assistive technology in libraries
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ADAPTIVE/ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND
DISABILITY IN THE LIBRARY
What is Assistive Technology?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines assistive technology as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability.” (Assistive Technology: 10 Things to Know)
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology (AT) can be low-, mid-, or high-tech. Low-tech:
magnification sheets, color coding, large print materials, removable highlighter tape assistance to students with reading and organizational difficulties
Mid-tech: tape recorders, audio books, headphones, visual timers assist students who need reading and task completion support
High-tech (computer-based): Text-to-speech software assists students with reading difficulties and visual impairments. Concept-mapping software is a helpful resource for visual learning, planning, and
collaboration. Computer input alternatives, such as computer switches, trackballs, and speech
recognition technologies, help support users with mobility impairments or other disabilities.
Scanners with optical character recognition and computers with text reading software allow students with reading and vision disabilities to convert print materials to electronic text (e-text) for translation to synthetic speech. (TITLE: Assistive Technology: 10 THINGS TO KNOW SOURCE: Library Media Connection 25 no1 Ag/S 2006PAGE(S): 12-14)
How does this apply to web browsing?
World Wide Web Consortium established the Web Accessibility Initiative in 1999
Universal usability accounts for users of all ages, experience levels, and physical or sensory limitations; as well as limitations of their equipment and platforms.
Center for Universal Design: 4 principles: Equitable Use: “The design is useful and marketable to people
with diverse abilities. Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.” Text equivalents
Flexibility in Use: choice in method Simple and Intuitive Use: cut out a lot of advertising and bells
and whistles Perceptible Information: can be perceived by sight or sound
Who might need assistive technology in order to use the library?
Who might need assistive technology in order to use the library?
Hearing impaired
Who might need assistive technology in order to use the library?
Hearing impairedVisually impaired
Who might need assistive technology in order to use the library?
Hearing impairedVisually impairedPhysical handicap
Who might need assistive technology in order to use the library?
Hearing impairedVisually impairedPhysical handicapCognitive disability
Who might need assistive technology in order to use the library?
Hearing impairedVisually impairedPhysical handicapCognitive disabilityElderly
Hearing Impaired
http://www.nypl.org/help/community-outreach/services-for-persons-with-disabilities
ASL story hourCommunity outreachTTY (text telephone)
Hearing Impaired
Infrared Assistive Listening Device: Amplifies sound
Induction Loop Assistive Listening Device Removes background noise, reverberation
Closed captioning on mediaVideo Relay Service
Visually Impaired
http://www.nypl.org/help/community-outreach/services-for-persons-with-disabilities
LOC: National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) http://www.loc.gov/nls/
JAWS (speech synthesizer and Braille) Texthelp (can read or compose written or onscreen text) Zoom and MAGic (enlarge/enhance text) Audio-described videos Dragon (takes dictation to type document) Newsline (news read aloud by synthesized voice over the phone
every day) SyncBraille keyboard Web-Braille Digital talking books (DTB) on USB flash-drives
Physical Disability
http://www.nypl.org/help/community-outreach/services-for-persons-with-disabilities
Wheelchair accesshttp://www.dclibrary.org/services/adaptiveservicesL-STAR (deliver library materials to person’s home)Books by MailNLSMadentec TrackerSoftypeQPointer Hands FreeAlternative Mice (TrackBall)Adapted keyboards, switches
Cognitive
http://www.ius.edu/Library/adaptech.cfm Co:Writer (flexible spelling for those with
dyslexia or phonetic problems)
Elderly
L-STARBooks by MailNLS
Discussion Questions
What is assistive technology?Who needs assistive technology?Has anyone been to a library that has some of
these technologies?What other services could libraries provide in
future?How is Universal Usability related to assistive
technology?How could these technologies help a user
surf the web?