Universal Access & Assistive Technologies Poudre River
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Transcript Universal Access & Assistive Technologies Poudre River
Universal Access &
Assistive Technologies
Poudre River Public Library District
December 11, 2012
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Marla Roll
Director, Assistive Technology Resource Center, CSU
Shannon Lavey
Service Coordinator, Assistive Technology Resource Center, CSU
PRPLD and CSU:
Spring of 2012 – Students in OT 680 class consulted with the
PRPLD and made recommendations for AT
Purchases were made – thanks to Irene Romsa
AT was installed – thanks to Lingzhen Zhao
Exciting news for the Fort Collins Community – one of the
few locations where the public can access AT!
Overview of AT at PRPLD
Demographics of Disability
There are an estimated 54 million people with disabilities living
in the U.S.
– U.S. Census Bureau
There are nearly 7 million school-aged children with disabilities
in the U.S.
– Congressional Research Service
Nearly 70 percent of working-age adults with disabilities are
unemployed.
– U.S. Census Bureau
Fewer than 25 percent of people with disabilities who could be
helped by assistive technology are using it.
– Alliance for Technology Access
What is Assistive Technology?
According to the United States Assistive Technology Act of
1998, assistive technology (also called adaptive technology )
refers to any "product, device, or equipment, whether
acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used
to maintain, increase, or improve the functional capabilities of
individuals with disabilities.“
Common computer-related assistive technology
products include screen magnifiers, large-key keyboards,
alternative input devices such as over-sized trackballs,
speech recognition programs, and text readers.
Why Assistive Technology?
Ethical and legal responsibility to provide access to
information
Fort Collins is lacking in AT resources for the community
Access to AT can mean access to information for leisure,
work and school related purposes.
Think of AT as “electronic curb cuts”
Low tech kits
Magnifying sheets – can be placed over book pages
Amber 3X
Clear 2X
Handheld magnifier – magnifies text and provides backlighting
Writing guide kit – allows for guidance with reading and writing
Book stand – can ease viewing and encourages neutral
postures
Pencil/pen grip – can easy process for those with abnormal
tone, arthritis, ergonomic considerations
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Voice recognition software – user interacts with computer by
voice
Loaded on laptop – allows for access in a quiet room
Who benefits?
People with mobility impairments ( SCI, Arthritis, MS, CTD)
People with cognitive considerations (LD, TBI)
For what purpose?
Users can dictate into word processors, spreadsheets, email, the
web, etc.
Users can navigate the computer using commands
Zoomtext
Screen magnification and reader software
Magnifies, enhances, and reads aloud all visual events on the
computer screen
Who benefits?
People with low vision, aging population
People who have sensitivities viewing the computer screen
For what purpose?
User can see, hear, and use the computer with more ease
Hot keys available to eliminate the use of the mouse
Zoomtext Camera
Uses a high definition web camera to view and magnify
printed and 3D objects
Considered a portable and affordable CCTV alternative
Image is enlarged and read with the Zoomtext software
Who benefits?
People with low vision
Aging population
For what purpose?
View any printed and 3D object – checks, letters, pill bottles, etc.
Read and Write Gold
Literacy support software
Helps with reading, writing, studying, research
Who benefits?
Everybody
People with cognitive considerations (LD, ADHD,TBI)
For what purpose?
Reads text aloud while highlighting
Assists with spelling/grammar, sentence construction, diction,
and organizing ideas
User can research and study using features like highlighter, fact
finder, and vocab list builder
Adjustable Height Table
Who benefits?
People who are very tall or very short in stature
People in wheelchairs, scooters
People with back pain
For what purpose?
Universal Design
Electronic access means users do not have to ask for help!
Allows for improved posture for all users
Allows user in W/C to get positioned well
Allows users to work in standing
Alternative keyboard
Gold touch keyboard –
Who uses it?
everybody
For what purpose?
Encourages better typing posture
Adjustable for different user sizes and preferences
Elimination of num key pad allows mouse to be placed closer to the body
Zoomcaps keyboard labels
Who benefits?
People with low vision, aging population
For what purpose?
Viewing the keyboard
More spacing between letters
No serifs
Heavier and wider font
Alternative mouse
Kensington Expert Trackball Mouse
Wrist rest for added comfort
Scroll wheel and programmable buttons
Who uses it?
Everybody
People with mobility impairments ( SCI, Arthritis, MS, CTD)
For what purpose?
Encourages a neutral postures of wrist and hand
Allows for more control and accuracy
Removes work load from shoulder and decreases grip
Flatbed scanner
Allows users to scan hard copy print
Who Benefits?
Anybody who needs print content digitized
People with print disabilities ( dyslexia, blindness, low vision)
For what purpose?
Scanning documents for electronic conversion
Scanned image can be OCR’d (Optical Character Recognition)
Converted to text
With Adobe Acrobat or Read and Write Gold
NVDA – Nonvisual Desktop
Access
Screen reader for Windows OS
Free and open source - http://www.nvda-project.org/
Great for people who do NOT have the resources to buy
Jaws
Who uses it?
People with blindness or significant low vision
For what purpose?
Means of access to all information on the computer – reads all
text, menus, dialogue boxes
Computer is essentially inaccessible without it for people who are
blind
Next steps:
Considerations for marketing
PRPLS web site
Training of staff:
AT specialists
ATRC web site
Train the trainer
OT 680
Considerations in procurement
Thanks! http://atrc.colostate.edu
Marla C. Roll, MS, OTR
Director – Assistive Technology Resource Center
Faculty – Department of Occupational Therapy
491-2016
[email protected]
Shannon Lavey, MS, OTR
Service Coordinator – Assistive Technology Resource Center
491-4241
[email protected]