1) IMPAIRMENT SPECIFIC SITES One group of useful sites is those connected to specific impairment categories or diagnoses such as CP, ALS, or Dystonia. Many of these sites are run by parents of people with the condition, but they all have useful information. DYSTONIA Dystonia is a catch all descriptor of a twisting type of neurological involuntary movement "disorder." It can affect any part of the body and often involves speech. The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation is the oldest and largest non profit. Their primary aim is funding medical research but they also have an assortment of other support activities. Visit them now. Care4Dystonia is a nationwide community-based health organization dedicated to Setting the PACE: Patient Care, Awareness, Collaboration and Education for the dystonia community and the general public. It is run by a woman with Dystonia. Visit them now. Beka has made a brief video. Visit the video now. We Move is a great site covering all movement disorders. This is the link to their Dystonia page. Visit them now. Here are contacts for some local Dystonia support groups if you happen to live in these areas. Southeast Pennsylvania Support Group Art and Bernice Hindle Glen Mills, PA 610-459-1349 magnus@icdc.com Mr. Raman Patel West Chester, PA 610-431-2199 shivapatel@comcast.net Central Pennsylvania Support Group Violet Klinger Middleberg, PA 570-837-0457 vikling@evenlink.com Pittsburgh Area Support Group Michele Santillo-Steri Monaca, PA 724-775-8814 mischsanti@comcast.net CEREBRAL PALSY Cerebral Palsy is probably the most common reason that draws people to our site. The American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine is a multidisciplinary scientific society devoted to the study of cerebral palsy and other childhood onset disabilities, to promoting professional education for the treatment and management of these conditions, and to improving the quality of life for people with these disabilities. Visit them now. United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with any disability. As one of the largest health charities in America, the UCP mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network. Visit them now. This group is for women who has Cerebral Palsy (or similar disabilities) and speech impairment. The purpose of this group is to make friends, share advice/concerns, resources; and to just have a place for people to communicate with each other. We are an community with unlimitations!!!   Visit site now OTHER IMPAIRMENTS Many other impairment contribute to speech impairment and other physical impairments. We list just a few and encourage you to suggest others to cover. Here is a link to the largest professional speech website in the USA, that of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). They list details of the full range of speech impairing conditions. Visit them now. This link leads you to the USA National Research Institute that covers speech impairment. This is the largest single source for research money, both basic science and clinical research. Their full name is the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Visit them now. ATAXIA The word ataxia is often used to describe a symptom of incoordination which can be associated with infections, injuries, other diseases, or degenerative changes in the central nervous system. Ataxia is also used to denote a group of specific degenerative diseases of the nervous system called the hereditary and sporadic ataxias which are the National Ataxia Foundation's primary emphases. Visit them now. Internaf- International Network of Ataxia Friends, the website and mailing lists are maintained by volunteers who have some form of ataxia. Visit them now.

	2) SPEECH ACCOMODATIONS This list is just a beginning. I encourage you all to let me know what works for you and what doesn't. We will build this resource together. We will discuss both hi-tech and low-tech solutions. We will not be complacent and make the same mistake most of the "helping" professions make -- that technology will supply all the answers. You will also often find discussions of speech accommodations combined with those for hearing impairment. People with hearing problems from early childhood may have speech issues but we also know that speech issues often combine with problems with manual dexterity making typing difficult. · Speech Amplification - telephone - Hearing impaired persons have several methods (e.g tone, pitch, volume, etc.) of amplifying speech being heard over a telephone. · Speech Amplification - meeting or conversation - A portable speech amplification device may be easily placed on a table for use in group meetings, training, or lecture settings. · Telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) - A TDD permits a hearing impaired or speech impaired person to communicate over a standard telephone with another TDD or through a relay operator to reach a non-TDD user. TDD's come in ASCII or baudot formats. · Baudot/ASCII modem with speech output - A PC modem that will accept either a call from a TDD or a PC using standard ASCII communications. This modem allows the user to type a message on the PC that is converted into speech and spoken to an individual on the other end of a telephone line. Using this feature, non-vocal hearing impaired callers could leave a spoken message or question. The hearing caller on the other end could respond by using the touch-tone phone keypad. · Speech systems - Hardware and software packages that captures and analyzes speech or other signals on a PC. Voice input and output packages enhance speech communication skills and word understanding. An augmentative communication speech system includes a battery operated computer, speech synthesizer, and software. · TDD telephones - A TDD that is portable pay/public telephones with a pull-out TDD in the lower area of the pay/public telephone. · Intelligent modems - Software that allows the PC to operate selectively as a TDD for access to another TDD, and networks. The software permits multiple operations on the PC at one time; other applications may run while the TDD software is active. · Caption systems - These systems allows user to close caption or open caption any pre-recorded video tape. SPEECH TO SPEECH TELEPHONE RELAY SERVICES Speech to Speech (STS telephone relay systems are now mandated in every state. They operate like a TTY/TTD relay call. This is the brain child of Dr. Bob Segalman of California. A person called a "Communication Assistant" (CA) is trained to repeat, revoice, what the speech impaired person says. The theory is that the CA will be better prepared to listen to us. Whether it's a matter of skill or expectations, it certainly ups the uniqueness of the call and makes everyone be a bit more carefully and patient. Bob says outreach to speech impaired people and practice using the system is key. Bob says it takes 20 calls to make a user. This link will take you to the FCC site where you can link to the STS phone numbers for any state in the USA. Here is how they describe their service: "Call these toll free phone numbers to access the service called Speech-To-Speech (STS) in your state. STS is a form of Relay Services that provides Communications Assistants (CAs) for people with speech disabilities who have difficulty being understood on the phone. STS CAs are trained individuals familiar with many different speech patterns and language recognition skills. The CA makes the call and repeats the words exactly. Individuals using STS include those with cerebral palsy, Parkinsons disease, a laryngectomy, ALS, stuttering, muscular dystrophy, stroke, and other conditions affecting clarity of speech. Call the number in your state and ask the CA to dial the number you wish to call. STS will be available nationwide in March 2001. For inquiries or concerns about STS contact the FCC via Email at: fccinfo@fcc.gov." Visit them now. This link takes you to the whole FCC Disability Rights Office. Visit them now. Sitris is a commercial web service which enables people with speech difficulties make assisted telephone calls. There is no software to download, through the web interface Sitris converts your text into high quality natural speech instantly. You type and they dial the call and a synthesized voice speaks for you. You can try it out for free. Visit them now. HAWK Relay is another similar service but is free. Has anyone used it? Visit them now. AAC -- AUGMENTATIVE and ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION AAC usually refers to non human voice strategies from the most sophisticated electronic synthesized voices to a simple alphabet board. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies assist people with severe communication disabilities to participate more fully in their social roles including interpersonal interaction, learning, education, community activities, employment, volunteerism, care management, and so on. This AAC website is designed to provide access to a wide range of information and resources related to the AAC effort. It is maintained by the Barkley AAC Center and the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska. Visit them now. This link is to the AAC Institute. They try to broadly cater to all constituents. Visit them now. They have an emailed "Updates" newsletter to which you can subscribe. Subscribe now. There are several professional journals on AAC. This one is called Augmentative and Alternative Communication. You can sign up to receive their table of contents in emails. Visit them now. This website has some wonderful articles on what AAC is and how to communicate with people who use it. In particular they talk about integrating sexuality content into communication displays. Visit them now. INTERPRETING, TTY/TDD, and SIGN LANGUAGE SERVICES Some people with speech impairments can use a signed language. Many who also have movement difficulties can not. However, sign language interpreters are good trained listeners and can act as "revoicing" interpreters.   GENERAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES There are a great many assisstive technology sites. I have leaned toward those with speech accommodations, often electronic. I recommend that you consult a local pro before you make any expensive decision. I also recommend that you do your research before and during the consultation. Websites, local groups with hands-on labs, and exhibitions and conferences are the major venues for information. This one looks at the issue from the point of view of the industry. Remember, their goal is profit. The mission of ATIA is to serve as the collective voice of the Assistive Technology industry so that the best products and services are delivered to people with disabilities. Visit them now. The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Association of North America (RESNA) is also industry dominated but perhaps aa bit lesws so because it's emphasis is on service providers rather than products. Visit them now. The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Association of North America (RESNA) is also industry dominated but perhaps aa bit lesws so because it's emphasis is on service providers rather than products. Visit them now. ABLEDATA is an online catalog. It tries to provide objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources. Although ABLEDATA does not sell any products, they can help you locate the companies that do. Visit them now. The Society for Technical Communication has a Special Interest Group (SIG) on accessibility that has many references to speech accessibility. This society is primarily interested in speech recognition. They write "This page contains information about speech accessibility and communication aids for people who are unable to talk, or to talk clearly. These users may have acquired brain damage, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual impairment, or strokes. Many speech recognition systems are unable to recognize the speech of these users because they are based on average speakers. Because of the inconsistency of most impaired speech, speaker dependent systems do not have a high rate of accuracy. Speech recognition should not be the only form of input. In addition, some users with impaired speech may have additional motor skills accessibility problems because of impaired dexterity." Visit them now.

	3) LISTSERVES AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES DYSTONIA@YAHOOGROUPS This is a support group for people with Dystonia. There is no specific focus on speech but members are open to sharing all their experiences. This large international group is primarily adult women but not specifically so. There are 435 members but only about 20 post regularly. Visit them now. DYSTONIA WEEKLY CHAT This is a weekly chat about Dystonia. CHAT TIME is Wednesdays at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST. Event Location: http://www.dystoniaassociation.org. Visit them now. STS -- SPEECH TO SPEECH LISTSERV This list is occasionally active and run by Dr. Bob Segalman, the person who started the STS idea. To join email a blank message with the word "subscribe" in the subject line to <requests@ataccess.org>. Join them now.

	4) RESOURCES & TOPICS FROM OUR OTHER PAGES All of the pages on this site have valuable resources and links which we summarize here. PRESENTSTION TIPS Giving presentations is often a key to education, employment, leadership, legal, and other kinds of success. Often for people with speech impairment ordinary conversation becomes similar to presentations. Visit our Presentation Tips now. EDUCATION RESOURCES Education is key. We have all persevered with inadequate accommodations. It usually takes us longer to do our work and our class participation is problematic but we persevere. It will get better. Visit our Education page now. EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES We struggle with employment. Discrimination against people with speech impairment is real. The accommodation we received in school because they were the cheapest, like extra time are often the last accommodation an employer will grant. We need a new strategy. Visit our Employment page now. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: 1) providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, 2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and 3) educating callers about self-employment options. Visit them now. The federal Office of Disability Employment Policy provides national leadership by developing and influencing disability-related employment policy and practice affecting the employment of people with disabilities. Visit them now. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES Assistive technology covers the whole gambit of low to high tech accommodation solutions. We need to understand them all to make the best choices whether we pay for these aids ourselves or receive them through any kind of program. Visit our Assistive Technology page now. HEALTH RESOURCES We do not receive the best health care we could. Rushed doctors do not take the time they should to listen to us or to ask us all the questions they should. It is up to us to insist. We must develop communication techniques such as writing out or questions and concerns before a medical appointment or finding a doctor who will have a dialog with us by email. Visit our Health page now. LEADERSHIP RESOURCES Even within the disability rights movement discrimination against people with speech impairments is legendary. We must turn this around. We can use our lack of fluid casual speech to command attention when we do get the floor. Visit our Leadership page now. LEGAL RESOURCES We have legal right we need to understand, protect, and extend. Access to a Speech to Speech telephone relay system is one such right. Visit our Legal page now. SEXUALITY RESOURCES We have a right to sexual expression free from fear of victimization. We likewise have the right to form families. Our sexuality page has good links about dating and sexual health. Visit our Sexuality page now. This link takes you to the "Speak Up" project. Although it ended Dec. 2004, the site is maintained by the Augmentative Communication Community Partnerships-Canada (ACCPC. Speak Up is about ending the silences that prevents people who use alternative ways to communicate from protecting themselves from all too common sexual abuse. It is about giving people with complex communication needs the information, education and means to communicate about healthy sexuality and sexual abuse. This site is also full of many many other useful links. Worth a visit! Visit them now. The Implementing Best Practices (IBP) in Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative will be facilitating a one-week online discussion forum from November 19 to 23, 2007. Participants will discuss the draft UNFPA-WHO Guidance Note on Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons with Disabilities. The draft guidance note is available at this link. This guidance note is based on the UNFPA-WHO E-Discussion through WHO Implementing Best Practices (IBP) Knowledge Gateway in October 2007 and UNFPA-WHO Global Consultative Meeting on Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons with Disabilities, held in Brazil in December 2007. The guidance note from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is meant as a guide for a broad range of individuals and professionals involved in the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) field, including those working in family planning; maternal health; HIV and AIDS; gender-based violence; child and adolescent health; the disability community; and the broader development community including UNFPA, WHO, other UN agencies, bi-lateral organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Visit the draft now. Sign up for the Forum now. BLOGS AND SIMILAR RESOURCES Blogs, like listservs and bulletin boards are a way for us to communicate. We need to constantly find our voice. Visit our Blog page now.