Useful Resources

Welcome to the resource page of the Southwest ADA Center. A variety of organizations in the public and private sectors provide information on the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws and on making information technology accessible. The links are provided for informational purposes only. The Southwest ADA Center makes no warranty, expressed or implied, that the information obtained from these sources is accurate or correct.

National ADA and Disability Rights Related Resources

  • Access Board
    The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities.
  • American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
    AAPD works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of disability nondiscrimination laws, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
  • ADA Document Portal
    The Portal hosts about 3,400 documents related to the ADA. Users can browse the document by category or do a search.
  • ADA National Network
    The ADA National Network consists of ten Regional ADA National Network Centers located throughout the United States that provides personalized, local assistance to ensure that the ADA is implemented wherever possible
  • American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC)
    The AIDTAC is a unique program sponsored by the Rehabilitation Services Administration to improve employment opportunities and vocational rehabilitation outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives wherever they live in the United States. To achieve this goal, AIDTAC provides a range of information and referral services, training, and technical assistance to tribal governments, tribal agencies, urban Indian centers, and non-tribal agencies providing employment-related services.
  • Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy
    The Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy (CSADP) provides public education, leadership development and training, technical assistance and information dissemination, and conducts action-research and analysis of public policy issues affecting individuals with disabilities and their families.
  • Disability Access Symbols
    These symbols are intended to help you advertise your access services to customers, audiences, staff and other targeted publics.
  • Disability.gov
    A comprehensive Federal website of disability-related government resources.
  • Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
    A national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities.
  • Disability Statistics
    The DisabilityStatistics.org Web site condenses several data sources into a single, user-friendly, accessible, Internet resource. It also provides essential background information on key issues related to disability statistics.
  • Fair Housing Accessibility First
    Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements.
  • FCC Disability Issues
    The FCC enforces telecommunications provision of the ADA along with Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act.
  • EEOC Home Page
    This is the official Web site for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which is the enforcement agency for the employment provisions of the ADA.
  • Job Accommodation Network
    This is the site for the Job Accommodation Network which provides resources on possible accommodation for persons with disabilities.  This page also has extensive links to disability related items.
  • Institute for Human Centered Design
    Promotes, facilitates, and advocates for international adoption of policies and designs that enable every individual, regardless of disability or age, to participate fully in all aspects of society.
  • ILRU Directory of Centers for Independent Living
    A national list of nonprofit agencies that are designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities and provide an array of independent living services.
  • National Center on Accessibility
    A collaborative program of Indiana University and the National Park Service, the National Center on Accessibility is the nation’s premiere resource promoting access for people with disabilities in recreation
  • National Center on Workforce & Disability (NCWD)
    The National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult (NCWD) provides training, technical assistance, policy analysis, and information to improve access for all in the workforce development system.
  • Protection & Advocacy
    This site provides links to the Protection & Advocacy Centers in each state.  Protection & Advocacy Centers are Federally mandated to provide protection of the rights of persons with disabilities through legally based advocacy.
  • Section508.gov
    Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. Using this web site, Federal employees and the public can access resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508.
  • Small Business Administration
    Outreach to individuals with disabilities interested in starting their own business.
  • Social Security - Benefits for People with Disabilities
    The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.
  • The ARC
    Advocacy for children and adults with mental retardation and their families.
  • U.S. Department of Education- Office for Civil Rights
    This is the official web site for the US Department of Education enforcing the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
  • U.S. Department of Justice's ADA Page
    The US DOJ enforces Title II and Title III of the ADA.
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
    The DOT enforces the transportation accessibility provisions of the ADA.
  • Workplace RERC
    The Workplace RERC identifies, designs, and develops devices and systems to help people with disabilities be more productive in the workplace.

State Disability Resources in Region 6

  • Arkansas DHS - Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
    The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) offers a wide range of services and supports to Arkansans with developmental disabilities and their families.
  • Arkansas DHS - Division of Services for the Blind
    The Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) provides an array of services to visually impaired Arkansans statewide affording the opportunity to live full and productive lives, with dignity and self respect
  • Arkansas Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council
    The Arkansas Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council supports people with
    developmental disabilities in achieving independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into the community through advocating and promoting service systems that enhance their lives
  • Louisiana Governor's Office of Disability Affairs
    The Governor's Office of Disability Affairs promotes the rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities in the State of Louisiana.
  • Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
    Louisiana Rehabilitation Services assists persons with disabilities in their desire to obtain or maintain employment and/or achieve independence in their communities by providing rehabilitation services and working cooperatively with business and other community resources.
  • Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
    The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council is made up of people from every region of the state who are appointed by the governor to develop and implement a three year plan to address the needs of persons with disabilities.
  • Louisiana Disability Legal Resources
    This website is a joint effort of The Arc of Louisiana and the Southwest ADA Center to connect legal professionals, human service professionals, advocates, Louisianans with disabilities and their families.
  • New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability
    The committee's mission is to remove architectural and attitudinal barriers to the full and equal participation and integration of persons with disabilities into society through education, training, building code development, advocacy and legislation.
  • New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
    The purpose of the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is to help people with disabilities to achieve a suitable employment outcome
  • Oklahoma ABLE Tech Assistive Technology Project of Oklahoma
    Provides technical assistance and training on making information technology accessible in educational settings and promotes systems change to enhance the provision of, access to and funding for assistive technology.
  • Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
    DRS helps employers recruit qualified employees who really want to work. It assists students, parents and educational staff in public schools, as well as those attending our residential schools. DRS also determines medical eligibility for Social Security disability benefits and operates dozens of programs that help Oklahomans lead more independent, productive lives.
  • Oklahoma AgrAbility Project
    The mission of the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project is to provide education, assistance, and support to farmers, ranchers, and their families who have a disability or debilitating injury that limits their ability to perform essential farm tasks.
  • Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
    This website provides resources and information on disabilities including committee members and law, publications, ADA, key laws, disability history, disability policy, parking, and statistics.
  • Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
    Comprises the programs and functions of the following legacy agencies: Texas Rehabilitation Commission Texas Commission for the Blind, Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention.
  • Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
    The Council works to ensure that the service delivery system provides comprehensive services and supports that meet people's needs, are easy to access and are cost effective. We also work to improve people's understanding of disability issues.
  • Texas Department of Licensing & Registration Architectural Barriers
    The provisions of the Texas Architectural Barriers Act (TABA) are intended to encourage and promote the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and eliminate, insofar as possible, unnecessary barriers encountered by persons with disabilities, whose ability to engage in gainful occupations or to achieve maximum personal independence is needlessly restricted.
  • Texas Technology Access Project
    The Texas Technology Access Project provides information, conducts training and technical assistance and works with policy makers to support children and adults with disabilities in their efforts to acquire and use technology as a routine part of day-to-day living.
  • Texas Workforce Commission: Civil Rights
    The Commission's goal is to reduce discrimination (including on the basis of disability) in employment and housing through education and outreach programs and the enforce of the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act and Texas Fair Housing Act.

Accessible Information Technology Resources:

  • Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
    CAST is an educational, not-for-profit organization that uses technology to expand opportunities for all people, especially those with disabilities.
  • Cynthia Says
    This free service will allow you to test web pages and help expose and repair barriers to accessibility and encourage compliance with existing accessibility guidelines, such as Section 508 and the W3C's WCAG.
  • IBM Accessibility Center
    IBM checklists and guidelines regarding Software accessibility, Web accessibility, Java accessibility,IBM Lotus Notes® accessibility, Hardware accessibility, and Peripherals accessibility.
  • Microsoft Accessibility
    Tutorials and guidelines on how to use the accessibility features of Microsoft products such as Windows and Office.
  • National Center for Accessible Media
    The CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) is a research and development facility dedicated to the issues of media and information technology for people with disabilities in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. They are the developers of MAGpie, used to create captions and audio descriptions for rich media. They also have guidelines on making CD-ROM-based educational software accessible.
  • Section 508: The Road to Accessibility
    A federal government website devoted to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
  • Trace Center
    The Trace Center is currently working on ways to make standard information technologies and telecommunications systems more accessible and usable by people with disabilities.
  • W3C Web Accessibility Initiative Resources
    The initiative pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development. Their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is the most popular standard used for web accessibility.
  • WebAim
    Web Accessibility In Mind (WebAIM) 's goal is to improve accessibility to online learning opportunities for all people; in particular to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities who currently may have a difficult time getting access to postsecondary online learning opportunities. The website includes tutorials, training, guidelines and more.
  • Web Publishing Accessibility Wizard for Microsoft Office
    The Accessibility Wizard simplifies the task of converting PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and (in the future) Excel spreadsheets to accessible HTML through an easy-to-use user interface and automation of many of the details of conversion.

Assistive Technology Resources:

  • Abledata
    ABLEDATA is a federally funded project whose primary mission is to provide information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources to consumers, organizations, professionals, and caregivers within the United States.
  • The Alliance for Technology Access
    The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers, Vendors and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies.
  • assistivetech.net
    Helps people find assistive technology (AT) solutions that match their needs by maintaining searchable databases of thousands of products and resources.
  • National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education through Technology (NCIP)
    Promotes technology to enhance educational outcomes for students with sensory, cognitive, physical and social/emotional disabilities. Large section on technology for early childhood.
  • RESNA
    Purpose is to improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology.