Digital Arts Service Corps - assistive technology

Assistive Technology Manual

Anita Lie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:17:43 +0000

Here's a Manual I created for my organization. It was about 60 pages, but I cut it down to 38. There is also some more information about accessibility available on Microsoft website.

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/default.aspx
Also some AT that Microsoft recommends
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/default.aspx

Here's one for mac's also
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/

10 Technologies for People with Disabilities

Anita Lie — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:38:27 +0000

Here's a List of Software we bought for my organization.

CrossScanner
People who has limited physical moblility.
Auto-scan operation: the first click starts the lineScan down the screen. The next click stops the line when it gets to the user's desired vertical point. If DoubleClick, Drag, or Text Entry is active, an icon Window pops up for the user to select between with the fingerScan. The final click tells the computer to move the cursor to that point and perform the chosen function. able to perform mouse moves and clicks, double clicks, drags, operate menu's and enter text with optional Onscreen Keyboards.

Orbit Optical Track Ball
Limted hand mobility
Simple touch of the finger! Easy to use as a regular mouse and it stays in one place.

Track Ball FingerMouse
Limited mobility
Replaces mouse with a trackball and buttons using thumb and/or index finger.

Don Johnston Switch Interface Pro
Use to connect the switch to the computer and are used with software written for single-switch use. It is used with the Big Red Switch. It a switch that can act like a mouse such as single, double clicks, and specific keyboard keys such as spacebar, tab, enter arrow keys, etc., This interface is used with the big red switch

Big Red Switch ( which I like to call the easy button).
People with Limted mobility
Enter text when keyboard is not feasible, set up series of response using multiple switches, train in cause and effect, facilitate choice-making, control comp via Morse code. Can do anything a keyboard or mouse can do, depending on what type of switch interface you buy or program, just buy a single hit on the Big Red Button.

Smart-Nav Package
By providing complete hands free navigation and input the Smart-Nav AT Package is perfect for people with carpal tunnel, RSI or assistive technology needs. Free your hands by simply moving your head to control your computer

Big Keys LX (Querty Order)
Full-size keyboard, 7 inches by 19 inches has 60 oversized keys: every key on the BigKeys LX keyboard is extra large: 1" square.

Magic Touch Touch Screen
The Magic Touch Add-On Kit can be easily mounted on ANY monitor and used for ANY mouse driven application.

Zoomtext
Visual impairment
ZoomText Magnifier 9.1 enlarges and enhances everything on your computer screen, making all of your applications easy to see and use.

Texthelp (Read & Write Standard)
Augmentive
It has been designed as a ‘floating’ toolbar that will help improve reading & writing skills, with features such as speech feedback, phonetic spell checking, word prediction & homophone support.

Here a list that our organization didn't get to purchase because it was out of our budget.

Dragon Naturally Speaking V. 9
Can be people who has limited mobility and people who are blind.
It types and performs action on the computer by speaking to it. You have to train it to recognize your voice.

Jaws, Screen Reader software. Company: Freedom Scientific
For people who are blind

Thunder RJ (Screen Reader on a Flash Drive)
Read out text from the computer. Can read Micorsoft Products, and Internet Explorer. This can be for people who is blind, someone who has hard of seeing, or has speech problems.

Intellikeys
IntelliKeys USB is an intelligent, programmable keyboard that provides access to the computer for persons who have difficulty using a mouse or standard keyboard.
Customized overlays can also be created and printed with the Overlay Maker Program.

Automatic Doors
To have easier access to the building

Enablemart is usually a good reccommended site to buy the software/hardware. So it'll depend on your organization wants and where you want to purchase.

www.enablemart.com

There is a lot more Assistive Technology out there so this is a small list.
Here's another good resource site on Assistive Technology for Computers:

http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=11114&deep=2&trail=22

5 Assistive Technology Resources For VISTAs

Morgan Sully — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:34:18 +0000

Hey VISTAs,
I’ve been spending some time researching accessible technolgy. Here’s a short list I found. Hope it’s helpful!

Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator's Handbook:
http://www.nasaa-arts.org/publications/design_access.shtml
A how-to reference and resource guide for integrating older adults and people with disabilities into all aspects of an arts organization -- from planning and design to marketing and technical assistance.

Dragon Naturally Speaking for cheap:
http://www.amazon.com/Nuance-Communications-A309A-G01-9-0-NaturallySpeak...
On Amazon - $50

Determining Accessibility in Your AmeriCorps Programs and Facilities: The Access AmeriCorps Checklists:
http://nationalserviceresources.org/wgnsrclibrary/advancedsearch?action=...
Provides information and a survey to enable AmeriCorps programs to complete the required self-evaluations. Discusses how to meet the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities who participate in AmeriCorps programs.

The AmeriCorps National Resource landing library:
http://nationalserviceresources.org/publications/search_library/index.php
(free books JUST for Americorps VISTAs! - they’ll mail library books to you!) I cannot emphasize enough the value of this resource – very underutilized by VISTAs)

Mouseless firefox browsing:
http://www.rudolf-noe.de/MouselessBrowsing.htm
Mouseless browsing bases on appending small boxes with unique ids for all links, form elements and frames to the page. You can trigger an action (e.g. following the link) by simply entering the id and depending on the configuration confirming it by pressing Enter. Used in conjunction with voice recognition software, you can visit links by simply speaking a number. - for Macintosh see;
http://lifehacker.com/software/speech-recognition/hack-attack-make-your-...

Firefox accessibility:
http://www.accessfirefox.com/
Access Firefox presents and showcases some of the accessibility tools and features that are available for the free Firefox Web browser.

Accessible Web Typography:
http://www.scotconnect.com/webtypography/
An online book with information on how to make your website readable and accessible to people with less than perfect eye-sight

Turning Blind Nonreaders into Readers

Denise Meise — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:52:19 +0000

by Denise Meise

West Tennessee STAR Center

The West Tennessee Special Technology Access Resource Center, better known as the STAR Center, is a non-profit organization in Jackson, Tennessee that specializes in assistive technology. In 1988, Chuck and Margaret Doumitt discovered that their two youngest children were losing their eyesight, and doctors eventually determined that they had a rare condition called Batten’s disease. This disease would cause blindness, seizures, loss of motor skills, and ultimately death. Chuck and Margaret began to dream that George and Angela would someday have access to assistive technology. Instead of moving to a larger city that already had an assistive technology center, the Doumitts decided to start one on their own.

What started as a vision for two concerned and loving parents has now become the largest assistive technology center in the country. Every year, the STAR Center serves close to twenty thousand people, including adults and children with disabilities, their families, and those educators and health professionals who serve people with disabilities. With 18 different programs, the STAR Center has services for people with every disability imaginable.

I started as a CTC VISTA at the STAR Center on September 11, 2006 with the title of Volunteer Coordinator. As such, I quickly realized that the first step toward having great volunteers is to have specific and organizationally accepted work plans that describe exactly what a great volunteer means to that specific organization. Great volunteers also need to know that they will have adequate training in the beginning of their service as well as intermediate training if needed.

The newest program for the STAR Center is an adult Literacy Lab made possible by the Jackson Rotary Club. In June, they committed to donating five thousand dollars per year for five years to help get the literacy lab up and running. The Rotary Club also committed to providing volunteers for the lab. Because these volunteers will be an essential part of the lab, they should know about the constituency with which they will be working. To that end, I have been doing a lot of research on adult literacy so the volunteers feel informed, knowledgeable, and confident when they start their work.

My main focus with the Rotary Club members will be encouraging them to volunteer and motivating them. They will come to the STAR Center on October 25 for the dedication of the literacy lab. With the information that I gathered on adult literacy, I created a packet that the Rotary Club members will receive at that time. It includes detailed descriptions of volunteer roles in the lab, information on adult literacy, and a list of resources for any who want to learn more. The packet also includes a brochure that was created for adults who cannot read well in order to advertise the literacy lab.

All of the Rotary Club members who wish to volunteer will then choose a time to come in for a group training that will last about two hours. This training will provide them with a general overview of the services of the STAR Center, teach them about individual differences in adults who are learning to read, and offer information on various tutoring techniques.

After the group training, each volunteer will be assigned to one client. Many of the adult learners at the STAR Center are already using computer programs to reach their literacy goals. In addition to computer training, Literacy Lab clients will also have access to a library of books for new adult readers, direct teaching, flashcards, homework lessons, and opportunities to read aloud. Because of the variety of programs and methods of teaching literacy, it is important that each volunteer has in-depth training on which techniques the client is using. The volunteers will have detailed training at the beginning of service and access to more training as needed. Instructors in the lab will be available to monitor the progress of the client and answer questions for the volunteers.

The STAR staff and I have worked diligently to find resources for adult literacy learners and volunteers. Hopefully, the Rotary Club members will be motivated to volunteer!
Anyone who is interested in learning more about adult literacy or adult literacy volunteers should check out the following websites:

http://nces.ed.gov/naal contains statistics on adult literacy
http://www.literacyonline.org/ncal.html contains information from The National Center on Adult Literacy
http://literacyconnections.com/AdultLiteracy.php contains The Key: A Newspaper for NewReaders
http://www.readinga-z.com contains literacy assessments and various resources
http://www.lakeline.lib.fl.us/programs_and_services/family_literacy_program/adultlit_vol.aspx contains information on adult literacy volunteer tutors
http://www.adultliteracyleague.org/volunteer/tips.asp#1 contains a list of books for new readers
http://www.altn.org/techtraining/student.html contains resources for adult literacy learners and tutors

Denise Meise is currently serving as a CTC VISTA member at the West Tennessee Special Technology Access Resource Center (STAR Center) in Jackson, Tennessee. She serves the STAR Center as Volunteer Coordinator and Technology Specialist, and has recently spent much of her time building resources for the Center's new adult literacy lab. As the Literacy Lab gets up and running, Denise will work closely with volunteers from the community, ensuring that they receive adequeate training on literacy software and methods of teaching literacy.