What's Inside . . . Volume 12, No. 3, Summer 2004

Legislation Reauthorizing AT Act Passes the House
On Tuesday, June 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 4278, the Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004, with unanimous consent. Before passage, Congressman Mike Castle spoke about the need for the legislation and the important changes in the new law.

Universal Design: A Sensible Way to Build and Buy Homes
What is "Universal Design" in homebuilding and why should we use it? For the newly formed Coalition for Universal Design in Delaware the answer is "it is the most sensible way to build homes for our generation and those to come."

IL Program Serves As A Good AT Resource
The Independent Living (IL) Program is a good resource to consider for funding AT that is not covered by health insurance. Authorized under The Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the State Independent Living Council funds a project within the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI).

Significant Planning Must Accompany a Plane Ticket
In 2002, travelers with disabilities spent $13.6 billion on 31.7 million trips. 1 At least $3.3 billion of the $13.6 billion went to the airline industry. That figure could double if travel was made more accessible. The Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles II and III, have numerous provisions covering various aspects of the travel industry. The accessibility requirements pertain not only to hotels and restaurants, but to transportation and airports as well. 2

Driving Down the Road to Independence
Driving is a part of the American way of life. It's often a key component of one's own sense of independence. If a functional limitation is keeping an individual from driving, there may be some adaptive technology available that could help.

A Beginner’s Guide to DVR and DVI
Often, one of the hardest things in dealing with a disability, or any life change, is finding out just where to go to get the help that will make a difference. The goal of this article is to help people figure out how to get assistance from DVR and DVI.

The AT Bargain Basement
Hello, true believers! Once again we have another unbelievable installment of the AT Bargain Basement. I'm your guide on this tour to find those little bits of AT that go unnoticed because they are inexpensive and right under our noses. As always, the most important rule of this column—the AT presented here has to be priced under $100, otherwise, I can't call it a bargain.

Inclusion and LIFE Conference Dates Announced
Several upcoming events for Fall 2004 and Winter 2005 have been announced. For more information about these and other events in the Delaware area, please visit www.dati.org/events/index.php.

Webinar to Focus on Teaching and Learning Methods
Please keep in mind the dates of September 28, October 5, and October 12, 2004.