaptive Technology for the Internet: Making Electronic Resources Available to All" provided by the American Library Association. Mates is the Regional Librarian for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at the Cleveland Public Library, and her book takes libraries beyond physical access and explores the myriad ways inadequate technology can prevent some users from full participation. Mates examines large print and auditory usage of the Internet, alternative keyboards design, voice and character recognition software, equipment funding and staff support and training, and the challenges of real world application of the options she presents. Of great value are the appendices, glossary, and bibliography, which add an extensive range of resources for interested libraries to explore and research.