We do not present this list of links as any form of endorsement, or with any promises of positive results or aid. We present these links only as a sampling of what is available to those who may qualify, in just a few areas.
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Local County and Community links;
ACHIEVA, formerly Arc Allegheny, is western Pennsylvania's largest provider of comprehensive services and supports for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Each year, approximately 7,000 individuals and their families come to ACHIEVA for assistance and support. We have led the way with significant changes for individuals with intellectual disabilities and our services have been replicated in the United States and around the world. The ACHIEVA organization is held in high regard as a well managed and efficient nonprofit agency.
Clearfield County Department of Emergency Management
911 Leonard Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
Consumer Health Coalition
Our mission is to inspire a consumer movement to enhance access to quality, affordable health care in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
To accomplish this mission, Consumer Health Coalition:
1. Reaches out to and enrolls at-risk consumers in public health insurance programs
2. Educates the community about the availability of public health insurance programs and pertinent health policy and political issues
3. Organizes at-risk consumers and the organizations that serve them for access to health care and health system reform
DuBois, Pennsylvania Community Information and Events
FIND and SHARE the best local info, all at AmericanTowns.com
Du Bois events, organizations, community resources, news and more!
DuBois, Pennsylvania Courier Express Newspaper, Information and Events
FISA Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania that improve the lives of women, girls, and people with disabilities.
Founded in 1976, Radio Information Service (RIS) is a Pittsburgh-based radio reading service that broadcasts the reading of print material for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have difficulty holding standard print material. RIS was originally broadcast from the campus of Duquesne University.
In November 2005, the RIS board outsourced the day-to-day operations of RIS to WDUQ 90.5 FM. Radio Information Service remains an independent, charitable nonprofit organization with the board responsible for fundraising and mission performance.
Visually Impaired Pittsburgh Area Computer Enthusiasts.
Motivated by the need to learn and a desire to share their specialized knowledge, a small group of visually impaired computer users in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania formed VIPACE! (Visually Impaired Pittsburgh Area Computer Enthusiasts) in 1988. Although its structure has evolved since then, the group's mission has remained the same: to disseminate and exchange information about computer hardware, software, access technologies, and relevant supplemental information of a less technical nature.
The Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, located in the heart of Oakland, Pennsylvania, is an educational facility committed to training visually impaired students with additional disabilities. Founded more than 100 years ago as a facility to provide the best education for boys and girls who were blind, the School has never wavered from this mandate.
As a private institution chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the School educates approximately 175 students annually from 242 school districts within western Pennsylvania. Students may enroll at age three and they can continue until 21.
The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is a non-profit school with high academic expectations. WPSD, founded in 1869, provides quality educational services and a complete extracurricular program to Deaf and hard-of-hearing children from birth through Grade 12. Serving over 250 students from more than 100 school districts and 30 counties, WPSD is the largest comprehensive center for deaf education in Pennsylvania.
PA State-wide links
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Library For the Blind and Physically Handicapped
4724 Baum Boulevard,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
phone: 412.687.2440
phone: 800.242.0586
fax: 412.687.2442
The mission of the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania is to advance, protect, and advocate for the human, civil, and legal rights of Pennsylvanians with disabilities.
Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (DRN) is a statewide, non–profit corporation designated as the federally–mandated organization to advance and protect the civil rights of adults and children with disabilities. DRN works with people with disabilities and their families to ensure their rights to live in their communities with the services they need, to receive a full and inclusive education, to live free of discrimination, abuse and neglect, and to have control and self–determination over their services.
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
For Clearfiel & Jefferson Counties.
Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
OVR Mission Statement;
To assist Pennsylvanians with disabilities to secure and maintain employment and independence.
Central Office
1521 N. Sixth St.
Harrisburg, PA. 17102
717-787-6176
800-622-2842
800-233-3008 TTY
Erie District Office;
3100 Lovell Place
Erie, PA. 16503
Voice - 814-871-4401
Toll free in PA - 866-521-5073
TTY - 888-884-5513
DuBois District Office
199 Beaver Drive
DuBois, PA 15801
814-371-7340
TTY - 814-371-7505
Toll Free - 800-922-4017
Toll Free in PA - 888-884-5513
FAX - 814-765-0600
The Mission of PA Connecting Communities is to empower individuals with disabilities with opportunities to improve their quality of life.
* by developing friendships
* by providing social experiences
* by providing information
* by providing opportunities
We accomplish our goals through participation in community programs, promoting the arts, and experiencing on the job training programs in an operating business environment created by our organization.
PA Connecting Communities Vision is to create social change with this Mission.
Pennsylvania Council of the Blind
Clearfield - Jefferson Counties Chapter
PO Box# 945
DuBois, PA 15801
Pennsylvania Council of the Blind (State)
931 N. Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-920-9999
800-736-1410
FAX 717-920-9988
For those who wish to join the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind's Yahoo group, follow this link to the group's main page.
Pennsylvania State Agencies, Authorities, Boards, Commissions, Councils, Departments, and Offices
Pennsylvania Accessible Housing Program (PAHP)
The CILCP's role in this program is to provide assistance to people with disabilities in the application process through to the closing.
Provides grants to local entities to carry out home modification programs that will enable low-and moderate-income persons with physical disabilities of all ages to make their home more accessible.
Eligibility: Units of local government such as counties, cities, boroughs, townships, and home rule municipalities; Redevelopment Authorities; Nonprofit corporations (with operational capacity).
Uses: Adaptive modifications that increase the ability of persons with permanent, physical disabilities to remain in their homes preventing institutionalization.
Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs - PhRMA:
This site contains a directory of prescription drug patient assistance programs. Users can find out which pharmaceutical companies participate and how to access low-cost to no-cost medications.
The Senate of Pennsylvania.
Visit Pennsylvania
Country-wide links
American Council of the Blind
Purposes: The Council strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.
Americans with Disabilities Act.
Call to obtain answers to general and technical questions about the ADA and to order technical assistance materials:
800-514-0301 Voice
800-514-0383 TDD
DeBee Communications, Corp. is a deaf-owned company that was incorporated on January 11, 1993 in Delaware by James DeBee, President/CEO, Robert W. Schaufele, Jr., Vice President of Finance and Joanne DeBee, Vice President. The original company, DeBee Productions was a deaf-owned independent company founded in 1985 by James DeBee to film documentaries, and educational videotapes focused on deaf issues for deaf and hearing people. Mr. DeBee did a lot of freelance work for DeBee Productions. Mr. DeBee and his talented staff invested a large quantity of time, along with years of experience, in researching and developing this niche of the industry.
Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration:
This web site is designed to direct adults, youth, dislocated workers, and workforce development professionals to information about programs and services available.
Disability Rights Advocates:
The Health Access Project section of this web page provides an overview of accessible healthcare rights. A handbook entitled Through the Maze: A Guide to Health Care and Insurance Rights for People with Disabilities is available to download in English and Spanish.
Federal disability resource site:
Informational portal on civil rights, education, employment, housing, health care, and transportation.
Human-friendly solutions
HumanWare products are designed to last, to grow (and in many cases, to go) with the user. Giving them the independence to compete effectively with peers, to feel connected – to be a vital part of the global information age in which we live.
Lighthouse International
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to preserving vision and to providing critically needed vision and rehabilitation services to help people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss. Through clinical services, education, research, and advocacy, the Lighthouse enables people with low vision and blindness to enjoy safe, independent and productive lives.
National Center on Workforce and Disability/Youth:
The site is a national collaboration on youth, workforce development and disability. The site provides resources, publications and links, and features promising practices.
National Center on Workforce and Disabilities:
The official web site for the National Center on Workforce and Disabilities for adults. Includes information on "One Stop Career Centers."
Neighborhood Legal Services:
From Neighborhood Legal Services, this site provides information on public assistance, SSI, Medicaid/Medicare, the National Assistive Technology Project, the ADA, and a number of other legal issues pertinent to people with disabilities.
Search site for U.S. Government agencies:
This site is the U.S. government's official web portal. It is a gateway to government links for citizens, businesses and government employees.
Social Security Administration, Office of Employment Support Programs - OESP:
Social Security's web site focused on employment.
Fact sheet from the Social Security Administration on the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.
Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Advisory Panel:
The web site of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel from the Social Security Administration. Provides information on Panel Members, meetings, calendar of events, news, progress reports and panel recommendations.
Work Incentives Transition Network:
The Work Incentives Transition Network focuses on work for school-aged youth with disabilities. The site provides downloadable documents, links to collaborating agencies and an internet course on SSI Work Incentives for youths.
World-wide links
Accessible Devices
If you're interested in sharing information with others, and learning from them, about products and software that are accessible to the Blind.
Accessible Religious Material
Friends, My son and I have formed Optasia Ministry to provide free religious materials for blind computer users. It all started when I was looking for an NIV Bible (New International Version) that would run on my Freedom Scientific Pac Mate, and couldn't find a vendor who could promise me it would work. So my son created one, and it also workds well with JAWS on the desk top. We can provide you with a free NIV Bible and lots of other stuff.
Check out our website.
For more information
Blessings,
Tom Vos
The Internet Archive is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, we provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, and the general public.
116,980 movies
49,148 concerts
254,231 recordings
400,615 texts
Braille Bookstore
If you want to learn Braille, pick up some cool new knick-knacks to intrigue your friends, or need some Braille writing supplies, you should drop into our Braille Workshop. Here, four separate tables have been set up to cater to the needs of Braille readers young and old, experienced or not. With intro booklets, flash cards, charts, and a bunch of brand-new Braille teaching toys, the first two tables will help you learn the alphabet and get others excited about reading by touch. For those more familiar with Braille, or if you're doing a project on this ingenious system of dots, you won't want to miss the other tables, either. They're stacked with piles of Braille hand-outs, lots of great new ideas like alphabet buttons and name cards, and a full compliment of Braille slates, paper, labels, and other necessities.
CAST is a nonprofit organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals, especially those with disabilities, through the research and development of innovative, technology-based educational resources and strategies.
The JAWS Users List
A little history about the JAWS Users List and why it was created.
I have always wanted to be on a list like this where people could help each other out by exchanging information and answering questions from people of all skill levels. The fact is no matter what anybody's particular abilities might happen to be no single person knows everything and even the best of us can benefit by some help every now and again.
The other thing is that I wanted it to be a safe place where nobody would feel self conscious and afraid to ask a question thinking they might be criticized from somebody else for asking it.
Movies For the Blind. Enjoy films without looking at a screen.
Click here to listen to the Movies For the Blind promo!
Essentially soundseeing tours of movies for the visually impaired.
The National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) was created to certify qualified specialists in work with the blind. At present, the Certification Board offers two certifications - the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC), and the National Certification in Literary Braille (NCLB). NBPCB certifications are performance-based.
The National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) emphasizes nonvisual instruction, and Structured Discovery learning. The National Certification in Literary Braille ( NCLB) stresses a high standard for Braille literacy and certifies thorough knowledge of the literary Braille code including proficiency in the use of a Braillewriter and slate and stylus. The NBPCB has also developed an approval process for orientation training centers who utilize Structured Discovery methodology and a consumer-focused approach. This website contains information about orientation centers across the country that are recognized by the NBPCB for upholding the highest standards in consumer-focused rehabilitation and training.
Allen Harris, President
C Edwin Vaughan, Vice-President
Edward Bell, Secretary/Treasurer
Jeff Altman, Certification Committee Chairman
Mailing Address
101 S Trenton St
Ruston, LA 71270
Phone (318) 257-4554
Fax (318) 257-2259
How many of your council members would benefit from and enjoy reading radio 24/7 with no cost, no equipment to buy, convert, or mail back and forth?
Greetings from WRBH Reading Radio, your source of current news, entertainment, periodicals, books, and more.
Our mission is to turn the printed word into the spoken word so that the blind and print handicapped receive the same ease of access to current information as their peers. No hooks, no fees, no memberships. We are funded by foundations, underwriting, and private contributions. WRBH has served the New Orleans metropolitan and surrounding areas for over twenty-five years via our broadcast tower and transmitter. We are now proud to serve the entire country and the world via our streaming webcast.
Please help us spread the word by adding WRBH contact information on your website, giving our station a mention in your newsletters or resource materials, and telling your clients, family, and friends about us.
As a way to return the favor to those who help us, we will add your organization to our RESOURCES page on our website and will gladly display your informational brochures in our front lobby, which is frequented by our group of over 200 volunteers.
If you have any questions or would like to submit your organization's contact information to us for publication, please contact me anytime. WRBH Reading Radio looks forward to building bountiful partnerships that further enhance the lives of the blind and print handicapped. Thanks for your time.
Regards,
Laurin Stennis, MSW, LCSW
Development Director, WRBH 88.3FM
Reading Radio for the Blind and Print Handicapped
504.899.1144, ext. 16 (phone)
504.899.1165 (fax)
System Access to Go is a screen reader for the Windows operating system. It is actually part of a package which may be obtained from Serotek at this URL:
There is no installation necessary. Simply go to http://www.satogo.com and follow the spoken prompts. Other screen readers must be unloaded from memory for it to work though. You may sign up for a free trial by typing in "trial," and then completing a form. You will then be sent an email containing your user ID and PIN. Both these have to be entered in order for the trial to work. This trial lasts for an unlimited number of days, but the trial times out after a certain length of time if the computer is allowed to sit idle. System Access to Go resembles JAWS and Window-Eyes in some ways, but there are also many differences. A Help and Tutorials section is available, which contains audio tutorials recorded by an employee of Serotek.
Sharp Visions
Because of the flexible nature of our services, we are able to accommodate virtually any kind or combination of disabilities.
Some common types of disabilities we work with are as follows:
* autism spectrum disorders
* cognitive disabilities
* developmental disabilities
* environmental disabilities
* intellectual disabilities
* neurological disorders
* physical disabilities
* psychiatric disorders
We have experience creating options for people born with disabilities and for people living with circumstances that are due to specific events such as traumatic brain injuries. Please keep in mind we specialize in blazing new trails in terms of treatment and living arrangement solutions. Contact us with your specific needs (even if your individual circumstances are not listed above) and we will do our best to meet those needs.
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
The W3C was founded in 1994 to develop common protocols for the evolution of the World Wide Web. W3C is an international industry consortium, jointly hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Laboratory for Computer Science [MIT/LCS] in the United States; the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique [INRIA] in Europe; and the Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus in Asia. W3C recently announced the formation of the Web Accessibility Initiative to develop access standards and protocols for the Web.
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