| Universal Design is a concept that - in a perfect world | | | | be achieved using large trackballs, a foot mouse, sip |
| - would enable those students with a disability to | | | | and puff devices, and a head controlled mouse. |
| enter a room and immediately have EQUAL ACCESS | | | | Electric eyes can be provided that allow computer |
| to any and all information. With Universal Design, | | | | access and control through limited head movement |
| assistive technology can be used so that class | | | | and even eye blinks. |
| lessons can be easily completed by everyone | | | | Screen Magnifiers |
| including those individuals with disabilities who use | | | | Personal computers all have accessibility options |
| assistive technology. | | | | including a zoom feature for someone with low vision. |
| The following adaptations are everyday examples of | | | | You can find access on the Control Panel feature of |
| Universal Design: sliding automatic doors, large | | | | your PC. Zoom Text enlarges print for someone with |
| restroom doorways and stalls, adjustable | | | | low vision, and Zoom Text with speech also includes |
| tables, sidewalk curb cuts, texting, motion | | | | a screen reader. Products from Kurzweil and |
| lights, lever handles, and e-books. Each of these | | | | Freedom Scientific also provide screen readers and |
| examples makes everyone's life easier, not just | | | | magnifiers. Home magnifiers are not only good for |
| someone with a disability. | | | | students, but the technology will help those who do |
| Assistive Technology for Hard of Hearing and | | | | fine work with their hands. Their hands can be |
| Deaf | | | | magnified onto a monitor so that people can see |
| For people who are hard of hearing or deaf, a | | | | their knitting, writing, or small detail repairs. Camera |
| Sorenson service uses remote interpreters via a | | | | technology also makes life more accessible to |
| videophone. Videophones are free with the Sorenson | | | | individuals with low vision. There are a variety of |
| service. Individuals may be in one location, and the | | | | products that enlarge text for someone with low |
| interpreter may be in another state. Some schools | | | | vision that can be used on a desk top, are portable, |
| have CART reporting available to Hard of Hearing and | | | | or can be worn on the head for someone with |
| Deaf students. The CART reporter sits outside a | | | | mobility disabilities. For example, Flipper uses a camera |
| class and listens through headphones to make an | | | | to project information from the classroom board |
| exact transcript of the lecture just like a court | | | | onto a personal computer. Jordy is a product worn |
| reporter. FM systems are also available for individuals | | | | on the head. Small pocket electronic magnifiers are |
| who have hearing impairments. FM systems will | | | | helpful when trying to read small print during shopping |
| amplify the sound from room to room. One person | | | | because the user can push a button and freeze the |
| wears a small device with a transmitter, and the | | | | image for easier access to the enlarged print. These |
| other person wears a receiver. The person with the | | | | products are available at low vision websites. In |
| receiver can hear what the other person is saying as | | | | addition, you can get a microscope that is digital. The |
| if they are next to each other. Assistive Technology | | | | user hooks it through a computer with special |
| like FM systems should be available to anyone who | | | | software. The computer is then attached to a |
| visits a museum or enjoys a performance at an | | | | projector, and it enlarges the slide onto a wall or |
| auditorium or movie theater. | | | | table for all to view at once. Math calculators are |
| Braille/Tactile Diagrams | | | | available that use an overhead to project onto the |
| For someone who is blind, Braille technology is | | | | wall. |
| available in personal computers called PacMates that | | | | Speech-to-Text |
| allow individuals to take their own notes using a Braille | | | | Someone who has low vision or hand movement |
| keypad. Tactile diagrams for science are also available | | | | restrictions can use a speech-to-text product like |
| for human anatomy models, cross-sections of the | | | | Dragon Naturally Speaking, one of Nuance voice |
| head, brain, nose, mouth, throat, respiratory tract, | | | | control products. Nuance voice Controls will allow |
| heart, digestive system, etc. Tactile maps are also | | | | users to use voice commands to dictate emails to |
| available for anyone taking a geography class or | | | | Blackberry, to add appointments, and to search the |
| studying the globe. Textbooks and tests in school | | | | web. Sony ICD-SX46 Digital Voice Recorder can be |
| can be produced in Braille for anyone requesting such | | | | used with Dragon NaturallySpeaking Software. Tablet |
| services. | | | | PCs have a sensitive screen designed to interact with |
| E-Text | | | | a complementary pen. You can use the pen directly |
| E-text is now available through many textbook and | | | | on the screen like a mouse to select, drag, and open |
| non-academic publishers. Students who have | | | | files and can be used in place of a keyboard to |
| disabilities may qualify for free copies of their | | | | handwrite notes. Tablet PCs should also have |
| textbooks from Recordings for the Blind and | | | | speech-to-text technology. Nexus 1 Smartphone has |
| Dyslexic. The University of Virginia also has thousands | | | | a Speech-to-Text feature as well. |
| of e-books available to students. Kent State | | | | Text-to-Speech |
| University has a non-commercial repository for | | | | Screen readers are also available for free or |
| e-book research, and Project Gutenberg has many | | | | purchase, depending upon the product. ReadPlease is |
| e-books that are free of charge. Google has over | | | | a free screen reader for home use that reads text |
| 500,000 e-books that are free access. Most | | | | that has been cut and pasted to the screen reader |
| publishers want a "proof of purchase" for college | | | | on a computer. Students who are blind can use |
| textbooks before providing an e-text alternative | | | | JAWS to listen to everything on their computer. |
| version of the book. Kindle, The Nook, and Sony all | | | | Zoom Text and Magic also have text readers built |
| have electronic readers for thousands of books, but | | | | into their software. Electronic pens are available also |
| interested individuals should also check for | | | | that can read notes aloud, scan and store text, |
| text-to-speech software that will allow them to listen | | | | transfer information to PDAs, Smartphones, and |
| to the book as well as read it. | | | | Personal Computers. Some of these pens can also |
| Physical Disabilities/Wheelchair Users | | | | translate English in other languages. The Pulse, |
| Wheelchair technology and add on systems are | | | | Smartpen by Live Scribe lets the user record notes |
| available for recreational activities like bowling and | | | | and then replay the written words by tapping on the |
| soccer. Paralympic athletes compete in international | | | | notes. Notes can be saved to the computer and |
| paralympic sporting events. In addition, specialized | | | | shared as Flash videos, PDF files, or audio files. |
| wheelchair carts with balloon tires are an option for | | | | Regardless of the disability you are facing, today's |
| riding over sandy beaches. For those people with | | | | technology will aid you through you day-to-day |
| limited upper body movement, computer access can | | | | challenges. |