She is now maintaining databases, actively using e-mail, and regularly accessing the Internet. Starting in 1986, with the donated use of AppleLink, Apple Computer's telecommunications network, ATA used telecommunications to build a community of assistive technology experts.
Telecommunications continues to provide a daily forum for sharing ideas, advice and experience.
ATA makes use of its center and vendor listserves, or group electronic mailing lists, for the purpose of information exchange and technology problem solving. This ability to share expertise makes each center stronger than it would be operating in isolation. Telecommunications is becoming an increasingly important mechanism the ATA uses to disseminate information, raise public awareness and reach a broader audience. It is used to share information internally among centers and to disseminate information about the organization to the general public. The information is easily kept current and new items are added regularly, for example, resources lists and links to the many new sites of interest to people with disabilities.