Background and History
1996: Founding
Opened in July 1996, the Kornreich Technology Center was designed to as a state-of-the-art facility where people with disabilities and those who serve them can be exposed to assistive technology for use at school, home, the community, and the worksite. The 1500 foot facility was made possible principally by contributions from John and Janet Kornreich and the Dolan Family foundation. John Kornreich, who named the Center for his father Nathaniel, said: “People with disabilities are long on brainpower. The Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center, as a hub for assistive technology provided by trained professionals, will help people with disabilities to be full participants in our information-based economy-and be financially rewarded for their efforts. My family is gratified to establish the Center in the name of my courageous father-a person with a disability who led a full and productive life.”
The Center, unusual in that it is not housed in a medical facility, has devices as basic as a talking clock that allows a blind person to know the time and as sophisticated as a computerized communication aid that allows a child who cannot speak to produce messages through synthesized speech.
A unique part of the Center is the Rae C. Kornreich Library, with a collection devoted to assistive technology and related topics. The Library, named after John Kornreich’s mother, is a valuable resource to Kornreich Technology Center staff, other National Center for Disability Services staff, consumers with disabilities, students in disability-related fields, and the public.
“The Kornreich Technology Center will allow people to come in and try various forms of technology,” said Edmund L. Cortez, President and CEO of Abilities!, at the Center’s opening. “In addition, staff members will handle inquiries concerning technology from people with disabilities throughout the country. This new Center will help people with disabilities become active, self-sufficient members of society and we are very grateful to the Kornreich and Dolan families who helped make our vision a reality,” added Cortez.
2000-2001: Expansion
In late 2000, work began on an expansion of the Kornreich Technology Center. The size of the existing space was nearly doubled, creating additional room for existing services (see below) and for future additional services and staff. In addition, extensive audiovisual capabilities were added that permit observation and recording of evaluations and other activities, for clinical and teaching purposes.
The new, expanded Kornreich Technology Center opened in January of 2001. (Tour the expanded facility.)
We thank the Kornreich family for their generous support.
The Kornreich Center offers:
Services offered direct to people with disabilities, including:
- Individual assistive technology evaluations.
- Training and consultation in the use of assistive technology.
Educational programs for consumers, educators, and health care providers
Information dissemination activities, including:
- Displays and demonstrations , featuring hundreds of assistive technology products.
- The Rae C. Kornreich Library of assistive technology information.
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