The AARC serves the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, their families, caregivers, and service providers throughout the state of Alaska. We provide information, referral, training, and consultation via on-site and distance delivery. The Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC) is a project of the Special Education Service Agency (SESA) located in Anchorage, Alaska.

The AARC is a funded by the Alaska Mental Health Lands Trust, the Department of Education and Early Development, and the Alaska Infant Learning Program.

The mission of the Center is

To equip Alaskans who are blind and visually impaired with skills for success in life and work.

Our vision is an Alaska where

Visual impairments or blindness is not the barrier to Alaskans achieving their vocational goals or living safely and independently in retirement.

www.alaskabvi.org

Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA) is Alaska’s only comprehensive assistive technology (AT) resource center. AT can be the key to greater independence and productivity for people in their home, school, community, and/or place of employment. ATLA provides demonstrations, information, and device loans to help Alaskans make informed decisions and select the AT that best meets their needs.

Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc. (ACCI) is a Pennsylvania based company founded in 1987 and dedicated to helping clients choose and use the assistive technologies needed to communicate, learn, play, socialize, and live everyday life as independently as possible.

Our mission is to distribute, market, and promote innovative, technology-based products and software solutions via our website, catalog, and product demonstrations to develop a real awareness of assistive technology solutions and help improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Cambium Learning Group, Inc. operates three business units: Voyager, a comprehensive intervention business; Sopris, a supplemental solutions business; and Cambium Learning Technologies, which includes ExploreLearning, IntelliTools, Kurzweil and Learning A-Z. Through its core divisions, Cambium Learning Group, Inc. provides research-based education solutions for students in Pre-K through 12th grade, including intervention curricula, educational technologies and services primarily focused on serving the needs of the nation’s most challenged learners and enabling students to reach their full potential.

Braille Translation Software from Duxbury Systems

DBT: Now Supporting over 130 Languages

DBT: Now Importing Word 2007/2010, Excel, & Open Office Files

Duxbury Systems leads the world in software for braille. The Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) and MegaDots, are used by virtually all of the world’s leading braille publishers. No one supports more languages than Duxbury Systems — DBT supports grade 1 and grade 2 translation in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Malaysian, Swedish, and other languages. Our software can produce contracted and uncontracted braille, mathematics, and technical braille.

DynaVox Mayer-Johnson is the leading provider of speech generating devices and symbol-adapted special education software used to assist individuals in overcoming their speech, language and learning challenges. These solutions are designed to help individuals who have complex communication and learning needs participate in the home, classroom and community.

Enabling Technologies is proud to offer you the most comprehensive list of Braille Embossers to choose from in the World.

All of our embossers are manufactured in the U.S.A., are backed by 40 years of experience in embosser design and manufacturing and legendary Customer Support.

Why settle for less? When you can have the best!

Enhanced Vision is a leading developer of assistive technology for the visually impaired including Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Cataracts, Retinitis Pigementosa and Diabetic Retinopathy . Low vision assistive technology enables people to read, write and fully participate in life.

Freedom Scientific Inc. was created in 2000 by combining 3 companies in the assistive technology arena. The company is divided into two groups: The Learning Systems Group and the Blind/Low Vision Group.

The company’s mission is to develop, manufacture and market innovative technology-based products and services that those with vision impairments and learning disabilities use to change their world.

To meet this goal, the Learning Systems Group offers two innovative products WYNN and TestTalker. WYNN is the software solution that transforms printed text into the spoken word, enabling students to use their strengths to strengthen their weaknesses. TestTalker creates success as it prepares students for test-taking, worksheet completion, and study material. It is a bi-modal accommodation that aids users with high-stakes testing.

We provide technology tools that ensure success and that are:

• Educationally sound — based on efficacy studies
• Easy to learn — intuitive interface
• Powerful and flexible — address all age levels

Our tools, defined by educational experts, focus on:

• Individual learning styles
• Supporting successful reading, writing and learning

By utilizing the full potential of the individual learner and by focusing on users’ strengths, our tools provide successful learning experiences.

Use your strengths to strengthen your weaknesses!

Imagine Success!

Alaska’ unique geographical area with a relatively small population requires a management system tailored to meet the needs of Alaskans. The Govenor’s Council on Disabilities & Special Education was created to meet Alaska’s diverse needs. The Council uses planning, capacity building, systems change, and advocacy to create change for people with disabilities.

A Name Change Driven by our Users
Changing the name of a long-established national institution such as RFB&D is not something we entered into lightly. Over the past year, we conducted research and focus groups with hundreds of students, parents, educators, volunteers and funders – to define the future direction of the organization.

• Our members themselves were the key drivers of this transformation. For one thing, many of our members are neither blind nor dyslexic. Our mix of users today includes individuals with diverse learning differences that are outside the scope of our former name.
• Most important of all, our members have expressed loud and clear that they don’t wish to be labeled or typecast with a specific ‘disability.’ They just want the same opportunities to succeed that others enjoy. Our new name goes to the heart of supporting their desire to learn and achieve.
• Continuity and evolution: While certainly continuing to record books for blind, dyslexic, and many other kinds of users, we’ll be providing even more services and resources in the future – always putting our users first within the assistive technology community.
• Learning Ally is more than just a new name – it reflects our vision to become an advocate and friend to those who learn differently.  We invite our growing community of parents, volunteers, donors and friends to become a “Learning Ally” with us by supporting individuals for whom reading and access are barriers to learning.

VizZle® is an easy to use, web-based authoring tool that empowers educators to create fun, interactive, visually supported curriculum customized to the needs of children with autism and other learning challenges. Using any of the thousands of pre-made lessons from the peer-reviewed shared library or using lessons created with easy-to-use templates and thousands of in-program images, audio and video clips, teachers can track improved outcomes by IEP goals or any state standard.  (www.monarchtt.com/vizzle)

Perkins School for the Blind is an innovative leader in serving people with visual impairments. Strong leadership from both staff and the Board of Trustees has created a legacy of education and discovery. We are always questioning how to best serve our students in the classroom, in the community and around the world.

Perkins School for the Blind is a unique and exciting place, but don’t take our word for it. See what happens every day on our campus in this video overview.

While Perkins is proud of all that has been achieved since 1832, we believe there is still much work to be done.

Personal, interactive communication is a vital aspect of human interaction. Saltillo Corporation is dedicated to making personal communication possible to individuals who are unable to use their natural voice.

Saltillo develops, manufactures and distributes assistive technology for persons with physical disabilities. The company specializes in voice output communication devices. Saltillo also offers voice amplification and memory assistance products. Visit our website and explore the world of possibilities that is available through technology.

sComm, which stands for “simultaneous communications,” was founded in 2002 to design the UbiDuo. The company’s focus is on enabling people to communicate directly with each other without face to face barriers. To expand the concept further, sComm obtained two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Institutes of Health to test the feasibility of such a product, determine if it improved face-to-face communication between deaf and hearing people, and identify desired features. The second grant in 2005 supported development of a prototype of what is now known as the UbiDuo. “Ubi” comes from the word ‘ubiquitous’ – means being present everywhere at once; being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; omnipresent – and “Duo” – for two people. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded a patent for the UbiDuo to sComm in 2005.

Stone Soup Group is a statewide non-profit agency based in Anchorage, Alaska that provides assistance and support to families of children with special needs. We operate several programs, each with a specific focus on different ways we can help families supporting children with special needs to become informed, experienced, self-sufficient advocates for their children and themselves.

Quality Innovative Technology for Learners

Texthelp Systems is an assistive technology software company with corporate offices in Antrim, Northern Ireland and Woburn, Massachusetts. Texthelp markets a range of award-winning software solutions to help people with reading, writing, and literacy difficulties. The company’s mission is to provide high quality, innovative assistive technology for any person of any age seeking to develop their language skills through the use of a computer.

Texthelp’s products are designed for use by individuals, schools, publishers, and corporations seeking to overcome accessibility difficulties. Products include: Read & Write GOLD, Fluency Tutor, Lexiflow, and SpeechStream. Since 1996, Texthelp has been developing and refining software products to take advantage of the latest technology innovations and to meet the ever increasing need for solutions for individuals with literacy difficulties.