Disability Resources

Using talking browsers and specially equipped mouses, the disabled can easily find online government agencies in their state that address educational, employment and housing issues. Parents of disabled children will also find lists of summer camps that take the disability in mind for health reasons without defining the child by it. Appliances and household items designed for the disabled can be purchased directly from the manufacturers at one site that features 27,000 such items. A consumer forum at the site also encourages buyers to rate the products so that others can make informed decisions.

Disabled people planning a vacation might want to consult Access-Able Travel Source for hotels, car rentals, and museums that offer disability-friendly modifications. The experts at the company’s website help travelers account for their needs without either overwhelming or condescending to them. The physically challenged may also be able to take advantage of a unique travel situation in which people in different parts of the world can trade accessible homes to facilitate cultural exchange.

Some disabilities require medication, so it’s imperative that the Internet provide thorough pharmaceutical information. Luckily, a plethora of websites fit the bill, most notably the U.S. National Library of Medicine; this storehouse of 11 million medical research papers gives descriptions of drug side effects and interactions, plus explains how Medicaid and workers’ compensation pay for services. Meanwhile, some sites focus on specific health issues, such as parenting with a disability and the sexual and reproductive concerns of physically challenged women. At all of these sites, the matter-of-fact tone precludes any tendencies towards pity and keeps the focus instead on living an ordinary life with a little extra aid.