1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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”

6. 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

7. 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, email, the web, etc.  Users can navigate the computer using commands

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. NVDA – Nonvisual Desktop Access  Screen reader for Windows OS  Free and open source - http://www.nvda-project.org/http://www.nvda-project.org/  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

16. Next steps:  Considerations for marketing  PRPLS web site  Training of staff:  AT specialists  ATRC web site  Train the trainer  OT 680  Considerations in procurement

17. Thanks! http://atrc.colostate.edu http://atrc.colostate.edu  Marla C. Roll, MS, OTR  Director – Assistive Technology Resource Center  Faculty – Department of Occupational Therapy  491-2016  Marla.Roll@colostate.edu  Shannon Lavey, MS, OTR  Service Coordinator – Assistive Technology Resource Center  491-4241  Shannon.Lavey@colostate.edu