Assistive Technology Industry Association

The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) is a not-for-profit membership organization of manufacturers, sellers and providers of technology-based assistive devices and/or services, for people with disabilities. ATIA represents the interests of its members to business, government, education, and the many agencies that serve people with disabilities. One goal of the ATIA is to "speak with the common voice" for Its mission is to serve as the collective voice of the Assistive Technology (AT) industry so that the best products and services are delivered to people with disabilities.[1]

Founded in 1998, ATIA is governed by a 10 member Board of Directors.[2] ATIA has over 120 individual and corporate members. Its offices are located in Chicago, Illinois.

Since 1999, ATIA has held annual conferences that provide forums for education and communication to professional practitioners serving those with disabilities.[3] The annual conferences are also open to people with disabilities, their caregivers, their family members, and members of the general public. In 2009, ATIA began providing educational online webinars to serve these groups.[4] ATIA has also held conferences in collaboration with the Job Accommodation Network and United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN). The published result of one such conference is Roadmaps for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities through Accessible Technology.

Scholarly Publications

ATIA produces the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits Journal (ATOB) in a collaborative scholarly partnership with the Special Education Assistive Technology Center (SEAT Center) at Illinois State University. ATOB publishes articles related to the outcomes and benefits of assistive technology for persons with disabilities across the lifespan. ATOB is a peer-reviewed annual publication, first published in 2004. The online version is free for download and is also available in multiple accessible formats. See External Link.

Industry Standard Setting

ATIA is involved in industry standard setting through its Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA) division. AIA was initiated in 2007 as an independent organization by a group of leading Information Technology (IT) and Assistive Technology (AT) companies, content providers, and other key engineering organizations.[5] Since then they have been working to develop standards and collaborate on the creation of solutions to long-standing compatibility problems that hinder the development of accessibility solutions for people with disabilities.[6][7][8] In 2010 AIA become a technical and engineering division within ATIA.

Alliance Partners

ATIA partners with other organizations in the technology and disability fields to promote adoption and awareness of the ways that technology can benefit people with disabilities.[9] Alliance Partners are:

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3681
  2. ↑ http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3388
  3. ↑ Exceptional Parent, February 2010
  4. ↑ Exceptional Parent, February 2010
  5. ↑ Abrahams, September 2008
  6. ↑ Hodne, 2008
  7. ↑ Olsen, January 2008
  8. ↑ Business Wire, August 2008
  9. ↑ Exceptional Parent, January 2010

References

Abrahams, Peter, "Analysis: Accessibility Interoperability Alliance News", IT-Director.com, IT Analysis Communications Ltd. Copyright Bloor Research, www.it-director.com/business/compliance/content.php?cid=10692, September 1, 2008.

Business Wire, "IBM and GW Micro Join Steering Committee for Accessibility Interoperability Alliance", reproduced in All Business, www.allbusiness.com/technology/software-services-applications-software-makers/11475383-1.html, August 4, 2008.

Exceptional Parent, “AOTA Joins ATIA’s Growing List of Alliance Partners”, Exceptional Parent (online), www.eparent.com/main_channels_technology/AOTA_Joins_ATIA_s_Growing_List.asp, January 26, 2010.

Exceptional Parent, “ATIA Orlando 2010 Conference Links Education and Cutting-Edge Technology”, Exceptional Parent (online), www.eparent.com/main_channels_technology/ATIA_Orlando_2010_Conference_Links.asp, February 5, 2010.

Hodne, Norm, "Open Accessibility", Code Magazine, EPS Software Corp., www.code-magazine.com/Article.aspx?quickid=0810022, Vol. 5, Issue 4, 2008.

Olsen, Stefanie, "Microsoft releases tools to boost Web accessibility", on News Blog, CNET, news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9852281-7.html, January 16, 2008.

Publications

External links

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