Using Macintosh Computers with Special Needs Students

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Using Macintosh Computers with Special Needs
Students

• A Presentation for TBE 550
• Farah Fisher, EdD

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Presentation Objectives

• List computer-related physical/educational needs
  of special students.
• Given a problem related to computer use, list at
  least two possible solutions.
• Given a problem related to computer use, describe
  a Macintosh program that may provide a solution.

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What is assistive technology?

• General term for hardware and/or software used to
  assist individuals with disabilities.
• This presentation will focus on computer-related
  access adaptations, but many other types of
  assistive technology are available.

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Why cover Macintosh only?

• Macintosh computers have always had free adaptive
  software built in.
• TBE 550-01 meets in a Mac lab, so we can try the
  adaptations.
• There will be references to Windows applications
  at the end of the presentation.

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Presentation Organization

• The assistive technology adaptations will be
  organized by general type of disability (type of
  impairment).
• This is the most common way to access information
  about assistive technology.

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Fine Motor Movement Problems

• Some disabilities impair the use of hands and
  arms (fine motor means small muscles).
• Cerebral Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Stroke
• Arthritis
• Quadriplegia
• Central Nervous System Disorders

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Fine Motor Movement Problems

• There are at least two possibilities
• Cannot use hands
• Lack of hand control
• shaking
• jerky movement
• hold keys down too long
• cannot hit correct key
• difficulty moving mouse

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Fine Motor Movement Problems - Adaptations

• Headstick/Mouthstick

• Keyboard Cover

• Keyboard Control
• Turn off repeatability
• Hold down key longer to access
• Keyboard replaces mouse

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Fine Motor Movement Problems - Adaptations

• Special keyboards

• Voice commands
• (speech recognition)
• ListenDo!
• Dragon products
• ViaVoice

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Scanning Software - for those who cannot use
their hands or speak

• Characters/words displayed in grid
• Single switch chooses
• puff switch
• button switch
• key on keyboard

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Vision Problems - Disabilities

• Vision impairments may be divided into two
  general categories
• Partially sighted (low vision)
• Blind

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Vision Problems

• Vision impaired individuals have problems seeing
  the screen
• Can see only large displays (low vision)
• Cannot see screen (blind)

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Vision Problems - Adaptations

• Speech synthesis
• computer pronounces text on screen
• Large letter display
• characters are shown in large fonts
• small larger larger larger larger larger
• really large

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Vision Problems - Adaptations

• Screen reading software
• Reads all part of the screen, including menus
• Screen enlarging software
• Enlarges all screen display, not only text

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Hearing Problems - Disabilities

• As with vision problems, there are two basic
  categories of hearing problems
• Hard of hearing
• Deaf

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Hearing Problems

• Computers generate beeps and other alert signals
  to notify the user that something is happening.
• Deaf students generally have a low reading level
  and may not be able to understand messages on the
  screen.

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Hearing Problems - Adaptations

• The auditory signals can be replaced by flashes
  on the screen.
• Turn up the volume (consider ear phones).
• Pictorial instructions can replace text.

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Cognitive Problems - Disabilities

• Individuals with cognitive disabilities sometimes
  need adaptations.
• Classifications
• Learning disabled (LD)
• Developmentally disabled (DD)
• mildly retarded
• moderately retarded

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Cognitive Problems

• Students may not be able to read or have a low
  reading level - may not be able to read
  instructions or menus.
• Students may not understand or remember how to
  operate the computer.

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Cognitive Problems - Adaptations

• Speech synthesis to read screen
• Cross-ability pairing
• disabled student paired with good reader

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Students in Wheelchairs - Disabilities

• Permanent disabilities
• cerebral palsy
• para/quadriplegic
• birth defects (e.g. Spina Bifida)
• Temporary orthopedic problems
• broken leg

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Students in Wheelchairs - Problems

• Access to computer lab
• Movement within lab
• Cannot get close enough to computer

D O O R
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Students in Wheelchairs - Adaptations

• When arranging computer lab, allow access for
  wheelchairs.
• Use computers with moveable keyboards (do not
  lock down).
• Purchase special tables
• that can be raised/lowered
• Put a computer table up on blocks

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Adaptive Programs for the Macintosh

• OS 8.x/9.x
• OS X

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Keyboard Control Panel (8.x/9.x)

• Choose Control Panels in Apple Menu
• Choose Keyboard
• Set mouse tracking and double click speed
• Control keyboard repeatability and delay time
  (minimum control)

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Easy Access(OS 8.x/9.x)

• Comes with Macintosh system
• In Universal Access folder
• Put into Extensions folder and restart
• Three functions controlled by Easy Access
• Sticky Keys
• Slow Keys
• Mouse Keys

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Easy AccessSticky Keys

• Latches keys like Command and Shift
• Allows easy one-hand (or stick) use
• Activate/deactivate by pressing Shift key 5 times
  without moving mouse

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Easy AccessSlow Keys

• Controls repeatability factor for students who
  hold keys too long
• Can delay or turn off repeatability

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Easy AccessMouse Keys

• Allows numeric keypad to be used instead of mouse

7 8 9 4 6 1 2 3
5 mouse button 0 lock mouse button . unlock
mouse button
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CloseView

• Must be in Control Panel folder
• Use Control Panels from Apple menu or...

turn on/off Option Command O magnify
on/off Option Command X magnify up/down Option
Command
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MacinTalk

• Easy speech synthesis
• Software only
• Works with word processing (speaks highlighted
  text when menu item is chosen)
• SimpleText (OS 8.x/9.x)
• TextEdit (OS X)

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Universal Access (OS X)

• Open System Preferences (in the blue Apple menu)
• Double click Universal Access
• Options will appear for seeing, hearing, keyboard
  and mouse.

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Universal Access (OS X)

• Seeing options
• Zoom (like CloseView)
• White/black exchange
• Hearing options
• Screen flash (alert)
• Volume

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Universal Access (OS X)

• Keyboard options
• Sticky keys
• Slow keys
• Mouse options
• Mouse keys

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Lets try the Mac adaptations!
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What about Windows?

• Lets visit the TBE 550 open site disability
  links.
• http//www.csudh.edu/fisher/tbe550/spec.html
• We will also visit shareware/freeware sites to
  find free/inexpensive adaptive software
• http//www.tucows.com/

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End of Presentation

• TBE 550
• Special Needs Students
• And Computers