Resource Directory: Online information on Vision and Hearing Loss
There are thousands of sensory impairment related sites on the Internet. This is a select list to help you quickly access quality information without having to spend hours filtering websites.
The collection is divided into ten broad categories:
General child health and development
General disabilities
Blindness and vision impairment
Deafness and hearing impairment
Specific and multiple disabilities
Organisations
Alternative formats and Braille
Auslan
Government sites
Online newsletters and journals
Chat rooms and discussion forums
Assistive / adaptive technology
All care has been taken to ensure that the links below are current at the time of publishing.
General child health and development
Child & Family WebGuide
http://www.cfw.tufts.edu/
A directory, maintained by Tufts University, of sites containing child development research and practical advice.
Healthdirect
http://www.healthdirect.gov.au
Healthdirect provides easy access to trusted, quality health information and advice online and over the phone.
KidsHealth (USA)
http://kidshealth.org/parent/
website for children's health and development. Ongoing, scheduled medical reviews ensure that the information is as up-to-date as possible.
My Child
http://www.mychild.gov.au/sites/mychild
Australia's online child care portal.
PubMed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed
US National Library of Medicine's search service that provides free access to over 10 million citations in MEDLINE.
Raising Children Network : the Australian parenting website
http://raisingchildren.net.au/
has a special needs section
Zero to Three (USA)
http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/
national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.
General disabilities
Centre for Genetics Education
http://www.genetics.edu.au/ NSW
state-wide education service dedicated to preparing health professionals with the skills and knowledge to manage the impact of genetic and genomic technologies on their practice.
Children’s Disability Information
http://www.childrensdisabilities.info/
Articles and resources from a parent perspective.
Disability Services Australia (DSA)
http://www.dsa.org.au
respected not-for-profit organisation that provides essential community support, employment and training services to enhance the lives of more than 2,000 people with a disability each year.
Genetics Home Reference
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
Genetics Home Reference provides consumer-friendly information about the effects of genetic variations on human health.
Have Wheelchair Will Travel
http://havewheelchairwilltravel.net/about-this-website/
Australian family with a disabled child share travel and activities research, both local and overseas.
LD Online
http://www.ldonline.org/
seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD.
NORD’s Rare Disease Database
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information
reports in patient-friendly language on more than 1,200 rare diseases.
Our Kids
http://www.our-kids.org/
consists of over 700 people representing children of varying diagnosis; everything from indefinite developmental delays and sensory integration problems, to cerebral palsy, to rare genetic disorders.
Premature Baby – Premature Child
http://www.prematurity.org
support website for and by parents of premature special needs children.
The Sibling Support Project - Resources
http://www.siblingsaustralia.org.au/
Siblings Australia is a unique national organisation committed to improving the support available for siblings of children and adults with chronic conditions including disability, chronic illness and mental health issues.
Blindness and vision impairment
Action For Blind People (UK)
https://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/resources/about-sight-loss/eye-c...
information on common eye conditions.
Albinism Fellowship Of Australia
http://albinismaustralia.org/
support, education and fellowship to those with albinism, parents of children with albinism as well as their families and friends.
American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus
http://www.aapos.org/
The organization's goals are to advance the quality of children's eye care, support the training of pediatric ophthalmologists, support research activities in pediatric ophthalmology, and advance the care of adults with strabismus.
Blind Childrens Center (USA)
http://www.blindchildrenscenter.org
list of commonly encountered eye conditions.
Blind Children UK
http://www.blindchildrenuk.org
UK charity for children and young people with sight loss, site has downloadable fact sheets.
Blindness Resource Center
http://www.nyise.org/blind.htm
index maintained by The New York Institute for Special Education(NYISE), a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian educational facility which provides quality programs for children who are blind or visually disabled, emotionally and learning disabled.
Centre for Eye Research Australia
http://www.cera.org.au
affiliated with the University of Melbourne, provides eye health information, resources and reports.
Eye Resources on the Internet
http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eye-health/
maintained by Trish Duffel at the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
FamilyConnect
http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsitehome.aspx
tips and support from other parents of children who are blind or visually impaired.
Get Eye Smart
http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/index.cfm
information from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Little Four Eyes : babies, toddlers and young kids in glasses
http://littlefoureyes.com/
A community for family and friends of little ones in glasses, contacts, and eye patches. A place to share experiences, tips, tricks, and pictures.
The Low Vision Gateway (USA)
http://www.lowvision.org/
US site with resources for vision loss, vision-impairment, blindness, low vision aids and low vision rehabilitation services.
Paths to Literacy for students who are blind or visually impaired (USA)
http://www.pathstoliteracy.org/about-site
literacy experiences for children who are blind or visually impaired.
Perkins School for the Blind (USA)
http://www.perkins.org/
provides education and services for children and adults around the world who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired.
Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
http://www.rnib.org.uk/
A resource-rich, reliable site by UK organization supporting blind and partially sighted people.
Scottish Sensory Center
http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk
educational, research and development activities for children and young people with a sensory impairment
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (USA)
http://www.tsbvi.edu
range of online resources for parents and teachers.
Vision Disorders in Children
http://www.children-special-needs.org/
Vision Impairments page hosted by Optometrists Network
VI Family Network
http://www.vifamilynetwork.org.au
Home of the Australian Childhood Vision Impairment Register and links to Australian low vision resources, newsletters from partner organisations and events.
Vision Australia
http://www.visionaustralia.org/living-with-low-vision/children%27s-services
provides support and resources that enable children who are blind, or have low vision and their families.
Vision Loss : resources for vision impairment
http://www.visionloss.com.au/
resources from NSW/ACT GUIDE DOGS
Wonder Baby
http://www.wonderbaby.org/
a project funded by Perkins School for the Blind, dedicated to helping parents of young children with visual impairments as well as children with multiple disabilities.
Deafness and hearing impairment
Alexander Graham Bell Association
http://listeningandspokenlanguage.org/
one of the world's largest information centres on hearing loss and the auditory approach.
Audiology Net
http://www.audiologynet.com/
An audiology and hearing healthcare web site dedicated to providing links in audiology for patients, family members, students, and healthcare providers.
Aussie Deaf Kids
http://www.aussiedeafkids.org.au
began as an online discussion group for parents of hard of hearing and deaf children living in Australia. It aims to provide relevant and easy-to-access information, relevant to each stage of your child's life.
Auslan Signbank
http://www.auslan.org.au/
Auslan Signbank is a language resources site for Auslan (Australian Sign Language).
Australian Hearing Hub
http://hearinghub.edu.au
unites researchers, educators, clinicians and innovators with expertise in audiology, speech pathology, cognitive and language sciences, psychology, nanofabrication and engineering sciences.
Better Hearing Institute (USA)
http://www.betterhearing.org/hearingpedia/hearing-loss-resources
research and hearing health education with the goal of helping people with hearing loss benefit from proper treatment.
Cochlear Rehabilitation resources
http://www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/au/home/support/rehabilitation-r...
wide range of information and activities designed to help recipients develop or re-learn listening and language skills.
My child has hearing loss
http://www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/au/home/understand/my-child-has-hl
Learn more about the different types of hearing loss, how each can affect your child and how they can be treated.
Cochlear Implants information from NIDCD(USA)
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/coch.aspx
National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders factsheet
Learn About Cochlear Implants
http://www.scic.org.au/our-clinic/learn-about-cochlear-implants/
Cochlear implants provide an important option for children and adults with significant hearing loss who gain little or no benefit from hearing aids.
Deaf Australia
http://deafaustralia.org.au/
Australian peak body managed by Deaf people representing Deaf people and their communities.
Deaf Sports Australia
http://www.deafsports.org.au/
Organisation focussed on facilitating the access of deaf and hard of hearing people to sporting opportunities available in Australia. Fact sheets provide information about deaf sport and list a number of simple tips to remember and steps you can take to help make your sporting club inclusive.
Deaf Society of NSW
http://deafsocietynsw.org.au/
leading provider of specialist services for Deaf and hard of hearing people and their families in New South Wales.
Educating Deaf Children
http://www.rit.edu/ntid/educatingdeafchildren/
Rochester Institute of Technology’s international experts respond to questions from parents and professionals. Very even-handed and thorough, but accessible.
Educational Audiology Association
http://www.edaud.org
an international organization of audiologists and related professionals who deliver a full spectrum of hearing services to all children, particularly those in educational settings.
Especially for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss
http://www.medel.com/for-parents/
MED-EL provides teachers, speech therapists, rehabilitation professionals and parents with materials written by specialists to help your child make the most out of his or her hearing implant.
First Voice
http://www.firstvoice.org.au
alliance established to lead and advocate for world-class early intervention services for children who are deaf or hearing impaired.
Gallaudet University - National Deaf Education Center (USA)
http://www.gallaudet.edu/Clerc_Center.html
At the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, we share information and provide resources related to the development and education of deaf and hard of hearing children.
Hear it (USA)
http://www.hear-it.org/medical/Children-and-hearing-loss-1
Onthese pages you will find information about the symptoms of hearing loss in children, how to test and treat hearing loss and how to counsel families with hearing-impaired children.
Hearing, Ear Infections, and Deafness (USA)
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/Default.aspx
National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders factsheets
Hearing Impairment Kit
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/Pages/hearingkit.aspx
an information kit for families of a child with hearing loss
The Hearing Education and Research Network (HEARnet)
http://www.hearnet.org.au/early-intervention/
not-for-profit website created by the HEARing CRC for health professionals, researchers and anyone interested in better hearing.
Hearing Loss (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Hearing-Loss/
information on the causes and effects of hearing loss in both children and adults.
InfoToGo – Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center (USA)
http://www.gallaudet.edu/x17217.xml
one of six national clearinghouses on disability-related issues from, USA.
Journey into the World of Hearing (USA)
http://www.cochlea.org/en
information about all aspects of hearing and its main pathologies, deafness and tinnitus.
Listen Hear!
http://www.hearingcrc.org/communications/publications/corporate/listen-hear
report on economic impact of hearing loss
Powerhouse Museum pages about the history of the cochlear implant
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/hsc/cochlear/
HSC level content. Research and development, ethical and social issues.
Safe
http://www.safedeafkids.org.au/
safety and awareness group work programme aimed at deaf children aged seven and over.
Success for Kids with Hearing Loss (USA)
http://successforkidswithhearingloss.com/
information about the learning and social issues of children with hearing loss
Victorian Deaf Education Institute (VDEI)
http://www.deafeducation.vic.edu.au
committed to improving educational outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children and young people
VL2 (Visual Language and Visual Learning) Parent Information Package:
http://vl2parentspackage.org/
A great resource on visual (sign language)
Deafness and hearing loss WHO factsheet
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs300/en/
Specific and multiple disabilities
CHARGE Information Pack
http://www.sense.org.uk/content/charge-information-pack-practitioners 28
in-depth factsheets about the many aspects of living with CHARGE syndrome.
CHARGE Syndrome Foundation (USA)
http://chargesyndrome.org/index.asp
Who, what, when, where, why...some of the most commonly asked questions about CHARGE Syndrome
Down Syndrome Australia
http://www.downsyndrome.org.au/
support, information and resources for people with Down syndrome and their families across the country
Dr Jan Van Dijk : Welcome to the World of Deafblindness
http://www.drjanvandijk.org/
Assessing and educating people with multiple sensory impairments, including deafblindness.
National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (USA)
http://www.nationaldb.org/
Comprehensive US site dealing with deaf-blindness in children. Includes databases, bibliographies and other online resources.
Innovations – Working with Children Who Have Multiple Disabilities (USA)
http://www.csun.edu/~hfedu009/innovations/index.html
resources for working with infants who have multiple disabilities.
Interveners.org
http://intervener.org/
An intervener provides a bridge to the world for the student who is deafblind.
Multi-sensory impairment and Down syndrome (UK)
http://www.sense.org.uk/content/multi-sensory-impairment-and-down-syndrome
The effect of a combined reduction in both vision and hearing - even if mild - affects the amount and quality of information that a child can pick up from their environment.
National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB) (USA)
http://nfadb.org/
NFADB is the largest national non-profit organization serving the deaf-blind community.
UsherLife
http://usherlife.co.uk/
dedicated website for people who have Usher syndrome.
Usher Syndrome Coalition
http://www.usher-syndrome.org/index.cfm/page/About-the-Coalition/pid/10246
provides information and support to individuals and families affected by Usher
What is Usher Syndrome? (USA)
http://www.unr.edu/ndsip/secpagesEnglish/usher/usher.html
information from the Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment Project
Organisations
Able Australia
http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/
non-profit organisation that provides services to people living with multiple disabilities including deafblindness.
American Foundation for the Blind
http://www.afb.org/
information on blindness; low vision and related issues; newsletters
American Society for Deaf Children
http://deafchildren.org
Resources for Families with Deaf Children
Association for Children with a Disability
http://www.acd.org.au/
ACD works to improve the lives of children with a disability and their families.
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://aerbvi.org/
The mission of AER is to support professionals who provide education and rehabilitation services to people with visual impairments.
Aussie Deaf Kids
http://www.aussiedeafkids.org.au/
aims to empower parents raising a child with hearing loss through online support, information and advocacy.
Australian Hearing
http://www.hearing.com.au/
Australian Hearing is the nation’s leading hearing specialist and largest provider of Government funded hearing services.
Australian Childhood Vision Impairment Register
http://www.ridbc.org.au/renwick/australian-childhood-vision-impairment-r...
research project to develop and maintain an Australia wide record of children with vision impairment.
Australian Disability Peaks and Advocacy Directory
http://www.pwd.org.au/library/australian-advocacy-directory.html
list of disability agencies in Australia
AWCH - Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare
http://www.awch.org.au/
AWCH is a national organisation advocating for the needs of children, young people and families within the health care system in Australia.
Blind Babies Foundation (USA)
http://www.blindbabies.org
Nonprofit organisation in California. Blind Babies Foundation has been providing critical early intervention and education services to infants and preschoolers who are blind or visually impaired for 60 years.
Blind Citizens Australia
http://www.bca.org.au/
united voice of Australians who are blind or vision impaired, whose mission is to achieve equity and equality by our empowerment, by promoting positive community attitudes, and by striving for high quality and accessible services which meet our needs.
Blind Foundation (NZ)
http://blindfoundation.org.nz/
The Blind Foundation is New Zealand's main provider of sight loss habilitation and rehabilitation services to over 11,500 New Zealanders who are blind or have low vision.
Can:Do 4Kids
http://www.cando4kids.com.au/
have been providing a helping hand for the eyes and ears of South Australian children who are blind/vision impaired or deaf/hearing impaired since 1874.
Children with Disability Australia (CDA)
http://www.cda.org.au/
national peak body which represents children and young people (aged 0-25) with disability. CDA is a not for profit, community based organisation.
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
http://www.cec.sped.org
international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
Deafblind International (DbI)
http://www.deafblindinternational.org/
is the world association promoting services for people who are deafblind.
Deaf Children Australia (DCA)
http://www.deafchildrenaustralia.org.au/
established formally in 1862 to support the needs of families raising children who are deaf. DCA is one of Australia’s longest serving charities and our organisation continues to build upon our reputation for quality services and innovation.
Deaf Society of New South Wales
http://deafsocietynsw.org.au/
specialist services for Deaf and hard of hearing people and their families in New South Wales as well as deaf people with additional needs.
The Ear Foundation
http://www.earfoundation.org.uk/
bridging the gap between clinic-based services, where today's exciting hearing technologies, such as cochlear implants & bone conducting hearing implants are fitted, and home, school and work where they are used in daily life.
European Blind Union
http://www.euroblind.org/about-ebu/
The voice of blind and partially sighted people in Europe.
The Forsight Foundation
http://www.forsightfoundation.org.au/
Our purpose is to provide quality accommodation support services and facilitate training and employment for adults who are deaf and blind with additional disabilities, enhancing and enriching their lives.
Guide Dogs
http://www.guidedogs.com.au/
organization with the goal of enhancing the independence and safe mobility of people who are blind or vision impaired.
Hands & Voices (USA)
http://www.handsandvoices.org/
is a non-profit, parent-driven organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
HOPE
http://hopepubl.com/
materials for children who are deaf and hard of hearing, visually impaired, deaf-blind, multi-disabled sensory impaired, and for children with any special needs
International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment
http://icevi.org/
global association promoting equal access to appropriate education for all students with vision impairment
Junior Blind (USA)
http://www.juniorblind.org
leading non-profit organization helps children and adults who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled achieve independence.
Lighthouse International
http://www.lighthouse.org/
Lighthouse International is dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment.
Listening and Spoken language Knowledge Centre (USA)
http://listeningandspokenlanguage.org/
(Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) - one of the world's largest information centres on hearing loss and the auditory approach.
National Centre on Deaf-blindness (USA)
https://nationaldb.org/index.php
As a national technical assistance center funded by the federal Department of Education, NCDB works to improve the quality of life for children who are deaf-blind and their families.
National Federation of the Blind (USA)
https://nfb.org/about-the-nfb
The National Federation of the Blind is the largest organization of blind and low-vision people in the United States
Parents of Deaf Children
http://www.podc.org.au/
To empower parents in NSW to support their deaf/hearing-impaired children in reaching their full potential through information, support networks and representation.
Parents of Visually Impaired (PVI)
http://www.pvi.org.nz/
New Zealand parent support group
People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWDA)
http://www.pwd.org.au/
national disability rights and advocacy organisation. Our primary membership is made up of people with disability and organisations primarily constituted by people with disability.
Perkins School for the Blind
http://www.perkins.org/
Perkins School for the Blind provides education and services for children and adults around the world who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired.
Prevent Blindness America
http://www.preventblindness.org/eye-reports-research-studies
aims to study the impact of vision problems and find public health solutions that can improve quality of life.
Retina Australia
http://www.retinaaustralia.com.au
Retina Australia is committed to raising funds for research into the detection, prevention, treatment and cure of inherited retinal dystrophies.
RIDBC
http://www.ridbc.org.au
high quality educational services to children who have significant hearing and/or vision impairment, including children who have additional disabilities.
Royal National Institute for the Blind
http://www.rnib.org.uk/
UK organization supporting blind and partially sighted people.
SCOPE
http://www.scope.org.uk/
National disability organisation in the UK
Scottish Sensory Centre
http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/
The Scottish Sensory Centre promotes and supports new developments and effective practices in the education of children and young people with sensory impairments.
Sense
http://www.sense.org.uk/
UK charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind
Senses Australia
http://www.senses.org.au/
not for profit organisation providing disability support services to people of all ages throughout Western Australia. Senses Australia’s unique service specialty is the provision of services to people who are deafblind.
The Shepherd Centre
http://www.shepherdcentre.org.au/
founded in 1970 by Dr Bruce Shepherd AM and his late wife Annette and was the first Early Intervention agency in Australia to teach Auditory-Oral Therapy to hearing-impaired children
South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (SPEVI)
http://www.spevi.net/spevi/about.php
education and support of children and young people who are blind or have low vision within the South Pacific region
Texas School for the Blind & Visual Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu
educational services for blind and visually impaired students with a good list of parent links.
Vision Australia
http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/
supporting people who are blind or have low vision to live the life they choose.
World Blind Union (WBU)
http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
global organization representing the estimated 285 million people worldwide who are blind or partially sighted.
World Federation of the Deaf
http://wfdeaf.org/
international non-governmental organisation representing approximately 70 million Deaf people worldwide.
Alternative formats and Braille
Australian Braille Authority
http://brailleaustralia.org/
oversees the development and maintenance of Braille codes and specifications used in Australia, acts as a braille accreditation body, and promotes braille as the primary literacy medium for people who are blind, deafblind, or have severe vision impairment.
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System)
http://www.daisy.org/
global consortium of organizations committed to a common vision and mission, which pools and coordinates resources to deliver global change. We work towards creating the best way to read and publish.
Media Access Australia
http://www.mediaaccess.org.au/
RIDBC Louis Braille Bicentenary
http://www.ridbcrenwickcentre.com/louisbraille/
An overview of the history of braille and an introduction to the braille code
Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities
http://printdisability.org/
Facilitates the production and use of quality alternative formats for people with print disabilities.
UEB Online
http://www.ridbc.org.au/renwick/online-learning/ueb-online
UEB Online is a training program for sighted people to learn Unified English Braille (UEB).
Auslan
Auslan Shop
http://www.auslanshop.com.au/
These materials are very useful for Schools, TAFE, private training institutions, Universities, Libraries, community organisations, interpreters, Auslan students and for parents who wish to learn more about the Australian Sign Language.
Auslan Signbank
http://www.auslan.org.au/
language resources site for Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Auslan is the language of the deaf community in Australia.
Auslan Courses
http://deafsocietynsw.org.au/courses/page/our_auslan_courses
pathways to learning Auslan.
Auslan Tutor
http://www.ridbc.org.au/ridbc-auslan-tutor
portable video-based Australian Sign Language (Auslan) teaching resource developed specifically for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Government sites
National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS)
http://www.nabs.org.au/
funded by the Australian Government to provide interpreters FREE of charge to people who use sign language to communicate and would like to book an interpreter for private health care appointments.
National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL)
http://www.nal.gov.au/index.shtml
research division of Australian Hearing, a Statutory Authority under the Commonwealth Department of Human Services.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
http://www.ndis.gov.au/
community linking and individualised support for people with permanent and significant disability, their families and carers.
New National Standards for Disability Services
http://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/standar...
revised National Standards for Disability Services.
NICAN
http://www.nican.com.au/
information on recreation, tourism, sport and the arts for people with disAbilities.
Online newsletters and journals
Rydge Family Library Journal Collection
http://www.ridbc.org.au/renwick/library-services/online-journal
Please contact Renwick.library@ridbc.org.au for login usernames and passwords
Braille Monitor
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm14/bm1408/bm1408tc.htm
National Federation of the Blind (U.S.) publication addressing the many issues and concerns of the blind.
Exceptional Parent
http://www.eparent.com/
American national publication. Articles, links, and information for parents of special needs children.
The International Journal of Orientation & Mobility (IJOM)
http://www.ijorientationandmobility.com/
peer-reviewed journal that explores issues and contributes new knowledge to the field of Orientation & Mobility (O&M)
Link disability magazine
http://linkonline.com.au/
information, advice and insights into life with a disability.
Odyssey
http://www.gallaudet.edu/Clerc_Center/Information_and_Resources/Products...
articles about a wide range of issues important to the families of deaf and hard of hearing children and to those involved in deaf education.
Chat rooms and discussion forums
National Public Website on Assistive Technology (USA)
http://assistivetech.net/webresources/discussion_groups.php
A list of groups for assistive technology and disability.
Aussie Deaf Kids and Phidcoz (Parents of Hearing Impaired and Deaf Children in Australia)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phidcoz/
a forum for Australian parents to discuss issues, ideas and concerns about any aspect of their deaf or hearing impaired child's life and receive feedback, advice or support from other parents.
LD Online
http://www.ldonline.org/
An interactive guide to learning disabilities for parents, teachers and children. Includes an online newsletter and bulletin board area for discussions or questions.
Our Kids
http://www.our-kids.org/
information for parents of children with various disabilities. Our Kids also contains links to digests of several disability-related listserve groups.
Raising Children Network
http://raisingchildren.net.au/forum/
website recognises the benefit that free and open discussion brings to the parenting experience.
Assistive / adaptive technology
Australian
Access technology for students with vision impairments
http://www.svrc.vic.edu.au/AT.shtml
Victorian site listing a range of access technology options for people with vision impairments
Australian Disability Clearing House of Education and Training
http://www.adcet.edu.au/
information and resources in areas such as inclusive teaching, learning and assessment strategies, accommodations and support services.
Royal Society for the Blind
http://www.rsb.org.au/not-for-profit
organisation providing services to South Australians who have a severe vision impairment.
Vision Australia
http://www.visionaustralia.org.au
leading provider of blindness and low vision services in Australia, their website provides many links to adaptive technology services.
International
AbilityNet Factsheets
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets
Factsheets are written by specialist team of assessors and accessibility consultants and give detailed information on a wide range of assistive technology, services and related organisations
AbleData
http://www.abledata.com/objective
information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment.
Alliance for Technology Access
http://www.ataccess.org/
international network connecting families, consumers, organizations, technology developers, educators, and other professionals to build a future that is accessible to everyone.
National Public Website on Assistive Technology (USA)
http://www.assistivetech.net/
information on assistive technologies, adaptive environments and community resources for people with disabilities, their families and service providers. Searchable databases of thousands of products and resources.
Royal National Institute of Blind People (UK)
http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/computersphones/Pages/compute... <>brkey tools for blind and partially sighted people.
Sense (UK)
http://www.sense.org.uk/content/how-find-fund-and-access-technology
UK charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind – list of UK sources
Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (USA)
http://kcls.watap.org/
Aids for daily living: tools to help with vision, hearing, mobility, and communication.