About the Technical Assistance Program and the Program Assistance Coordinator (PAC)
The Technical Assistance Program
The ADA Technical Assistance Program has been in existence since 1991, shortly after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since its inception, the Program has consisted of a diverse array of projects to further the understanding and implementation of the Act. The program has created a vast infrastructure of resources, including numerous ADA publications and videos, materials targeted to specific audiences, training packages and an unparalleled knowledge of the ADA.
The heart of the ADA Technical Assistance Program is the network of Disability Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)* that have provided public awareness, technical assistance, training, materials and referrals since the Program's commencement. These Centers are located throughout the country and can be reached toll-free at 800-949-4232 (V/TTY). They have formed collaborative partnerships with others within their regional borders and beyond to further promote the understanding and knowledge of the ADA.
The Center’s work in the area of accessible IT is supported by the National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education, know as AccessIT. The National Center was funded to increase awareness of the need for, and availability of, technology which makes the educational experience accessible to all users.
*The name Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) was originated by NIDRR in 1991. While the Centers still use the name to refer to themselves generically, each Center may have adopted a regional name which may include ADA and IT Center or ADA Technical Assistance Center. Regardless of the name of each regional center, the core services provided are the same across the country.
Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
The funding for the ADA Technical Assistance Program comes from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education (ED). NIDRR provides the federal grants and supportive services to the Centers and R&D Project. In the past, NIDRR has also provided funding for the Materials Development Projects (MDPs) and National Training Projects (NTPs). For information on additional NIDRR-funded projects, see the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR).
For further information contact:
Brian T. McMahon, Ph.D., CRC
Professor, VCU Department of Rehabilitation Counseling
Research Professor, VCU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
209 McGuire Hall
1112 East Clay Street
P. O. Box 980330
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0330
Phone: (804) 827-0917, f
F
ax: (804) 828-1321
