Project Purpose

The Family Center is a resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. We offer a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies. Whether you're an organization, a parent, an educator, or an interested friend, we hope you'll find information that supports you in your efforts to bring the highest quality education to children with disabilities.

Family Center Knowledge Network

The Family Center Knowledge Network is comprised of more than 3,000 organizations that share a concern for the families of children with disabilities. Our Network members are committed to providing useful information and resources to help children fulfill their potential. The Family Center strives to make sure our Network members receive the most current information on developments in the field of assistive technology.

What types of organizations belong to the Family Center Network?
• Parent support and advocacy groups
• Disability-specific associations
• State and local government agencies
• Foundations that support disabilities research and programs
• National advocacy organizations
• University-based programs

Members of our Knowledge Network have first hand access to our monthly newsletters, online discussions and special events. Member organizations do not pay dues or contribute financially to the operation of the Center.

• AT Resources CD Rom - Looking for disability organizations, articles about AT, transcripts from online discussions...You’ll find it all here! The Family Center compiles all of its resources onto one accessible and information-rich CD-Rom.

• FCTD Online Conference Series - Every other month nationally recognized experts lead month-long online discussions on a range of AT topics. Consumers, families, friends and professionals are encouraged to participate. Share your questions, comments, experiences and concerns or just listen-in. Hear from others working in the field. Learn from the experts.

• Monthly Newsletters - FCTD News & Notes brings you timely articles on a wide range of AT topics from inclusion to planning a summer vacation for a special needs child. Each issue features interviews with experts, profiles of the Family Center's member organizations and additional assistive technology resources.

• Resource Review Database - This fully-searchable database contains hundreds of reviews of books, articles, research and other materials of interest and utility to families of children with disabilities.

• Member Database - Information on more than 1,200 disability organizations searchable by state, type of organization and target disability.

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How is the Family Center supported and operated?

The Family Center on Technology and Disability operates entirely through program support from the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The Family Center is managed by a partnership of organizations, including the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA), Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER), Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) and InfoUse, Inc. The partnership is led by the Academy for Educational Development (AED).

Family Center on Technology and Disability
Academy for Educational Development
1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-884-8068
Fax: 202-884-8441
E-mail: fctd@aed.org