This book is based upon group participation and presentations given at three regional workshops on science and technology for the handicapped. The first workshop focused on issues in technology for daily living. Papers presented examined such areas as daily living technology for the disabled, psychological aspects of rehabilitation engineering,…

Addressed to those individuals who have responsibility for development of volunteer programs for a variety of agencies and organizations, this guide provides positive examples and practical suggestions to increase accessibility to community organizations for handicapped individuals. Its intent is to increase services to the handicapped population…

The resource guide lists information on 1341 references (1960-1975) on barrier-free environments for elderly and/or handicapped persons. Each citation contains bibliographic information (author, title, ordering information and source), descriptors, and a brief abstract. Resources are arranged according to the following categories (sample subtopics…

This report identifies barriers to developing livable communities and sheds light on potential methods for overcoming these barriers. It identifies and highlights multiple strategies that may be applied to the design and support of livable community principles. The identified strategies have been initiated by federal and state government agencies…

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, administers a free library program for those unable to read standard printed materials, reproducing and distributing works in braille, recorded disc, and recorded cassette. A previous study of the distribution network identified costs and developed…

A study was undertaken to explore program policies and practices related to the accessibility of American distance learning courses to qualified students with disabilities. A literature review was conducted, a draft list of accessibility indicators was created, examples of applications of the indicators in existing distance learning programs were…

This report presents a synthesis of information about assistive technology (AT) characteristics, for the purpose of identifying design characteristics that contribute to the quality of AT devices used by school children with disabilities. The first section provides a brief overview of AT, including a definition. The second section describes…

Describes alterations and adaptations to an existing laboratory table to accommodate wheelchair confined students, considering problems of vertical reach, vision requirements, utility hookups, and safety measures. Specific comments on forty experiments performed and over seventy slides for inservice workshops, seminars or consulting activities are…

This guide contains 36 learning modules intended for use by technology teachers and students in grades 7 and 8. Each module includes a student laboratory activity and instructor's resource sheet. Each student activity includes the following: activity topic and overview, challenge statement, objectives, vocabulary/concepts reinforced,…

Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II applies to schools, each school district should have a coordinator to develop an action plan covering the school system. Requirements fall into four areas: general nondiscrimination, equally effective communication, program accessibility, and employment. Compliance with the law is the…

As educators' awareness of their responsibilities towards ensuring the accessibility of the learning environment to disabled students increases, significant debate surrounds the implications of accessibility requirements on educational multimedia. There would appear to be widespread concern that the fundamental principles of creating accessible…

The proceedings of a conference called to institute a dialogue between the architectural and educational professions are summarized. Areas considered include deterrents to efficient dialogue, the need for research, parameters of research (foundational questions; flexibility; furniture, materials, hardware, and teaching equipment; information…

This report discusses access issues related to distance learning for individuals with disabilities and presents design considerations for assuring that a course is accessible to potential instructors and students with a wide range of disabilities. The field of universal design provides a framework for this discussion. It begins by describing…

The last in a series of General Accounting Office (GAO) reports that present a comprehensive review of the conditions of America's school facilities, this report organizes state-level information gathered from GAO work on school facilities into individual profiles for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report presents new information…

For several years, Weaver High School (Hartford, Connecticut) has used a grant to fund the services of a consultant to provide information and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Weaver has a program that allows students with multiple disabilities to be part of the school program and all activities. Activities have provided…