Disability Resources

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Disability Resources ServicesAssistive
Technology at the Community College

• Wink Harner
• Director of Disability Resources Services
• Mesa Community College
• wink.harner_at_mcmail.maricopa.edu
• 480-461-7447

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Learning Outcomes

• Participants will be able to identify and
  describe several software programs applicable to
  the college environment that benefit students who
  have a variety of disabilities, including
  learning disabilities.

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Learning Outcomes

• 2. Participants will be able to understand how
  specific assistive technology (software
  equipment) features make material accessible to
  students.

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Learning Outcomes

• 3. Participants will gain an understanding of
  how colleges in MCCCD integrate assistive
  technology into their Disability Resources and
  Services departments, manage student/staff
  training issues, and ongoing support.

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Learning Outcomes

• 4. Participants will also get an overview of the
  kinds of technology and support there is
  available for students as well as some techniques
  on making classroom materials accessible for all.

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Mesa Community College

• 7 Adaptive computers stations _at_ MCC Main 2
  Adaptive computer stations _at_ MCC at Red Mountain
• 1 music brailling station
• Braille embosser Perkins Brailler
• 3 Dual Monitor/Dual Keyboard for training
• Software includes
• READ WRITE GOLD
• TestTalker
• MathType and Math Speak
• Dragon Dictate
• MathTalk with Scientific Notebook
• Inspiration InspireData
• Jaws Screen Reader
• ZoomText

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Mesa Community College

• Hardware includes
• 7 19 flat screen monitors 2 21 flat screen
  monitor
• 2 scanners (2 sided high speed high speed duplex)
• 2 CCTVs
• Adjustable tables
• Headset noise-cancelling microphones
• Printer
• Quick-Start guides for all software available
• Hands-on training by experienced staff

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Mesa Community College

• DRS currently serves 1000 students out of
  approximately 27,000 students
• Approximately 88-90 of the students have
  print-related disabilities and are currently
  using or being trained on appropriate AT
• Workshops Trainings
• - Individual
• - Group
• - Faculty Staff
• - District-wide
• most incoming students state they have never been
  exposed to any assistive technology prior to
  college
• DRS provides on-going training to incoming
  students staff throughout the academic year,
  including advance training during the summer

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Case Study 1 Print Disability

• Incoming student diagnosed with a print
  disability
• Also diagnosed with ADD/ADHD
• Low scores in reading and writing

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Print Disability

• Takes a long time to read
• Reading comprehension is better when someone
  reads to them or when they read out loud to
  themselves
• Is taking PSY101 and RDG091 (below college level)

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Initial interview questions at DRS

• Have you ever had someone read to you? Does it
  help?
• Have you ever used books on tape?
• Do you read out loud when you read?
• Student can have textbook created in ALT TEXT
  format

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More questions

• Do you have difficulty getting your thoughts down
  on paper?
• Do you have difficulty with grammar, spelling,
  sentence construction?
• You speak well, how come you dont write well?
  Can you explain?

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ReadWrite Gold Texthelp Systems

• Literacy Support Software that supports UDL
  principles
• 1. Provides literacy tools for
• Reading, Writing and Studying
• 2. Reads aloud while the student is
  writing/reading
• 3. Highlights words as it reads
• 4. Assists in improving vocabulary and spelling
• 5. Provides a dictionary (including synonyms
  antonyms)
• with an audible spell check
• 6. Includes powerful study skills features
• Bookmarks, outlines, word lists, etc.
• 7. Textbooks handouts may be scanned and read
  aloud

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Read Aloud Support Reads Any Text Bi-Modal input
listening and reading at the same time
Any Word Processor Document
Adobe PDF Acrobat Reader Documents PDFaloud
HTML The Internet via Microsofts Internet
Explorer Browser On WIN Computers
Digital Talking Books. Digital Accessible
Information SYstem.
Paper based Scan Textbooks, Worksheets or
Formative Assessments
Converts digital text to MP3 audio files
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READ-WRITE GOLD Program Features

• For students who have reading, writing, and
  learning differences
• Reads aloud while the student is reading reads
  back what student is writing
• Highlights words as it reads

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READ-WRITE GOLDProgram Features

• Provides a dictionary (including synonyms
  antonyms) with an audible spell check
• Includes some powerful study skills features
  bookmarks, outlines, word lists, etc.
• Text books may be scanned and then read

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Decoding Tools and Writing Support

• Phonetic Based Spelling
• Viewable and editable phonetic map

Phonetic Word Prediction
Homophone Finder and Group display with
Definitions
Talking Dictionary Access to Internet
Dictionaries
Phonetic word finder with definitions or find
related words
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Studying / Research Support Windows Computers
Annotate and extract notes
One click search results research retrieval
Research facts storage by category
Visually Organize research facts
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READ-WRITE GOLDScanned Text Book
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HOW TO SCAN creating textbooks in alternative
format
SCANNING A TEXTBOOK USING A HIGH SPEED COLOR
DUPLEX SCANNER, DRS CAN PRODUCE A TEXTBOOK WITH
BIMODAL (AUDIO VISUAL OUTPUT) FOR STUDENTS
Saved on CD or a flash drive
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Instructor Support Windows Computers
Share with Students in MS Internet Explorer
Create formative assessments (tests) in MS Word
Send to email
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TextHelp Testmaker

• 1.Tests are created electronically in accessible
  PDF format by instructor.
• Software is loaded onto accessible computer
  station in the testing center.
• Student makes own appointment for testing,
  listens to the test with headphones, and either
  typing or using with DRAGON DICTATE, composes
  answers independently.
• RESULT Student becomes more autonomous
  independent.

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TextHelp Testmaker
Use MSW to compose your tests and
handouts TESTMAKER is a shell program with a
tools available on the MSW menu bar Allows
students with print-disabilities to use a screen
reader or dictation software to complete online
or the computer
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What is TestTalker?

• An accommodation that aids individuals to
  demonstrate mastery of knowledge, not reading
  ability
• Supports
• Test taking
• Test preparation
• Worksheet fill-in
• Forms completion

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TestTalker Summary

• Provides talking replica of a test or worksheet
• Teacher Edition provides easy tool for creating
  electronic talking tests
• Student Edition provides consistent presentation
  and independent test-taking
• Tests knowledge, not reading ability
• Accommodation NOT modification
• Fosters test-taking success!

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OPEN USESCampus-Wide ReadWrite Gold

• At MCC we have an open site license for this
  software and can ask IT to load it anywhere!
• READ-WRITE GOLD, KURZWEIL, WYNN WIZARD are all in
  this category
• ASK your DRS/DRC office about which
  Reading/Writing software you have on your campus

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Campus-Wide ReadWrite Gold

• Adult Education/GED
• Continuing Education
• Developmental Education Reading Writing
  development, vocabulary building, spelling
• ELL/ESL Listening and seeing their textbooks at
  the same time reinforces language acquisition
• Distance education (online learners)
• Under-prepared and at-risk students, including
  persons with disabilities
• Dyslexia, Specific Learning Disabilities
• ADD/ADHD

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Case study 2Mesa Community College

• Student has long history of carpal
  tunnel/repetitive stress injury
• Student reports it is difficult to write or type
  for long periods of time she has trouble
  holding a pen
• For in-class accomodations student receives a
  note-taker and training on voice recognition
  software for out-of-class notes research papers

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Voice Recognition Software as Accommodation

• When is Dragon Dictate recommended as an
  accommodation?
• Why?
• Which students benefit?
• What are some keys to success?

DOCUMENTATION
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Which Students Can Benefit From Speech
Recognition?

• Students with physical access difficulties such
  as
• - Repetitive Stress Injury
• - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• - Stroke
• - Limited hand/finger dexterity

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How Voice Recognition Helps

• STUDENT CAN
• Dictate quickly and accurately into almost all
  Windows-based applications
• Edit documents
• Control applications
• Manage the desktop
• Virtually hands-free
• For use outside of the classroom!

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Useful Extra Features

• Digital playback of the user's voice (what the
  user actually said)
• Synthesized speech readback of the text (what the
  software actually put on the page)

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Considerations
IT Skills Student must be relatively competent
with the computer or be capable of learning how
to operate it

• Motivation
• Student must be motivated, willing to learn,
  perserverent and receive supported training

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Considerations

• Dictation Skills
• Student speaks into a microphone and learns to
  dictate clear, well-structured sentences, i.e.,
  student must be able to speak written English!
• Program works with some speech impairments as
  well as foreign (or regional) accents

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Case Study 4Visual Impairment

• Student with a visual impairment
• Has some functional vision
• Needs print material enlarged

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Visual Impairment

• Fatigues easily after a lot of reading.
• Wants to use vision as much as possible.
• Is taking a self-paced computer class, BPC106.

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ZoomText Program Features

• For students who are visually impaired
• Software for computer screen magnification and
  reading
• Enlarges, enhances, and reads aloud everything on
  the computer screen.
• Very user friendly

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ZoomText Main Tool Bar
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ZoomText Magnifier Features
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ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS

• LOW tech solution for screen enhancement is to
  use the accessibility features built into Windows

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CCTV Features

• CCTV Closed Captioned Television
• Magnifies print material to a monitor
• Allows for toggling from computer to print
  material
• Can adjust for background and text colors
• Very user friendly

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JAWS SCREEN READING SOFTWARE What it looks
like on the screen
ICON
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JAWS Job Access with Speech for Windows

• functions as a screen reader for the computer
• "reads" in a synthesized voice, all text and
  keyboard commands
• allows total computer access for student with
  macular degeneration/severe visual impairment or
  blindness
• "reads" all text on the Internet, allowing
  Internet access to available on-line materials
• runs in the background

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JAWS

• JAWS makes reading Web pages easy. When visiting
  a page with Internet Explorer, JAWS immediately
  begins reading the page from the top down

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JAWS Screen Reader for Blind/Visually Impaired

• CRITICAL to prepare your webpages and online
  materials using HTML or MATH ML tagging so
  students can access your materials, including
  PPT!
• HTML forms allow student to access search
  engines, Web-based e-mail, bulletin boards, and
  so on. Forms include controls such as edit boxes,
  check boxes, radio buttons, combo boxes, and
  other controls similar to those used in dialog
  boxes
• JAWS takes advantage of the features of HTML used
  to create forms and allows student to access all
  kinds of form controls
• EASY TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR MATERIAL
  ACCESSIBLE!! USE STYLE SHEETS built into your
  desktop programs

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LOW TECH SOLUTIONS( free ! )

• BROWSEALOUD
• ADOBE READER
• THUNDER Screen Reader
• NATURAL READER
• DSPEECH

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Case study 5 Math Disability

• Student has a math disability
• Is unclear exactly what the problem is
• States that he mixes up plus and minus signs
• Reverses numbers function signs when
• writing out problems,
• And has an issue with math
• Documentation reveals a specific learning
  disability called dyscalculia, similar to
  dyslexia
• DRS recommends student try MathTalk/Scientific
  Notebook as an accommodation

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MathTalk With Scientific NotebookAs
Accommodation for Students with Math Disabilities
MathTalk with Scientific Notebook allows student
to voice mathematical symbols and equations of
virtually any type, shape or form
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MathTalk With Scientific NotebookAs
Accommodation for Students with Math Disabilities
Allows for hands-free use of the computer to
produce mathematic, algebraic and chemical
formulas through dictation Requires -- Dragon
NaturallySpeaking -- Scientific Notebook --
MathTalk
1. 2. 3.
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MathTalk With Scientific NotebookAs
Accommodation for Students with Math Disabilities

• - training is easy!
• - tutorials, videos, and vocabulary handouts are
  included
• - only learn the module needed
• - from simple math to physics

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Simple Rules For Training
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Speaking In Scientific Notation easy to
train,easy to use!

• Fractions
• Say four over five,
• comma,
• alpha over bravo,
• comma,
• 9 over charlie,
• hotel over 3,
• comma,
• twenty-five over sixty-five,
• comma,
• cap alpha over thirty-five

Get
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Square/Cube Root Examples

• Say
• square root of twenty,
• comma,
• square root of charlie,
• comma,
• cube root,
• fifteen,
• move out,
• comma,
• cube root of one third,
• comma,
• ninth root of 8

Get
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How does it help?

• With math homework -- user can voice own work and
  print
• no need for parents, peers, or tutors to write
  math
• voice arithmetic/pre-algebra / algebra / trig /
  calculus / statistics/ more
• MathTalk bundle includes Scientific Notebook
• User can choose to print the file or to translate
  
• math to Braille in Duxbury Braille Translator
•   Requires Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8.0 or 9.0
  --any version.

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USING MATH TALK

• Can be used for homework and test taking.
• Can be used in conjunction with TestTalker
  software, or test can be scanned and converted to
  a click forward PDF file
• Student does not need formula cards for math
  MathTalk does it for you!

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Case Study 6 Learning Disability

• Students hates to write essays.
• Student has difficulty organizing themselves
• Student does not know where to begin when given
  a writing assignment

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Learning Disability

• Student is a visual learner
• Poor time management, organizational, and study
  skills
• Is taking ENG071

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Initial questions DRS might ask

• What comments did you receive on your writing
  assignments in high school?
• Do you understand how to construct a sentence and
  a paragraph?
• Can you organize your thoughts in order to write
  an essay?

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More questions

• What kind of a learner are you visual,
  auditory, or kinesthetic?
• How do you keep track of your appointments or
  responsibilities? Do you use a calendar?
• Describe your study skills?

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Inspiration Template
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Inspiration Program Features

• For students who are visual learners Uses
  diagrams and outlines to organize new information
  (concept mapping)
• Toggles between outline and visual diagram views
• Strengthens critical thinking, comprehension,
  and writing skills

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InspirationTM Mind-Mapping Features

• For students who are visual learners
• Uses diagrams and outlines to organize new
  information (concept mapping)
• Toggles between outline and visual diagram views
• Strengthens critical thinking, comprehension, and
  writing skills
• For students who are visual thinkers, have
  ADD/ADHD, or have other print-related disabilities

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Inspiration Design View
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INSPIRATION OUTLINE VIEW
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CONNECT IDEAS

• INSPIRATION allows visual linking tools to
  connect ideas and show relationships between
  ideas
• Will export to outline format
• Can be used with dictation software for
  input/screen reading software for output
• Helps students organize their thoughts for
  reports, essays, research papers and other
  writing assignments
• Exports directly to MSW

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Braille Embosser
BRAILLE MUSIC STATION
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WHAT DRS CAN DO FOR YOU!

• TRAINING FOR STUDENTS
• HANDS-ON, HOW-TO GUIDES, GROUP ONLINE TRAINING
• TRAINING WORKSHOPS for FACULTY STAFF THROUGH
  THE CTL
• ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING DEMONSTRATIONS
• We have AT staff on site every day to help you
  with the programs hardware

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PLUS - DELTA

• I can identify and describe several software
  programs that benefit students who have a variety
  of disabilities
• I understand how specific assistive technology
  (software equipment) features make material
  accessible to students
• I learned how assistive technology can be
  integrated into DRS accommodation plans, made
  available to departments, student/staff training,
  and ongoing support
• I received an overview of the kinds of technology
  and support available for students as well as
  techniques on making classroom materials
  accessible for all
• Assistive Technology at the Community College
• Wink Harner, Presenter 5-13-08

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I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT

• Reading software
• Word prediction writing software
• Accessible electronic tests
• Making math tests accessible
• How to caption flash videos
• How to make my PPTs accessible
• Or ________________________?
• Assistive Technology at the Community College
  Wink Harner, Presenter 5-13-08