assistive technology chris mckenzie crystal drury assistive technology advisers
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Assistive Technology
Chris McKenzieCrystal DruryAssistive Technology Advisers
The CORRECT Assistive Technology
• be involved learning activities which would otherwise be inaccessible,
• demonstrate competence and achieve results based on ability not limited by disability.
can enable students to :
Students’ use of assistive technology should be reviewed to ensure that the provisions effectively meet the changing demands of their course.
DO-IT Technology Video
Hardware Braille display
alternative keyboards, keyguards
magnification units: CCTVs
Software Screenreader: JAWS Magnification: ZoomTextScan reader: Kurzweil3000Prediction softwareVoice recognitionOnscreen keyboard
Video available online at: www.washington.edu/doit/Video
Role of Technology Team
– needs assessment– application for Disabled Students
Allowance (DSA)– purchasing, setup and installation– training in assistive software– research and development
• laptop and equipment loan pool• on-campus Assistive Technology (AT)• advice to departments
- Disability Resource Development Fund (DRDF)
Development of AT Service
• 1998 - Assistive Technology Adviser Appointed• 1999 - Initial funding for AT Loan Pool• 2002 - Assistant AT Adviser Appointed• 2002 - SSIS notification system introduced (PEGASUS)• 2002 - Assistive Technology Resource Room• 2004 - Purchasing database introduced• 2005 - Site Licensed software in labs• 2005 - ATANET founded• 2006 - ↑ AT Manager, 1 AT Adviser• 2007 - Second AT Adviser Appointed• 2007 - Central Scanning Service introduced• 2008 - AT Support Assistant Appointed
Assistive Software Available for allOn Campus at Strathclyde
University
MindGenius
Organisation and planning tool based on the concept of
Mind-mapping
TextHelp Read & Write GOLD
Text-to-speech software to assist with reading text on a
computer also with proofreading own work
Assistive Software Available for User Groups
Kurzweil 3000
Scan and Read tool
Kurzweil 1000
Scan and Read tool for visually impaired users
ZoomText
Magnification and screen reading tool for VI users
JAWS
Dedicated screen reader for blind users
Assistive Hardware Available for all
On Campus at Strathclyde University
Braille Emboser
The Braille Embosser can be used to create Braille copies
of your work, handouts or research.
CCTV
CCTVs allow you to magnify the object or book you wish to
look at on a larger screen.
Scanners
A scanner will allow you to convert printed text into images that can be edited and/or read aloud.
Assistive Technology in use• A student with the use of one-hand only for typing uses a compact keyboard and voice recognition software when completing written assignments.
• A social work student with dyslexia uses a scanner and text-to-speech software to accurately read his course notes. The visually and auditory feedback aids his comprehension of the content and reduces the need to re-read several times.
• A student with Aspergers syndrome describes hyper-sensitivity to noise. They use noise-cancelling headphones within noisy environments to allow them to dull the background noise and focus on a speaker.
Assistive Technology in use
A pharmacy student with a visual impairment has a microscope fitted with a magnification camera which is in turn connected to a TV screen on which it displays the magnified view of the slide.
An architecture student with a visual impairment uses a desktop magnification system when drawing and accessing images or text.
Current Research & Developments
• Live Remote Captioning
• Teaching Room Technologies• Visual Display Equipment• Audio Equipment• Automated Video Capture (‘web lectures’)• Video Streaming & Captioning
LRC
What is LRC• Service for deaf and hard of hearing students• Live speech converted into text
How it works• Audio transmitted to captioning studio via mobile• Captioner uses voice recognition software to re-speak• Text returns to students laptop within seconds
Technology
Why was it introduced
• To explore an alternative to the current services i.e. electronic notetaking, speedtext and manual notetakers
• Aim is to improve reliability, flexibility and scalability of services for students
- Mobile technology
- Accessible for numerous students simultaneously
- No travel required
- Remote institutions
LRC video clips
TrialStill ongoing
- Rolled out September 2009
- 2 students, 2 departments, 2 campuses
- Accuracy of transcription excellent
- Positive student feedback
- Initial technical issues overcome
- Ongoing improvements
Teaching Room Technologies
• Visual Display Equipment• Audio Equipment• Automated Video Capture (‘web lectures’)• Video Streaming & Captioning
Visual Display Equipment
• Initial Position• No clear consensus among teaching staff• Need to develop an agreed standard:
• Enhance Teaching & Learning experience• Improved Technical Support• Efficiency gains
• Disabled Students and Staff
Visual Display Equipment• No clear consensus among teaching staff...
Visual Display Equipment
• Room Control SystemsTouch ScreenWall Mounted Buttons
• Need for support in infrastructure essential
Visual Display Equipment
• Conclusions• Flexibility is important• High quality electronic visual display is most
accessibleData projectorPlasma/LCD screen
• Availability of electronic copy crucial
Audio Equipment
•Room Specification•Based on room size•Installed microphones•Radio microphones•Sound Reinforcement•Loop systems
• Teaching Room Audio Survey•Intended to compliment Visual Display Equipment Assessment
Audio Equipment
• Student Survey• Delivered online to all current students• Option to remain anonymous• ‘User-centric’ focus on user experience
Audio Equipment
• Strong agreement that speakers could be heard during class
• However, results showed that almost 1/3 of student had to sit in specific areas to hear clearly
• Over 70% felt that the teaching experience could be improved by better use of audio technology
• 87.5% reported that speakers did not always use the available systems
Automated Video Capture (web lectures)
• Introduction• Introduced in 2005/06• Initially a pilot project within Faculty of Education
• Background• Managed by Learning Services• Around 140 recordings per annum• Fixed installations 2007
• Installed systems less obtrusive• Faster turnaround of video onto server
Automated Video Capture (web lectures)
• Technical specifications• Installed system• Portable systems• Windows Media Format
• Process • Integrated with Virtual Learning
Environment• Transcriptions & Captions
Automated Video Capture (web lectures)
• Feedback• Initial concern about attendance• No significant drop in attendance demonstrated• Could students film classes themselves?• Fixed systems only work perfectly if they are
installed everywhere.Only as good as infrastructure that supports it.
Video Streaming & Captioning
• 24/7 access to video resources• Access on and off campus• Flexible approach to learning
• Searchable Database (eStream)• Large volume of data, with user control• meta data (including deletion date)• Intellectual Property/Ownership/Copyright
• Transcriptions & Captions• Outsourced• Expensive!• On Demand/Track Disabled students?
• Moving past technology?
Conclusions
Accessible Teaching Room Technologies
Low Cost No Cost
• Accessibility of a standard PC
- Windows Ease of Access Centre• MS Office• Freeware• Stylesheets
Windows Ease of Access Centre
Built-in features:• Display settings i.e. high contrast• Keyboard & mouse settings• Textual & Visual Alternatives• Narrator• Magnifier• Voice-recognition• On-Screen keyboard
Display OptionsThe Display option within Windows Accessibility allows you to switch to a high contrast scheme directly by using a keyboard shortcut.
high contrast black and high contrast white are amongst the available schemes.
This facility allows standard computers in open access labs to be readily switched to high contrast scheme by users who need or prefer such a display.
WORD
There are lots of ways that you can make MS Word easier to use.
You can: change the background colours and font to suit your
own preferences make the spell check tool work harder for you.
Stylesheet
A style sheet will allow you to view most web pages in the most accessible background colour and text size for you.
To create a style sheet: Go to www.oneformat.com Select your preferred background colour and text size Download your style sheet Save to your computer then install
Freeware
EduApps
http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eduapps/
Over 60 pieces of open source software available to support reading, writing, planning as well as sensory, cognitive and physical difficulties
Importance of liaising with Academic Departments
• Student Records System• SSIS• PEGASUS
Impact of Disability, Reasonable Adjustments & Exam Arrangements
• Awareness Training Sessions• Assistive Technology• MS Office• Accessible Teaching materials
Assistive Technology
Accessible Resources
Academic Support
Reasonable Adjustments
The Use of Assistive Technology in promoting accessibility
The availability of accessible course materials is key to most disabled student’s success.
Students use of assistive technology can make accessing accessible materials possible – but often the process continues to demand more time than the same activities for their non-disabled peers.
Non-Medical Personal Helpers and Reasonable Adjustments are also required.
Importance of liaising with other departments
• IT Training Team • Systems Developers• Teaching Room Support• Library Services• IT Helpdesk• Learning Technology Enhancement Team
Any Questions?
www.strath.ac.uk/disabilityservice
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