Facilities for Users with Disabilities OUCS Lecture Rooms and Help Centre

Session Outline Facilities at OUCS Talk Practical Accessible Web sites Video “Web Sites that Work” Talk about accessible web sites Questions

OUCS Initial project (2000/1) to improve access to IT, particularly training (lecture rooms and Learning and Resource Centre) for users with disabilities Close liaison with University Disability Office Funded jointly by OUCS and Central Disabilities fund (matched funding)

Current Situation Equipment for a range of disabilities Help Centre has now replaced LaRC (new location and managers) Most equipment is PC based as this is main platform in lecture rooms and Help Centre. Other platforms will be considered in due course

Hardware (Help Centre) Large Monitor (21”) LCD Monitor Monitors can also be used in lecture rooms Scanners

Standard Software Windows has some built in accessibility features which allow various settings to be changed e.g. Keyboard Sound Display Mouse

Standard Software Word - features such as the spell checker also useful Touch Typing (Accutype) software available in the Help Centre

Assistive Software (Help Centre) Magic - magnifies screen in Windows applications Jaws - reads Windows screen, Internet access Kurzweill scans texts and reads back Text Help - helps construct words and sentences, real time spell checker and screen reader

Peripherals Alternative Mice and other pointing devices Alternative Keyboards

Furniture Height Adjustable Desks Available in all lecture rooms and Help Centre Adjustable Chairs Available in all lecture rooms and Help Centre

Ergonomic Accessories Wrist rests Foot rests Document holders

Induction Loop Lecture Room A Device that helps a hearing aid user to hear particular sounds more clearly. It does this by reducing or cutting out background noise Consists of an amplifier connected to a microphone and a length of wire formed into a loop.

Using the equipment For lecture rooms users are asked to let us know in advance by contacting: Keyboards, mice, peripherals can be set up on demand Booking system for scanners, monitors and software in Help Centre

Accessible Materials Provide information and course notes in alternative formats e.g. large print, Braille, electronic versions Information providers need to think about document types and formats Need to be requested in advance

Braille Embosser Available to all University Currently free but may be charged for in future Requires an electronic file e.g. Word/RFT 1-2 week turnaround Specific requests rather than to keep as stock items (reader preferences, document validity.)

Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 1 September 2002: the new legislation comes into effect, affecting an institution's core business such as teaching and research OUCS Website accessibility Working party for use of computers in examinations Provision of equipment at OUCS

SENDA 1 September 2003: reasonable adjustments involving the provision of auxiliary aids and services must be made (such as interpreters and induction loops). OUCS – improvements/adjustments to current provision e.g all lecture rooms to have induction loops.

SENDA 1 September 2005: physical adjustments must be made (such as access to buildings)

Raising Awareness OUCS Leaflet Posters Web pages – Disability Office and other University projects Talks/Training

The next Months Make changes re: SENDA Monitor usage Feedback/Suggestions Evaluate Consider what else should we provide? e.g. on other computer platforms