What's technology for, but to make life easier? And for those living with a disability, one particular technology is making a tremendous difference: the personal computer. For some, having a specially adapted PC means they can access information and reach out and communicate in ways that otherwise would not be possible: Screen-reading software that allows visually-impaired PC users to hear what is on their monitors. Closed-captioned browsing of multimedia Web pages for deaf users. Sophisticated speech recognition technology that allows people who can't use a keyboard to speak commands into a microphone connected to the computer. These are just a few examples. Many organizations are working on standards and products that make computers and the 'Net more accessible to the disabled. The following websites can help you learn who they are and what they're doing. NCSA Mosaic Access Page Because information on the Web can be conveyed in text, images or sound, you might think there would be more opportunity for people with disabilities to access it. Not always, says the team behind the NCSA Mosaic Access Page, pointing out that sites often rely on only one method to represent data -- text, for instance -- and that means they're not accessible to everyone. This page is part of a project that aims to identify and overcome some of the major barriers people with disabilities encounter in trying to use the Internet. It's a good first stop for anyone researching access issues because it organizes information by disability and deftly outlines resources that can help users get the most out of the Web. Trace Research and Development Center The University of Wisconsin's Trace Center is a research, development and resource center that has been focusing on technology and disability for the past 25 years. One of the center's current projects involves developing a universal site design and evaluation tool that Web developers can use to create the most accessible sites possible. Among the resources the Trace Center's own site offers are software tool kits filled with shareware including on-screen keyboards and Braille utilities, searchable databases of access-related documents and products, and a handy collection of Net links relating to disabilities and access. WebABLE! WebABLE! is the Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation's massive database of online resources relating to advanced information technology and accessibility. It's searchable by disability, country and type of technology, making it easy to pinpoint what you're looking for. The database is complemented by a library of publications (such as "Electronic Curbcuts: How to Build an Accessible Web Site"), workshop and conference calendars, and discussion groups such as the Web Accessibility Design Forum and the Assistive Technology Organization Forum.