The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) Announces New Interactive
Information Service 

From: The Newsletter of Western Center for Microcomputers in Special
Education, Inc. - Fall 2003 - page 16 


The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA), a national network of assistive
technology resource centers, vendors, community-based organizations, and
individuals, today announced the launch of The Hub, a free interactive
service that provides quick and efficient data on assistive technology
products and services. The Hub is the ATA's method of providing a central
exchange for people, both sellers and users of technology tools, to interact
and exchange information. Unlike search engines, which often return thousands
of irrelevant links, The Hub makes it easy for users to find the right
assistive technology and connect with the corresponding provider. 

The ATA created The Hub to connect its various members who can perform simple
online searches to receive an abundance of information and then submit their
specific requests to the appropriate solution provider. It's a prime example
of how the Internet can promote a higher degree of technology usability for
people with disabilities. 

Currently, ATA members offer information about their technology products and
services on The Hub. Included are more than 87 U.S. and international
technology vendors, including Apple Computer, IBM, Microsoft and Sun
Microsystems. "It is essential for people with disabilities and functional
limitations to have a wide range of choice when it comes to accessible
products and assistive technologies," said Gary Moulton, Product Manager in
Microsoft's Accessibility Technology Group. "Not only does The Hub allow our
customers to learn more about our products, but they can get the information
they need on hundreds of assistive technologies that they can use to be more
independent at home, at work, at school and at play."  

"The ATA's mission is to increase the use of technology among the 54 million
American children and adults with disabilities and functional limitations,"
said Mary Lester, Executive Director of the ATA. "We believe The Hub can
raise the usage level by revolutionizing the way people learn about and
identify the tools they need to make technology accessible, functional and
enjoyable."  

By gathering information from the organizations and individuals it serves,
the ATA team designed The Hub to serve three primary audiences: 

    People who want to learn more about assistive technology. To find
    products they're interested in purchasing, individuals with disabilities,
    their families, and the general public can do a product search by vendor
    or category, and then send an instant request for more information
    directly to the vendors. 

    Service providers who promote assistive technology. ATA's advocates, its
    150 Resource Centers and Associate Organization and Individual Members,
    can connect people with disabilities to the critical information needed
    to make informed purchasing decisions. They can also provide technology
    solution providers with evaluations and feedback of the performance of
    their products and services. 

    Companies that create and sell assistive technology. Solution providers
    can easily access feedback about their offerings and receive information
    on where and how they are being used. Each indication of interest made on
    The Hub generates an email to the appropriate provider(s), who then
    responds directly to the inquirer with the requested information.
    Solution providers also work with ATA members to get product feedback and
    provide training to individuals, families or other service providers.
    Availability 

Any interested individual can get connected to The Hub immediately for free
at the ATA web site http://www.ataccess.org/hub in order to browse or search
the online product and services database, find items of interest, add them to
their "InfoCart," and simply submit a form to be contacted by the vendors
directly. 

For further information, go to http://www.ataccess.org/mews/presskit.html to
access the full press kit on ATA's web site. 

About the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)

The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a national network of assistive
technology resource centers, vendors, community-based organizations and
individuals. Its mission is to increase the use of technology by children and
adults with disabilities and functional limitations. The 501(3)(c) nonprofit
organization was founded in 1987. Now with 38 community-based resource
centers nationwide, the ATA connects people with disabilities to the
technology tools that are so important for their access to education,
employment and community participation. The ATA is located in the San
Francisco Bay Area and on the Web at http://www.ATAccess.org. 

For further information, contact
Laura J. Giacomini, ATA Development
Director, Alliance for Technology Access
2175 E. Francisco Blvd., Suite L
San Rafael, CA  94901

415/455-4575 voice
415/455-0654 fax
lauragiacomini@ataccess.org
http://www.ataccess.org
http://www.ataccess.org/hub