|
Accessibility Physical accessibility issues are an important part of everyday life for people with disabilities. Use the Net to help you find out what solutions are available for specific accessibility problems, including information about special equipment. Web:
Americans with Disabilities Act In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Although most people do not appreciate the significance of this legislation, it has an enormous effect on many areas of the American economy. Why? The ADA defines a disability as a mental or physical condition that "substantially limits one or more of the major life activities" (walking, hearing, seeing, working, and so on). The ADA requires specific action in four areas: employment, public facilities, transportation and communication. If you have some spare time, you might want to read the full text of the actual law. I did, and I found it interesting. Web:
Usenet:
Amputees Amputees and friends and families of amputees can find a lot of helpful information on the Net. These Web sites have articles and links to resources, information about prosthetics, phantom sensation, as well as sports and recreation. The mailing list and Usenet group offer ways for amputees to talk to and support one another. Web:
Usenet:
Listserv Mailing List:
Attention Deficit Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a condition characterized by hyperactivity, a short attention span (distractibility) and impulsive behavior. The more formal name for this condition is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, so let's call it that. Most ADHD sufferers are diagnosed at a young age, although there are many adults with this condition. As you might imagine, people with ADHD have a lot of trouble in school and on the job. (Just think how hard it was for you to sit still when you were a kid.) What is it like to have ADHD? There is a saying, "Time is merely a means for keeping everything from happening all at once." When you have ADHD, time doesn't work like that: everything does happen all at once. Web:
Usenet:
Listserv Mailing List:
Autism Autism is a syndrome with many variations. By its nature, autism is difficult to define, especially in plain English (but that never stopped me). Autism is a congenital condition characterized by some of the following: (1) abnormal development of physical and social skills, (2) abnormal responses to sensation, (3) delayed development of speech and language, (4) abnormal ways of relating to the outside world. If you are taking care of an autistic child, information can help a great deal. Web:
Usenet:
Listserv Mailing List:
Birth Defects A birth defect (or congenital defect) is a condition that is present from birth. There are various types of birth defects, including mental deficiencies, physical traits, malformations and diseases. There are a number of different causes of birth defects: genetic abnormalities, infections, drugs (including alcohol, illegal drugs, and certain medicines), smoking, poor nutrition and environmental chemicals. Some of the more common birth defects are cerebral palsy, cleft lip or palate, fetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome, spinal bifida, hearing loss, perinatal AIDS and heart defects. Web:
Blindness One of the biggest problems blind people face is being able to access information that sighted people take for granted. A few years ago, I worked with the National Braille Press (in the U.S.) to make some of my writing available in Braille. At the time, I developed a great respect for people who read Braille, and for the many other people who work hard to make important information available to everyone. Web:
Usenet:
Listserv Mailing List:
Listserv Mailing List:
Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip The palate is the hard, bony area that forms the roof of your mouth. A cleft palate is a congenital (birth) defect in which there exists a fissure along the midline of the palate. A cleft lip (which is often present with a cleft palate) occurs when one or both lips have not fused properly. Unlike many other birth defects, a cleft palate or cleft lip can often be repaired surgically. Web:
Computer Accessibility If you have some type of disability, you may have problems using a computer. If so, you should know that a lot of work has been done to make computers as accessible as possible to everyone. These resources will provide you with a great deal of useful information including ways to design accessible Web sites and tools to test the accessibility of existing sites. By the way, Windows comes with a lot of built-in accessibility aids. Look in the Windows help system for the details. Web:
Usenet:
Listserv Mailing List:
Deaf-Blind Discussion List This is a multipurpose list devoted to the topic of dual sensory impairment or deaf-blindness. Not only is it a place where professionals can discuss problems and solutions, but it's also a space in which individuals with DSI or families and friends can share information, inquiries, ideas and opinions.
Listserv Mailing List:
Deafness Here are some discussion forums in which the deaf, the hearing impaired, researchers, and family members of the deaf all gather to discuss issues relating to deafness. People discuss medical and technical subjects, as well as experiences and problems. Aside from the ongoing discussion, you can use the Web to access a great deal of useful information, including an online ASL (American Sign Language) dictionary. When I lived in Berkeley, I studied ASL for a short time. I wish I were fluent -- it is a beautiful language. Web:
Usenet:
Listserv Mailing List:
Disability Benefits If you live in the United States, there are a variety of programs, managed by the Social Security Administration, that are available to assist people with disabilities. However, the rules and regulations are complex so, if you have a problem, take a moment to see if there might be a program designed to help you and, if so, what are the details. Web: Usenet:
Disability Resources There is an enormous amount of disability-related material on the Net. If you, or someone you know, has a particular disability, I guarantee there are many people on the Net in the same position. Here are some good places to start exploring. You will find a large amount of information, as well as many other people who share your interests. Web:
Disabled Sports Some of the best athletes in the world are disabled. However, they don't get the same media attention as professional athletes, so it can be difficult to follow their activities. Moreover, if you are disabled, you may want to find out what sports are available to you. The Net can help. Here are some resources that introduce you to the many sports programs available to people with physical handicaps. Web:
Down Syndrome Down syndrome is a congenital disorder caused by the existence of an extra critical portion of chromosome 21. The condition is characterized by mild to moderate mental retardation. Such people also tend to be short with broadened facial features. Down syndrome was named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who first identified the condition in 1866. Web:
Usenet:
Listserv Mailing List:
Dyslexia Dyslexia is a reading and writing disability characterized by the reversal of letters and words, or by trouble matching letters to their corresponding sounds. Here are some Internet resources with information about dyslexia, including tips for teachers, research information, reports and useful software. Web:
Usenet:
Family Village Family Village is a great site for anyone who has a disability or for parents who have children with disabilities. Family Village has a library of specific diagnoses, contact lists, ways to get in touch with other people with similar disability issues, and much, much more. Web:
Handicap Talk and General Discussion If you have a handicap, you will find something helpful from this Usenet group. Useful information and personal support cover problems facing amputees, medical issues for the disabled, handicap access concerns, politics, and personal interest stories such as biographies of famous people with handicaps. Usenet:
Kids with Disabilities Parents of children with disabilities will find these resources useful. The Web sites have links to information about mental and physical disabilities and related adaptive technologies. The mailing list acts as a support group for parents and other people who work with disabled children. Web:
Listserv Mailing List:
Paralysis and Spinal Cord Injuries If you, or someone you know, has paralysis or a spinal cord injury, it is good to understand the physical and medical aspects of the condition. It is also important to be able to talk to other people. These resources will provide you with information and news, as well as an easy way to find others who share your concerns. Web:
Usenet:
Rehabilitation Rehabilitation is a vast area of human endeavor, related to many different types of disabilities and conditions. Here are Web sites that contain excellent collections of rehabilitation-related resources. Spend some time browsing. You will be astonished at all the information that is available. Web:
Service Dogs Service dogs perform tasks for people with physical disabilities. There are several types of such dogs, including general service dogs, hearing dogs and social dogs. General service dogs perform tasks like switching lights on and off, fetching items, pulling a wheelchair and pushing buttons. Hearing dogs can alert a deaf person to noises such as the telephone, alarm clocks, or a crying baby. Social dogs provide companionship and guidance for people with developmental disabilities. Web:
Listserv Mailing List:
Majordomo Mailing List:
Special Olympics The Special Olympics are an exciting sports competition for individuals with mental retardation. The Special Olympics were founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and today there are Special Olympics programs in many countries all over the world. This is the official site for the program. You can learn more about the Special Olympics, discover how you can become a volunteer, and read other information about this great program for the mentally retarded. Web:
|
© All contents Copyright 2005, Harley Hahn
Full trademark and copyright information