The following organizations sell computer products, provide information, or conduct training. This list is not intended as a complete listing, nor is it an endorsement of any listed company or their products.
Equipment and Software
Financial Aid for Purchase of Assistive Technology
Computer-Related Publications
Computer Training Facilities/Learning Opportunities
Internet Information Sources
Equipment and Software
Ai Squared
Box 669
Manchester Center, VT 05255
802-362-3612
Toll Free: 800-859-0270
Fax: 802-362-1670
[email protected]
www.aisquared.com/
Makes and sells Zoom Text screen magnification software.
American Thermoform Corporation
1758 Brackett Street
La Verne, CA 91750
909-593-6711
Toll Free: 800-331-3676
[email protected]
https://americanthermoform.com/
Sells braille embossers; thermoform machines; Perkins braillers; braille embosser accessories; braille paper & braille supplies.
Beyond Sight
5650 S. Windermere Street
Littleton, Colorado 80120
303-795-6455
Fax: 303-795-6425
To send an e-mail, go to www.beyondsight.com/contact_us.php
www.beyondsight.com/index-shopping.php
Sells a variety of accessibility products including braille displays, braille embossers, and more.
Duxbury Systems, Inc.
270 Littleton Road, Unit 6
Westford, MA 01886-3523
978-692-3000
Fax: 978-692-7912
[email protected]
www.duxburysystems.com/
Makes Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) (Windows, Macintosh, DOS, and UNIX) and MegaDots (DOS or Windows) braille translation software. DBT supports grade 1 and 2 translation in English, Spanish, French, and other languages. DBT and Megadots can produce contracted and uncontracted braille, mathematics, and technical braille.
Electronic Visual Aid Specialists (EVAS)
P.O. Box 371
Westerly, RI 02891
800-872-3827
401-596-3155
Fax: 401-596-3979
[email protected]
www.evas.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.exe/Main.htm
EVAS offers a wide range of access technology products for people with disabilities, including speech synthesizers, screen readers, refreshable braille displays, braille and tactile graphics printers, large print software, OCR reading systems, specialized keyboards, ability switches, TTYs and voice recognition software.
Enabling Technologies Company
1601 NE Braille Place
Jensen Beach, FL 34957
772-225-3687
Toll Free: 800-777-3687
Fax: 772-225-3299 or 800-950-3299
[email protected]
www.brailler.com/
Manufacturers and distributors of, among others, the Romeo and Juliet braille embossing machines.
Freedom Scientific Blind/Low Vision Group
(a merger of Henter Joyce, Blazie Engineering and Arkenstone)
11800 31st Court North
St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1805
727-803-8000
Toll Free: 800-444-4443
Fax: 727-803-8001
To send an e-mail, go to www.freedomscientific.com/forms/Contact_Us.asp?ID=General_Info
www.freedomscientific.com/
Products include screen reading software for the blind, magnification software for those with low-vision, and other products for accessible scanning and reading, as well as braille displays, notetakers, and the PacMate, an accessible PDA for the blind. The Freedom Scientific Newsletter is available at www.freedomscientific.com/news/current-newsletter.asp.
GW Micro
725 Airport North Office Park
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
260-489-3671
Fax: 260-489-2608
[email protected]
www.gwmicro.com/
Manufactures Window-Eyes, a screen reader for Microsoft Windows 2000, XP Home and Professional, Server 2003, and Vista. Also sells Portable SenseView, one of the smallest hand-held CCTVs available; Braille Sense, first Braille notetaker offering notetaking and entertainment in one package; Voice Sense, pocket size Braille notetaker; and Small-Talk Ultra, one of the smallest ultra personal computers – a full-featured, talking Windows XP computer, that fits in the palm of your hand.
HumanWare
175 Mason Circle
Concord, CA 94520
Toll Free: 800-722-3393
[email protected]
www.humanware.com/en-usa/home
Website: HumanWare
Their hardware includes braille displays, braille notetakers and embossers, and their software includes outSpoken, JAWS, Duxbury, MegaDots, and Picture Braille for graphics. Their speech products include synthesizers, scan and read systems, and related software.
IBM Accessibility Center - Special Needs Systems
IBM Corporation
1 New Orchard Road
Armonk, New York 10504-1722
United States
914-499-1900
Toll Free: 800-426-4968
Toll Free shopping assistance: 888-746-7426
To send an e-mail, go to www.ibm.com/scripts/contact/contact/us/en
www-03.ibm.com/able/
You can receive information on the Home Page Reader. Other options and services are available.
Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc. (IRTI)
13453 Colfax Highway
Grass Valley, CA 95945
530-274-2090
Toll Free: 800-322-4784
Fax: 530-274-2093
[email protected]
www.irti.net/
Among a wide variety of products, they distribute talking computers, screen reading software, speech synthesizers, screen magnifiers, CCTV's and recreational products.
JBliss Low Vision Systems
PO 7382,
Menlo Park, CA 94026
650-327-5477
Toll Free: 888-452-5477
Toll Free Tech Support: 888-452-5477
[email protected]
www.jbliss.com/
Sell a variety of software for persons with low vision, such as VIPinfoNet, Internet Browser software. Also have entire computer systems.
The Low Vision Store
2200 University Ave West, Suite 200
Saint Paul, MN 55114
651-203-2200
Toll Free 800-871-8780
Fax: 651-203-2203
[email protected]
www.thelowvisioncenter.com/
Offers Zoom Text screen magnification software and other accessible products.
LS&S LLC
1808-G Janke Drive
P.O. Box 673
Northbrook, IL 60065
847-498-9777
Toll Free: 800-468-4789
Toll Free TTY/TDD 866-317-8533
Toll Free Fax: 877-498-1482
To send an e-mail, go to www.lssproducts.com/contact
www.lssproducts.com/
Products for the Visually Impaired & Hard of Hearing. Among many other products, has ZoomText & LP-DOS screen magnification software. Items also include voice-activated telephones and TV screen enlargers.
Maxi-Aids, Inc.
42 Executive Blvd.
Farmingdale, NY 11735
To order, call 1-800-522-6294 .
For information, call (631) 752-0521.
Fax: (631) 752-0689
TTY: (631) 752-0738
To send an e-mail, go to www.maxiaids.com/contactUs
Web site: https://www.maxiaids.com/computers
Maxi-Aids sells a variety of computer systems and accessories, braille displays, braille and large-print keyboards, scanners (desktop, portable, and stand-alone), DAISY players, screen magnifiers, cell phones and accessories, magnification and text-to-speech software, and more.
NanoPac, Inc.
4823 South Sheridan Road, Suite 302
Tulsa, OK 74145-5717
Toll Free: 800-580-6086
918-665-0329
Fax: 918-665-0361
[email protected]
www.nanopac.com/
Assistive Technology for People Who Are Disabled - NanoPac supplies products and services for individuals with disabilities (low vision, blindness, reading disabilities, quadriplegia, blind, Legally Blind, reading machines, environmental controls, voice activation, augmentative communications, hearing impairments, voice recognition, speech synthesis, text to speech, switches and switch mounts, magnifiers, and door openers).
Optelec US Inc.
3030 Enterprise Court, Suite C
Vista, CA 92081
Toll Free: 800-826-4200
Fax: 800-368-4111
[email protected]
www.optelec.com/en_US/home
Provides low vision, speech, and braille Solutions. Among other products, offers ClearView video magnifiers and Traveller portable video magnifier.
PDS-Personal Data Systems, Inc.
Personal Data Systems
638 Sobrato Ln
Campbell, CA 95008
408-866-1126
To send an e-mail, go to www.personaldatasystems.com/contact.html
www.personaldatasystems.com/default.asp
DECtalk Express Repair; The Audpater Speech System
RC Systems, Inc
1609 England Ave
Everett, WA 98203
425-355-3800
Fax: 425-355-1098
Inquiries/Sales: [email protected]
Technical Support: [email protected]
www.rcsys.com
Text to Speech and Voice Synthesis Products. They manufacture Doubletalk speech synthesizers.
Universal Low Vision Aids, Inc.
1350 W. 5th Ave., Suite 112
Columbus, Ohio 43212
614-224-6465
Fax 614-224-2258
www.ulva.com/
Products include Duxbury Braille, Zoomtext Express, Megadots ZoomText Magnifier, ZoomText MR, Window-Eyes Pro, Duxbury Braille Zoomtext Express, Victor Reader Stream, Braille Embossers/ Printers; Braille Displays; Daisy Players; Digital Recorders
ViewPlus Technologies
1965 SW Airport Ave
Corvallis, OR 97333
Toll Free: 866-836-2184
541-754-4002
Fax: 541-738-6505
To send an e-mail, go to www.viewplus.com/contacts/general/
www.viewplus.com
Sells braille embossers, ink-and-braille printers, and software.
Vision Cue
4824 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road
Portland, OR 97225
Toll Free: 888-318-2582
503-297-1510
Fax 503-459-4003
To send an e-mail, go to www.visioncue.com/contact.php
www.visioncue.com/
Sells braille displays, low vision products, phone accessibility products, screen readers & magnification; reading systems; daily living products and; braille printers.
Financial Aid for Purchase of Assistive Technology
Many local vocational rehabilitation offices provide financial assistance for adapted equipment and may also be able to identify other organizations who provide assistance. Contact your local office for detailed information.
Many state governments provide a variety of programs and services to the blind and visually impaired such as low interest loans. Contact your local government agency for specific information in your state.
The Blind Readers’ Page
Computers and Assistive Technology: Financial Assistance
http://blindreaders.info/finance.html
California Council of the Blind
1303 J. Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814
Toll-Free in CA: 800-221-6359
916-441-2100
Fax (916) 441-2188
[email protected]
www.ccbnet.org/
Provides no-interest loans to blind and visually impaired residents of California for special equipment needed to enhance employability.
Lions Clubs International
300 W. 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842
630-571-5466
www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.php
Local chapters of Lions Clubs may provide assistance to individuals. To obtain contact information for your local Lions club, visit the Lions Clubs International website, or contact your local Chamber of Commerce.
Missouri Council of the Blind
5453 Chippewa
St. Louis, MO 63109
Toll Free 800-342-5632
314-832-7172
Fax: 314-832-7796
To send an e-mail, go to www.missouricounciloftheblind.org/contact/
www.missouricounciloftheblind.org/
Has a matching grant program of up to $3,000 over a five year period for adaptive technology. Legally blind residents of Missouri are eligible to apply.
Computer-Related Publications
American Foundation for the Blind
2 Penn Plaza, Suite 1102
New York, NY 10121
Toll Free: 800-232-5463
212-502-7600
Toll Free Fax: 888-545-8331
E-mail: [email protected]
www.afb.org
Publishes "Access World" a monthly magazine on adaptive technology and visual impairment, covering products, techniques, books and videos, tips, field reports, and more. Six issues of "Access World" are published bimonthly in your choice of print, electronic, audio cassette, or braille. On alternate months when "Access World" is not published, you would receive an email entitled "Access World Extra."
National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
1291 Taylor Street, NW
Washington, DC 20542
Toll Free: 800-424-8567
202-707-5100
Fax: 202-707-0712
[email protected]
www.loc.gov/nls/
Loans many books on computers, has a circular on Assistive Technology. The NLS also provides reference services on blindness-related topics.
Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic)
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Toll Free: 800-221-4792
To send an e-mail, go to https://learningally.org/Contact-Us
https://learningally.org/Cached
Offers many books about computers and software on audio cassette.
Special Needs Project - America's Disability Bookstore
1405 Anderson Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
805-962-8087
Fax: 805-962-5087
To send an e-mail, go to www.specialneedsproject.com/custserv.asp
www.specialneedsproject.com/
Offers books on disabilities and assistive technology.
Trace Research & Development Center
University of Wisconsin-Madison
2107 Engineering Centers Bldg.
1550 Engineering Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
608-262-6966
TTY: 608-263-5408
Fax: 608-262-8848
[email protected]
https://trace.umd.edu:443/
Trace Center is funded by the Department of Education (NIDRR) to serve as the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on the topic of information technology access and telecommunication access. In that capacity, they provide expertise in industry, government and various disability organizations on their work, which is primarily focused on research and development in the area of disability access to standard technologies.
Computer Training Facilities/Learning Opportunities
In addition to the training available through your state rehabilitation service, and independent rehabilitation organizations which you may have in your area, the following training options are available to persons in their areas.
Carroll Center for the Blind
770 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02458
Toll Free: 800-852-3131
617-969-6200
Fax 617-969-6204
To send an e-mail, go to https://carroll.org/contact-us/
https://carroll.org/
Provides evaluation, training, information and technical assistance on adaptive technology to consumers, professionals and employers. Training is available at the Carroll Center or on the job site.
Cleveland Sight Center
1909 East 101st Street
Cleveland, OH 44106-8696
216-791-8118
Fax: 216-791-1101
website: Cleveland Sight Center
www.clevelandsightcenter.org/
[email protected]
Offers many programs of training, orientation and rehabilitation utilizing electronic resources and provides training on adapted computers.
Computer Center for Visually Impaired People
CCVIP at Helen Keller Services for the Blind
180 Livingston Street, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.helenkeller.org/ccvip/
Phone reservation is required; call Lisa Saunders, (718) 522-2122 ext. 2716.
CCVIP’s Braille Production service is both quick and affordable. We produce short documents and brochures. This service is available to companies, organizations and individuals. If you are interested, please call CCVIP at (646) 312-1420 for more information.
National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115
Toll Free: 800-548-7323 (ext. 520) Ask for Joanne
Fax: 617-437-0456
www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/index.html
“One on One: A Directory of Adaptive Technology Trainers for Blind Computer Users” lists individuals and agencies that provide computer training to blind people over the phone, via e-mail, or in person. Most charge for their services but some volunteer their time. The director is available in braille, large print, and on disk at a cost of $10.00. Be sure to check www.nbp.org/downloads/tech.pdf for other books and guides for computers, software, and the Internet.
Internet Information Sources
In addition to the organizations listed above, you may want to try some of these websites and e-mail lists.
The Low Vision Gateway
Atlanta VA Rehabilitation R&D Center of Excellence
Low Vision Center
ACB-l
An active discussion list on topics related to blindness, blindness organizations, including guide dogs, pedestrian safety, accessibility of ATM's, rehabilitation and much more. Send an inquiry to [email protected] for instructions on signing up, or go to http://www.acblists.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-l.
BLIST
The Comprehensive Index of Blindness-Related Emailing Lists (www.hicom.net/~oedipus/blist.html)