Access for People with Disabilities

C4T partner, the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA), worked closely with CTCNet to integrate accessibility practices into the C4T project.  ATA helped CTCs learn about simple and cost-effective ways to improve their facilities and programs to make them more inviting and accessible to people with learning, vision, hearing, cognitive and physical impairments.

Alongside the C4T cash grants, grantees in California and Massachusetts were offered an "Access Fund" mini-grant to cover costs of up to $1500 for assistive technology products. Through this fund, grantees purchased products and materials that increased their centers’ accessibility. ATA staff provided consulting support to enable the grantees to understand what types of assistive technology are available, and how they meet the needs of program participants with disabilities.

Throughout the three-year project, C4T granted $77,874 in Access Funds to 53 organizations.  Of the grantees that did receive an Access Fund grant:

• 64% report that they serve an increased number of people with disabilities;
• 100% of the CTCs who did not serve individuals with disabilities (prior to receiving an Access Fund grant), now do serve this population.

Resources on Accessibility

• Starting Points: An Introduction to Creating Access for People with Disabilities in Community-Based Organizations
• Your Rights Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a publication of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights
• Guide to Low-Cost / No-Cost Online Tools for People with Disabilities
• Family Place in Cyberspace An initiative funded by the Stulsaft Foundation offering online resources for families of children with disabilities, including We Can Play, Access Transition, AT in K-12. Many of these resources are also available in Spanish.
• Computer Resources for People with Disabilities
• Access Aware Manual