assistive technology for students with visual impairments
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Samantha Fecich M.Ed.
TWEET TIME!
Please describe in your own words 130 characters or less a visual impairment on Twitter. Remember to use the class hashtag!
Please describe in your own words 130 characters or less the definition of assistive technology on Twitter. Remember to use the class hashtag!
VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS If you have a student who is blind or partially
sighted in your classroom some examples of assistive technology could include: Magnifying glass Software added to a computer enabling a student to
type and write Magnifying device that could help students read a book
or text in the classroom CCTV Braille device to read, write, and learn literacy sills Mobile device
In this session we will discuss some popular pieces of assistive technology for individuals who are blind or partially sighted. http://youtu.be/A2bsTOZ71Mw
LIGHT OR LOW ASSISTIVE TECH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS INCLUDE
Braille Magnifying glasses Large print text/books Anti-glare paper Contrasting text and background colors Thick lined paper Reading/writing stand Optical magnifier Highlighters Felt tip markers with various thicknesses slant board Color filters
BRAILLE
A way to write letters based on the 26 letters in the alphabet.
Braille is a system of characters made up of raised dots.
Other codes are used for subjects such as math, science, music, and computers.
Students learn to read Braille by moving both hands across the lines of Braille words from left to right.
BRAILLE
Created by Louis Braille It is the single most important invention for
people who are blind in history. http://youtu.be/sqQ3gdE7ks0
BRAILLE
Where have you seen the use of Braille? Have you ever had an experience using Braille?
Please comment in the eluminate session.
TWEET TIME!
Please describe in your own words 130 characters or less a way you can adapt the content using one of these low tech options. Remember to use the class hashtag!
MID ASSISTIVE TECH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS INCLUDE
Large key keyboards Keyboards with high contrast MP3 players to record lectures/notes Light box - used with students to train their
visual acuity Audio books Books in alternative formats Portable word processing device Large key calculator
LARG
E KEY
KEY
BO
ARD
MP3 P
LAYER
S FO
R TH
E BLIN
D
The device is laid out similarly to a large mobile phone, complete with a numerical keypad and dedicated volume buttons on the side.
HIG
H C
ONTR
AST K
EYBOARD
AUDIO
BO
OKS
Do a search for audio book websites. Find out how much it costs to purchase or membership, what formats are books in? What is the site? Report back on eluminate!
LIGHT B
OX
A lightbox is piece of equipment that lights a see through plastic piece of paper. It can also illuminate clear shapes, colors, and objects.
PO
RTA
BLE W
ORD P
RO
CESS
ING D
EVIC
E
BO
OKS IN
ALTER
NATIV
E FORM
ATSThere are several type s of alternative formats that books can be displayed in for individuals with a visual impairment. Check out one of these sites and report your findings on elumuniate
Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D): www.learningally.org
Bookshare: www.bookshare.org
LibriVox: www.LibriVox.org
Project Gutenberg: www.gutenberg.com
Inkling: www.inkling.com
Louis Database of Accessible Materials, American Printing House for the Blind: www.loius.aph.org
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped: www.loc.gov/nls/
Google eBooks: http://books.google.com/ebooks -- Collection of eBooks that is slowly expanding in scope to include non-fiction and scholarly works. (Books are available for purchase)
LARGE K
EY C
ALC
ULATO
R
TWEET TIME!
Please describe in your own words 130 characters or less a way you can adapt the process using one of these mid tech options. Remember to use the class hashtag!
HIGH ASSISTIVE TECH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS INCLUDE
Screen readers Screen magnification Reading machines Video magnifiers Refreshable Braille displays Braille translation software Note taker recognition Mobile devices http://youtu.be/lLaUx7BJ4r0
SCREEN MAGNIFICATION A screen magnifier is a tool that can magnify
everything (text, photos, graphics, etc) on a computer or a mobile device screen.
When using a screen reader, it results in only part of the original screen image being visible to the individual.
Screen magnifiers can sometimes include extra features such as: Contrasting background and text colors Mouse pointers and cursors can be enhanced Some can even do basic screen reading functions
SCREEN MAGNIFICATION
Some common screen magnifiers for Windows computers include: ZoomText MAGic Supernova Screen Magnifier
SCREEN MAGNIFICATION
o Also, most recent computer running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux have a screen magnifier built into them.
o I would now like you to go into your own computer and try to find the screen magnification function. (Try the control panel) o Access your screen magnification toolo If you do not have one ,do a Google search of a free tool to
download and try and give it a shoto Report on twitter about your experience
SCREEN READERS
A screen reader gives an individual user information from a computer or mobile device through a spoken digitized voice.
A screen reader can also offer a user more information than just reading text on a page such as: Whether text is underlined on a page Whether a page or link was checked Whether a box to checked or unchecked
SCREEN READERS
The most popular commercial screen readers include JAWS Window-Eyes Supernova Screen Reader. NVDA Thunder System Access to Go
SCREEN READERS
o Also, most recent computer running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux have a screen reader built into them.
o I would now like you to go into your own computer and try to find the screen reader function. (Try the control panel) o Access your screen reader toolo If you do not have one ,do a Google search of a free tool to
download and try and give it a shoto Report on twitter about your experience
READING MACHINES
A reading machine utilizes a camera or a scanner with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basically it turns a printed document into electronic text.
This text can then be relayed to a screen to read in large print or read aloud by a screen reader.
READING MACHINES
A reading machine can be Standalone – it combines a camera and a
scanner, OCR software, monitor and/or screen reader as one device.
Computer-based - a camera or scanner and OCR software can be added to your computer, which will already have a monitor and screen magnifier or screen reader.
VIDEO MAGNIFIERS/ CCTV
A CCTV is an aid that uses magnification and it is made of a camera and a monitor.
The magnification level is much greater than for a hand magnifier
Can be standalone or portable!
REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAYS
A braille display is used with a screen reader to output screen information in a tactile form.
It consists of a number of cells which have eight pins which can be moved up and down to form braille characters.
BRAILLE TRANSLATION SOFTWARE
Braille translation software can be used to convert an electronic document such as one in Microsoft Word, into braille.
The result can then be printed by an embosser, which is a printer that uses pins to indent the dots onto paper.
NOTE TAKER RECOGNITION SOFTWARE
These have a QWERTY (standard type) or braille keyboard, but output speech rather than using a computer screen, and as a result are much smaller than mainstream laptops or netbooks.
A notetaker will have a calendar and contact database, and most have email and internet capability.
http://youtu.be/J5nviwgNUas
VOICE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE
Voice recognition provides an alternative way to control or input information to a computer or mobile phone.
You talk to the computer or phone and what you say is interpreted as commands or converted to electronic text. While it started out as an access technology, voice recognition is mainly now being marketed as something for everybody.
Voice recognition is becoming more widespread on mobile phones, and it will be interesting to see how this technology evolves.
TWEET TIME!
Please describe in your own words 130 characters or less a way you can adapt the product using one of these mid tech options. Remember to use the class hashtag!