Assistive Technology in the Workplace Case Study Videos
The Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA), in conjunction with United Cerebral Palsy, has produced a series of English-language videos including case studies that feature ways assistive technology has helped to create successful employment for people with disabilities. For the first time, all seven of the videos have been combined into a series on a single DVD or VHS. The following video segments are included: Assistive Technology for Learning Disabilities; Alternative and Augmentative Communications in the Workplace; Assistive Technology in Office Settings; Assistive Technology in Production Settings, and Assistive Technology in Food Service Settings. Each video is captioned and available in DVD or VHS format for $75.00 plus S&H. To purchase, call the Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA) at 800.726.9119.

New Definition of Family-Centered Care
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, has developed a new definition and principles of family-centered care and an explanation of how cultural competence should be integrated throughout family-centered care. Go to the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center to download a print copy.

Parent Briefs Available in Spanish
National Center on Secondary Education and Training (NCSET) announced that three Spanish-language editions of their Parent Brief publications are now available online. They include:

"Criando Estudiantes de Postsecundaria con Discapacidades: Convirtiéndose en el Mentor, Abogado y Guía que su Hijo Necesita" ("Parenting Postsecondary Students With Disabilities: Becoming the Mentor, Advocate, and Guide Your Young Adult Needs.")

IDEA 1997 Temas de Transición" ("IDEA 1997 Transition Issues: The IEP forTransition Aged Students.")

"La Planificación Centrada en la Persona: Una Herramienta para la Transición" ("Person-Centered Planning: A Tool for Transition.")

Study and Work Abroad For All
In addition to information about traineeships and volunteer positions this free online database lists universities offering services for disabled students. Presently over 1,100 universities in 36 countries are covered. The database is in English, free of charge and open to anyone.

Assistant Referral Service
Matches disabled assistance users and assistants in their hometown or in other parts of the world, for live-in or part-time positions or as travel companions. Assistants help with the activities of daily living, such as getting bathed and dressed, going shopping, driving, etc.

Global Networking
Currently lists 300 organizations of and for persons with disabilities from around the world looking partner organizations for joint projects, events, sharing resource persons for lectures, training or technical assistance, for study visits, internships or other cooperation including funding.

Independent Living Discussion Forum
Regardless of what you have on your mind, you'll find an appropriate discussion forum that allows you direct contact with the thousands of visitors to our site each month.

Workforce Recruitment Program
The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) released its database of college students seeking summer jobs and internships. The WRP database captures over 1,900 pre-screened job candidates with disabilities and is available on a free CD-ROM. The database lets employers search for potential applicants by academic major, home state, school or key word.  In addition, the database captures the results of personal interviews with each of the candidates. To request a copy of the WRP database on CD-ROM, send your name, company name and mailing address to wrp@dol.gov or call ODEP at (202) 693-7880.

Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities
Diploma options represent alternative means of graduating from high school. This brief outlines the different types of diploma options, discusses the benefits of systems with single diploma options and those with multiple diploma options, and provides information about further resources on the topic. http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1928

Think College Website
A new website has been designed to help students with cognitive disabilities make attending college a reality instead of a dream. This website will serve as a repository of links and other information exploring the many opportunities that are now becoming more readily available. http://www.thinkcollege.net/

DiversityShop Resources on Disability and Employment
Are you interested in learning more about disability and employment issues? Are you an employer, educator, service provider, job seeker with a disability? DiversityShop carries more than 20 books and videos on issues related to disability and employment.

Helping Job Seekers Who Have Limited Basic Skills
This guide provides program planners and frontline staff at public and private career centers with an introduction to the steps involved in planning, implementing, and improving a system of services that helps job seekers who have limited basic skills to meet workplace skill requirements and get and keep rewarding, financially sustaining jobs. (PDF)

WorkABLE Solutions Website for Employers
This website from Canada is a great example of how a province/state can encourage its employers to focus on the talent pool represented by people with disabilities. It is a smart and comprehensive site featuring a handbook for employers, video, a listing of disability-specific employment agencies and job-posting service and resume database.

Microenterprise Services for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: A Market of Millions
The Association for Enterprise Opportunity in conjunction with The Abilities Fund has developed a training manual designed to give microenterprise development organizations an introduction to the potential of extending services to entrepreneurs with disabilities. The cost of the manual is $17 and can be ordered at their website.

The Able Trust in Florida
The Able Trust (http://www.abletrust.org) assists non-profit organizations, vocational rehabilitation programs and consumers in obtaining employment for people with disabilities. Trust funds support job training, job coaching, job development and outreach programs including the Business Leadership Network that links employers to the disability community, and the Youth Leadership Forum for emerging leaders.

The Able Trust, 106 East College Avenue, Suite 820, Tallahassee, FL 32301; (888) 838- ABLE (toll free in Florida); (850) 224-4493 (voice/TDD); (850) 224-4496 (Fax); Email: info@abletrust.org

International Career Publication Available Online for People with Disabilities
Released on the International Day of Disabled Persons, a new online resource from Mobility International USA/National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange titled "Preparing for an International Career: Pathways for People with Disabilities" encourages young adults with international interests to explore careers in the international affairs, exchange and development fields. As one International Affairs graduate, who is blind, shares, "The Berlin Wall fell when I was in high school, and I had a world history teacher who gave us global current events every single day of class. I thought, 'Wow, what an interesting time to be alive. How wonderful if I could have a career affecting it in some way.'"

This downloadable booklet highlights different types of international occupations, job prospects, tips to prepare for an international career, insights from role models and emerging leaders with disabilities in these fields, and the international exchange and fellowship programs they participated in to get them where they are today. Go to the MIUSA website to find information on many activities one can participate in as stepping stones to an international career.

Learn to Develop Negotiated Positions with Employers
The Training and Technical Assistance for Providers (*T-TAP*) project has a new online seminar about job negotiation and customized employment. The customized employment process is based on a match between the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the job candidate with a disability, and the identified business needs of the employer or self-employment business chosen by the candidate. The result is a job that benefits the job seeker and company alike. You can also purchase a series of eight webcasts on customized employment from the website.

American Foundation for the Blind Web Site

If you haven't recently stopped by the American Foundation for the Blind's web site, there have been some exciting changes since your last visit. While the site is as accessible as ever, all content on is either new or updated to reflect the increasing demand for timely, authoritative information on living with blindness or visual impairment.

Some new features you'll be interested in include exhaustive information on assistive technology, including a searchable database of assistive technology products and manufacturers and fully updated content on employment, including continually updated job listings and information on workforce issues, job training, employment statistics, and much more. Be sure to update your information on CareerConnect by clicking on the Mentor Login link.

Service Provider Database for New York State
The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities offers a new way for people to find services in their area. The office added to its Web site a geographic information system that lets users map the location of support services for the mentally retarded and disabled anywhere in the state. The interactive GIS shows the location of state-sponsored services as well as those provided by 850 private organizations. A mapping link takes visitors to the GIS application where they can search by address, ZIP code and county, and service type such as counseling and other categories.

Pathways to Outcomes – School Readiness & Family Economic Success

This website holds a wealth of findings about what it takes to improve the lives of children and families living in America's tough neighborhoods. Community advocates, service providers, funders, and policymakers will find a broad collection of information about what works in social programs and policies to achieve desired results, including increased rates of children ready for school and higher numbers of economically successful families.

ASA Launches Spanish Section on its Website
The Autism Society of America (ASA) launched a Spanish-language section on its award-winning Web site, responding to the ever-growing needs of the Hispanic community to deliver bi-lingual information on autism spectrum disorders.

ADA and Accessible IT Center has expanded number of documents available in Spanish
The US Department of Justice has expanded the number of documents available on their web site that have been translated in Spanish:

ADA Questions and Answers: La Ley para Personas con Discapacidades - Preguntas y Respuestas

Commonly Asked Questions About Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Preguntas Comunes de la Ley para Personas con Discapacidades y Centros de Cuidar de Ninos

Access for 9-1-1 and Telephone Emergency Services: Acceso a los Servicios de Emergencia Telefonica y de 9-1-1

Questions and Answers: the ADA and Persons with HIV/AIDS: Preguntas y Respuestas sobre la Ley para Personas con Discapacidades y las Personas con HIV/SIDA

ADA Designated Investigative Agencies : ADA Agencias Investigatorias

A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment: ADA Guía para Personas con Discapacidades que Procuran Empleo

ADA Technical Assistance Documents in Spanish: ADA Documentos de Asistencia Tecnica en Español

Miracle Ear Children's Foundation
Miracle-Ear centers nationally provide free hearing aids and services to children from low-income families. Box 59261, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0261, 800/234-5422

Disability Resource Hotline in Tennessee
The Tennessee Disability Pathfinder is a free, comprehensive information and referral service for children and adults with disabilities, family members, service providers and advocates. Information is provided in English and Spanish by contacting 1-800-640-4636 or 1-800-273-9595 (TTY). Click on "Pathfinder en Español" to view national and local bilingual resources. The services of the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder are made possible through a partnership between the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development and the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. http://www.familypathfinder.org

AccessWorld Newsletter
AccessWorld, the American Foundation for the Blind's technology magazine, is now a free, web-only publication. Objective evaluations of assistive technology and the accessibility of mainstream products are the centerpiece of AccessWorld. The publication offers reviews of screen readers, screen magnifiers, cell phones and more.

New features such as "e-mail this article to a friend" and "printer-ready" options have been added. In addition, readers can download "Braille embosser-ready" files that have been translated and formatted to be sent directly to their Braille printers. Read the latest issue on the American Foundation for the Blind’s website. http://www.afb.org/accessworld

The ADA: Your Responsibilities as an Employer
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a one-sheet available online that tells employers all they need to know to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The sheet covers questions such as “What are my obligations to provide reasonable accommodations?” and “What is the best way to identify a reasonable accommodation?” It also tackles topics like asking a potential employee about their disability, and when you can ask an employee to have a medical examination. A complete list of contact information is referenced for more particular questions. http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada17.html.

A Model for Accessibility
The University of Hawaii produced a well-developed manual for providing adequate accommodations for people with disabilities. It covers employment and instructional issues. The "accessibility checklist" and "requirements for meeting setup" are particularly helpful. Visit the Center on Disability Studies for more information or to download a copy.

Online Directory for Accessibility
The Ontario March of Dimes created a resource to help companies find the right products and services to make their workplaces accessible. Information is organized into categories such as design, direct services, equipment, resources and training. Go to the Ontario March of Dimes website for details.

Employer’s Guide to Hidden Disabilities
This booklet provides information about the ADA, hidden disabilities and workplace accommodations. The booklet also includes an extensive list of resources related to this topic. To obtain a free copy of the guide, contact Cailín Pachter, Muhlenberg College at 484-664-3170 or by e-mail at cpachter@muhlenberg.edu or read it online.

Disability Benefits 101: Working with a Disability in California
The California Work Incentives Initiative at the World Institute on Disability hosts a website called "Disability Benefits 101: Working with a Disability in California" for workers and job seekers with disabilities.

Disability Benefits 101 provides updated and accurate information on employment, health coverage and benefits. The website will aid people with disabilities to make good financial and employment choices and will also serve as a much-needed tool for benefits planners and service providers.

Disability Benefits 101 features detailed descriptions of state, federal and private benefit programs and how they interact with employment. Other features include:

• Articles featuring sample life situations

• Guides to health coverage and benefit programs

• Plain language descriptions and complete accessibility for screen readers

• Access to local and other resources

• Search engine, site map and glossary

Visit Disability Benefits 101 at www.disabilitybenefits101.org or www.db101.org .

Office of Disability Employment Policy Publications
"Myth & Fact Sheet"

The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) published more than 50 fact sheets and brochures about a variety of issues relating to people with disabilities and employment. Of particular interest is the Myth & Fact Sheet. ODEP's website prefaces the fact sheet with the following paragraph:

"Myths are roadblocks that interfere with the ability of persons with disabilities to have equality in employment. These roadblocks usually result from a lack of experience and interaction with persons with disabilities."

Some of the items covered include "Myth: Hiring employees with disabilities increases workers compensation insurance rates." The response is "Fact: Insurance rates are based solely on the relative hazards of the operation and the organization's accident experience, not on whether workers have disabilities."

"Dispelling Myths About People with Disabilities"

A complementary publication covers myths about people with disabilities outside the workplace. It covers several areas of interest and lifestyles. According to the fact sheet, "The major barriers to achievement by people with disabilities in our society continue to be attitudinal barriers, stereotypical thinking, and assumptions about what people can and can't do."

A common assumption follows.

"There is no way that a wheelchair racer can compete with the world's best marathon runners." One by one the erroneous assumptions are disproven. The facts that dispel the preceding assumption appears below. "It takes a good runner over two hours to run a marathon. A competitive wheelchair racer can complete a marathon in less than one and a half hours."

Tech Jobs Through Lift, Inc.
Lift, Inc. qualifies, trains, hires and places information technology (IT) professionals who have physical disabilities through contacts with major corporations. This non-profit organization acts both as educational institution and job placement agency. Individuals searching for IT careers can go to Lift for full-time training, one-year of employment with one of Lift's corporate clients and prospective long term employment. Corporate clients get a source of talented, highly motivated professionals, disability awareness training and worksite evaluation. Best of all the services are all free of charge. Contact Lift, Inc. at (908) 707-9840 for more information.

Create Access for People with Disabilities in Your Organizations
This Alliance for Technology Access has made a guide available that is designed to help professionals identify where and how they can begin to make their organization more accessible. The ëAccess Aware' manual contains detailed information to help community-based organizations acknowledge the presence of people with disabilities in their community and welcoming everyone to participate in their programs and services. The guide is a companion piece to the publication "Access Aware: Extending Your Reach to People with Disabilities."

Make Your Business Accessible

The Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities created a video that demonstrates the challenges and solutions for creating spaces that are accessible to everyone. Whether for an office, home or other business or working space, this video demonstrates how accessibility can be achieved with minimal expense. The video, entitled ìAccess Maze,î costs $29.95 and can be purchased online.

Know Your Rights

California residents can visit the State Attorney General's website to request a copy of a handbook that summarizes state and federal laws designed to protect the rights of people with disabilities. ëLegal Rights of Persons with Disabilities' is the fourth edition of the publication. The new issue provides updates on the latest changes in legal protections.

Electronic Research Library Online in English and Spanish

The National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) Electronic Library helps link people to online research information, including full-text documents that are developed by National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) grantees. Online resources developed in Spanish are in the Biblioteca Electrónica.

Disability Awareness Training

The Georgia Tech Research Corporation has made a disability customer service training course available free of charge online. The course is designed to increase understanding of the needs and experiences of people with disabilities. It describes how to adjust general customer service standards to meet the needs of the customer with a disability and helps individuals develop basic etiquette for interacting with disabled customers. The self-paced curriculum can be used by customer service departments in many sectors. Registration is free and the course can be taken, complete or in part, at any time.

Guidebook for Business on Employment of People with Disabilities
The Department of Education and Chamber of Commerce joined forces to produce a guidebook for the business community to assist business leaders in hiring disabled people. "Disability Employment 101: Learn to Tap Your 'HIRE' Potential" contains 56-pages of resources to help prepare businesspeople to employ people with disabilities. The booklet covers the basics including vocational rehabilitation agencies, Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) and Centers for Independent Living (CILs). It is available online at EDPubs.org or by calling (877) 433-7827.

Housing & Disability Issues Listserv
Housing & Disability Issues is a moderated informational list. It consists of information about disability issues including home ownership, affordable housing and more. Send subscription requests to HOUSING.DISABILITY.ISSUES-request@lists.unh.edu.

Since this is not a discussion list, members are not able to send questions directly to the list. If members have information that they feel is relevant to the list, they can send it to drv@cisunix.unh.edu. If the information is appropriate, it will be posted to the list.

Career Support Center
The Career Support Center is a free informational online tool, a program of the Epilepsy Foundation that provides the tools and supports to get a job. The Center is designed for people who are ready to take a step towards finding, getting and keeping a job. Whether an individual is unemployed, underemployed or just needs another job, the online center is the place to go.

The Career Support Center offers a job preparation guide, a guide to job search sites and employment resources, identifying when to disclose your epilepsy, talking with other people who are looking for a job or have found a job, finding a local One-Stop Career Center office near you, finding a Vocational Rehabilitation Services office near you, reviewing other employment related resources and issues.

Accessible Society for News
The Center for an Accessible Society is a National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) -funded organization that "provides journalists credible information and quotable sources on national disability policy and independent living issues." Their website includes easy access to information on issues including education, employment, independent living, healthcare, housing, media, public policy, Medicare/MiCASSA, travel and transportation, technology, web and Internet access, universal design, and voting access.

Consumer Review: Zephyr-TEC's eLearnSpeech Program
by Alma Almanza, Central Coast Center for Independent Living
When I lost most of the use of my hands, I thought I would not be able to produce a typed document again. At first I was ignorant about how assistive technology could make my life easier and more productive. Later I learned about speech recognition software. It helped me get my job and, most importantly, be independent.

Assistive technology equipment and training are expensive. Speech recognition software programs, for example, require hours of training, especially for people who have difficulty breathing because sometimes they require one-to-one assistance.

I discovered a less expensive training option through a company called Zephyr-TEC. They have an innovative program called eLearnSpeech that provides speech recognition software training via the Internet. During Zephyr-TEC sessions, trainer and trainee work together in real time over the Internet and on the phone. If the trainee has difficulty with the program, the trainer intervenes and assists the student from his/her remote location. This program is a good alternative to costly home or office visits.

AgrAbility Project
The AgrAbility Project promotes independence in agricultural production and rural living to farmers and ranchers in 24 states. In participating states, project staff provide training, site visits, on-farm assessments, technical assistance, and other information to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. AgrAbility staff often show farmers how to use and adapt farm equipment and tools, modify farm operations, develop peer support networks, teach preventative education, and more. California became an AgrAbility state last year joining Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnestoa, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Legal Resource for Californians
California Indian Legal Services, the Public Interest Clearinghouse, LSC and the California Consumer Protection Foundation introduced an online resource for legal assistance in California. The easy-to-navigate site allow the viewer to search by topic including housing, immigration, disability, public benefits & health, civil rights and more. The disability link is further broken down into categories such as assistive technology, educational rights, HIV/AIDS, workers compensation, etc. Information also is available for all other states. Click the "Another states' link on the homepage and select your state.

Abilities, Inc.
Abilities, Inc. at the National Center for Disability Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the employment of people with disabilities. To this end, Abilities, Inc. operates the Career & Employment Institute, which provides training and placement services for workers with disabilties. Abilities also operates the National Business & Disability Council, which partners with major corporations to encourage and support them in hiring workers with disabilities

Learning Disabilities Association
The Learning Disabilites Association of America is a national non-profit organization. Its purpose is to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults of normal or potentially normal intelligence who manifest disabilities of a perceptual, conceptual, or coordinative nature.

Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
This project aims to inform and educate families and advocates about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 and promising practices. The FAPE partnership is under the leadership of the PACER center.

Federal Resource Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD)
The FRC supports a nationwide technical assistance network to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, especially students from under-represented populations.

Assistive Technology Hub
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) provides information and support services to people with disabilities to increase their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. ATA's "Hub" is an assistive technology database that helps users learn about the tools they can use to access technology. It is simple to get information off the Hub. Users can look for details on assistive technology organizations, services or products. It also is possible to search by categories including employment/vocational, ergonomics/environment and physical movement/control.

Self-Employment Policy Research at Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
In 1992, researchers from the University of Montana Rural Institute surveyed state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies on their self-employment policies and procedures for people with disabilities. Ten years later they surveyed VR and visual service agencies again.

The researchers found remarkable growth in VR self-employment policies and procedures. In addition, they discovered notable policy changes including that most agencies currently recognize it is important for consumers to develop their own business plans. Agencies also are providing more guidance for counselors on how to initiate and follow through on a self-employment plan.

To find out more, read the research fact sheet "State Self-Employment Policies: A Decade of Change," or call Diana Spas, Information Coordinator, Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, The University of Montana Rural Institute: Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research and Services (406) 243-5760.

Self-Employment Policy Research at Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
In 1992, researchers from the University of Montana Rural Institute surveyed state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies on their self-employment policies and procedures for people with disabilities. Ten years later they surveyed VR and visual service agencies again.
The researchers found remarkable growth in VR self-employment policies and procedures. In addition, they discovered notable policy changes including that most agencies currently recognize it is important for consumers to develop their own business plans. Agencies also are providing more guidance for counselors on how to initiate and follow through on a self-employment plan.

To find out more, read the research fact sheet "State Self-Employment Policies: A Decade of Change" or call Diana Spas, Information Coordinator, Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, The University of Montana Rural Institute: Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research and Services (406) 243-5760.

Free-Loan Media Program
The Department of Education and the National Association of the Deaf have created a bilingual video rental system called the Captioned Media Program (CMP). The program was established to bring equal access to communication to Deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. CMP has thousands of movies in English & Spanish to lend to Deaf and hard of hearing people free of charge. They even cover shipping fees to and from the renter's mailing address. Simply visit Web site, register to become a member and start browsing their database for the flick of your choice. The database is well organized and varied. The Web site also is translated to Spanish. Go to www.cfv.org or call (864) 585-2617 or (864) 585-2617 (TTY).

Youth with Disabilities Web Site
The Social Security Administration's Work Site has a section dedicated to youth with disabilities. Information in this section is helpful to youth with disabilities, their parents and families, teachers, and counselors. Consumers can find information about transition and employment issues, updates on government programs, policies and projects, and personal experience articles about children with disabilities.

Conversational Etiquette
Kathie Snow explains how using the appropriate language can help achieve "community, achievement, and freedom" for people with disabilities. The commentary entitled "People First Language" uses simple, straightforward language to explain what language to use and why it's important.

Assistive Technology Hub
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) provides information and support services to people with disabilities to increase their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. ATA's "Hub" is an assistive technology database that helps users learn about the tools they can use to access technology. It is simple to get information off the Hub. Users can look for details on assistive technology organizations, services or products. It also is possible to search by categories including employment/vocational, ergonomics/environment and physical movement/control.

Learning Disabilities Association
The Learning Disabilites Association of America is a national non-profit organization. Its purpose is to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults of normal or potentially normal intelligence who manifest disabilities of a perceptual, conceptual, or coordinative nature.

Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
This project aims to inform and educate families and advocates about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 and promising practices. The FAPE partnership is under the leadership of the PACER center.

Federal Resource Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD)
The FRC supports a nationwide technical assistance network to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, especially students from under-represented populations.

Section 508 Now Available in Spanish, Japanese and Enhanced Alternate Formats
Recognizing the international interest in access to information technology, the Access Board has posted on its Web site translations of its section 508 standards in Spanish and Japanese. The standards, issued under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, apply to electronic and information technology procured by Federal agencies. They provide specific criteria for computer hardware and software, Web sites, phone systems, fax machines, copiers, and similar technologies. The new translations are posted at www.access-board.gov/508.htm.

The Board also enhanced the range of available alternate formats by adding a text-to-speech version of the standards that can be downloaded from its site. Known as a Digital Talking Book, this format runs on software that uses synchronized speech and marked-up text files to provide audible output. This format also offers advanced navigational features. In addition, the Board has posted a version of the standards that is formatted for Braille printing. Users can download a copy to their computer for use with a Braille printer.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.

NAMI is working to reach out to Latinos across the country. This fall NAMI will sponsor the Latino Behavioral Health Institute's national conference September 23-25 in Universal City, California. There will be NAMI-sponsored sessions during all three days of the conference conducted in Spanish.

The Alliance also is working on translating their In Our Own Voice (En Nuestra Propia Voz: Viviendo con una Enfermedad Mental) program into Spanish. In Our Own Voice is a consumer-created presentation about mental illness (diagnosis, medication, recovery, coping, etc.). Consumers have made the presentation - which includes an 18-minute video and personal testimony - at universities and other venues in 21 states. Outreach Coordinator Majose Carrasco comments, "The presentation has been very successful at fighting stigma because it empowers consumers, allowing them to speak about their own lives and experiences." Currently there are Latino consumers participating in the program. The Spanish version is scheduled to be complete next year.

Visit www.nami.org or call (800) 950-6264 for information.

Resources in Florida (by Polett Villalta, polett75@msn.com)
Latin Women Empowering Latin Women is a program that offers support to Latin women and their families in their integration process. 8:30-10:30 A.M. second Tuesdays of each month, at Weston Regional Health Park 2300 N. Commerce Pkwy., Weston, FL (954) 389-1944. Ticket $5 members, $10 nonmembers.

The Caregivers Support Group happens the first and third Tuesday of every month at 10 A.M. at Memorial Senior Resource Center, 1726 East Hallandale Beach Beach Blvd., in Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Call (954) 457-0501 for information.

The Guided Self-Change Clinic is part of the Community Mental Health Center. It offers unique outpatient motivational intervention for people of all ages who wish to change drinking, drug use, smoking or gambling habits. Consumers can participate in English or Spanish at the Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314. Call (954) 262-5968 for more information.

Disability Resources on the Internet
Part of the International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet's (ICDRI) mission is to collect an enormous database of disability-related resources. The ICDRI Web site provides links to everything from 'ATM news' and 'EU activities' to 'Hispanic Web resources' and 'vocational rehabilitation.' They also have a current calendar of disability-related events, and current news.

Brain Injury Information
Last year the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) produced an information pamphlet called Facts About Concussion and Brain Injury. The pamphlet, available in English and Spanish (Información Acerca de la Lesión Cerebral Leve), explains what can happen after a concussion, how to get better and where to go for more information. It goes over danger signs in adults and children, as well as symptoms of brain injury, getting better and where to get help. The free information packet can be ordered by post, viewed online, or Adobe Acrobat.

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (Centro Nacional de Información para Niños y Jóvenes con Discapacidades)
NICHCY offers their publications and website in both English and Spanish. The publications are both specific to certain disabilities and general in nature, providing guides for parents and others who are interested in issues pertaining to children and youth (up to age 21) with disabilities. The website also includes a searchable database of national and local organizations focused on disabilities. For more information contact: National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, P.O. Box 1492,Washington, DC 20013-1492, (800) 695-0285, (202) 884-8200, (202) 884-8441 (Fax), nichcy@aed.org

National Council on Disability Posts Spanish Version of Progress Report
In keeping with Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and the National Council on Disability's long-standing policy of outreach to people with disabilities who are culturally diverse and have limited English proficiency (LEP), NCD has posted a Spanish translation of the National Disability Policy: A Progress Report, December 2000-2001 titled Política Nacional sobre Discapacidad: Un Informe del Progreso, Diciembre 2000-Diciembre 2001.

Youth Leaders Are Active Leaders
Youth leaders are active in self-determination, policy, and advocacy education for youth with disabilities around the United States and are very dynamic in their work with legislators and government officials regarding disability issues. The NYLN is governed by the Youth Leadership Council who spearheads planning for activities such as a national conference, youth-directed research, public education, mentorship, and youth consultation around the nation.

Latino youth with disabilities and their advocates can obtain more information about the NYLN by checking the NYLN web site or calling their information line at 1-(800) 410-8311 x110.

AIDTAC Move
The American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC) Web site has moved to http://aidtac.ruralinstitute.umt.edu. The Web site includes information for American Indian tribes and Alaskan Native villages about disability policy and legislation, education, transition to adult life, independent living and more.

LILA
LILA is a project of the Advanced Policy Institute's Community Information Technology Center in the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research and the Westside Center for Independent Living. It is a comprehensive resource available to those living with disabilities in the Los Angeles area with links to over 650 various disability organizations and resources in the area along with contact information and maps queries for each. It also offers a public forum where questions can be asked regarding a variety of issues related to disability. It also provides local information regarding accessibility and advocacy for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research
NCDDR's Spanish language resources website offers a portal which allows users to browse and search through web-based resources located on NCDDR's grantees' websites. You can also find a description of NCDDR's work in Spanish.

Manual Available on How to Get Help from a Vocational Rehabilitation Office
Kick Ass and Win, by Barbara Knowlen is now available for sale via her website and mail. This manual teaches those using the Vocational Rehabilitation system how to get what they need from these agencies.

Although the book was originally published in 1991, it contains updates about the changes to the Rehabilitation Act from 1998. The book is based on the experiences of the author in fighting for a stand-up power wheelchair in Kansas, but is geared toward anyone wanting results from VRAs, no matter what their need is.

The book is $12 + $4 for shipping. You can buy the book online with a credit card at Barrier Breakers. The website contains a brief summary of the book as well as an order form if you would like to mail your payment. Organizations can also buy this book via e-mail, fax, or telephone and be billed for it.

Payment can be sent to: Barrier Breakers, 4239 Camp. Rd., Oriskany Falls, NY, 13425. They can be reached via telephone at (315) 821-2460, Fax (821)-2461, and by e-mail at oneoftwo@borg.com.

Documentary Video Available on the Special Education Experience
Ir a la Escuela (Going to School) is a film that documents the daily experience of three disabled children receiving special education services in the Los Angeles school district. It is told from the perspective of the students themselves, but also provides a look at the way in which their parents have fought for their equal education opportunities. It also takes a look at the ways in which the LA schools have responded to civil laws that ensure equal education for everyone.

The film contains scenes spoken in English and in Spanish. There are 2 tapes available: one has narration and subtitles when necessary in English (& closed captions), and one with narration and subtitles when necessary in Spanish.

For information on how to see and/or buy the film or to read reviews of the film, visit Richard Cohen Films' web site or read the Proyecto Visión review of the film.

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