Universal Access & Assistive Technologies Poudre River Public Library District December 11, 2012 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, , 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 -  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!  Marla C. Roll, MS, OTR  Director – Assistive Technology Resource Center  Faculty – Department of Occupational Therapy    Shannon Lavey, MS, OTR  Service Coordinator – Assistive Technology Resource Center  