Assistive Technology

Chris McKenzieCrystal DruryAssistive Technology Advisers

The CORRECT Assistive Technology

• be involved learning activities which would otherwise be inaccessible,

• demonstrate competence and achieve results based on ability not limited by disability.

can enable students to :

Students’ use of assistive technology should be reviewed to ensure that the provisions effectively meet the changing demands of their course.

DO-IT Technology Video

Hardware Braille display

alternative keyboards, keyguards

magnification units: CCTVs

Software Screenreader: JAWS Magnification: ZoomTextScan reader: Kurzweil3000Prediction softwareVoice recognitionOnscreen keyboard

Video available online at: www.washington.edu/doit/Video

Role of Technology Team

– needs assessment– application for Disabled Students

Allowance (DSA)– purchasing, setup and installation– training in assistive software– research and development

• laptop and equipment loan pool• on-campus Assistive Technology (AT)• advice to departments

- Disability Resource Development Fund (DRDF)

Development of AT Service

• 1998 - Assistive Technology Adviser Appointed• 1999 - Initial funding for AT Loan Pool• 2002 - Assistant AT Adviser Appointed• 2002 - SSIS notification system introduced (PEGASUS)• 2002 - Assistive Technology Resource Room• 2004 - Purchasing database introduced• 2005 - Site Licensed software in labs• 2005 - ATANET founded• 2006 - ↑ AT Manager, 1 AT Adviser• 2007 - Second AT Adviser Appointed• 2007 - Central Scanning Service introduced• 2008 - AT Support Assistant Appointed

Assistive Software Available for allOn Campus at Strathclyde

University

MindGenius

Organisation and planning tool based on the concept of

Mind-mapping

TextHelp Read & Write GOLD

Text-to-speech software to assist with reading text on a

computer also with proofreading own work

Assistive Software Available for User Groups

Kurzweil 3000

Scan and Read tool

Kurzweil 1000

Scan and Read tool for visually impaired users

ZoomText

Magnification and screen reading tool for VI users

JAWS

Dedicated screen reader for blind users

Assistive Hardware Available for all

On Campus at Strathclyde University

Braille Emboser

The Braille Embosser can be used to create Braille copies

of your work, handouts or research.

CCTV

CCTVs allow you to magnify the object or book you wish to

look at on a larger screen.

Scanners

A scanner will allow you to convert printed text into images that can be edited and/or read aloud.

Assistive Technology in use• A student with the use of one-hand only for typing uses a compact keyboard and voice recognition software when completing written assignments.

• A social work student with dyslexia uses a scanner and text-to-speech software to accurately read his course notes. The visually and auditory feedback aids his comprehension of the content and reduces the need to re-read several times.

• A student with Aspergers syndrome describes hyper-sensitivity to noise. They use noise-cancelling headphones within noisy environments to allow them to dull the background noise and focus on a speaker.

Assistive Technology in use

A pharmacy student with a visual impairment has a microscope fitted with a magnification camera which is in turn connected to a TV screen on which it displays the magnified view of the slide.

An architecture student with a visual impairment uses a desktop magnification system when drawing and accessing images or text.

                   

Current Research & Developments

• Live Remote Captioning

• Teaching Room Technologies• Visual Display Equipment• Audio Equipment• Automated Video Capture (‘web lectures’)• Video Streaming & Captioning

LRC

What is LRC• Service for deaf and hard of hearing students• Live speech converted into text

How it works• Audio transmitted to captioning studio via mobile• Captioner uses voice recognition software to re-speak• Text returns to students laptop within seconds

Technology

Why was it introduced

• To explore an alternative to the current services i.e. electronic notetaking, speedtext and manual notetakers

• Aim is to improve reliability, flexibility and scalability of services for students

- Mobile technology

- Accessible for numerous students simultaneously

- No travel required

- Remote institutions

LRC video clips

TrialStill ongoing

- Rolled out September 2009

- 2 students, 2 departments, 2 campuses

- Accuracy of transcription excellent

- Positive student feedback

- Initial technical issues overcome

- Ongoing improvements

Teaching Room Technologies

• Visual Display Equipment• Audio Equipment• Automated Video Capture (‘web lectures’)• Video Streaming & Captioning

Visual Display Equipment

• Initial Position• No clear consensus among teaching staff• Need to develop an agreed standard:

• Enhance Teaching & Learning experience• Improved Technical Support• Efficiency gains

• Disabled Students and Staff

Visual Display Equipment• No clear consensus among teaching staff...

Visual Display Equipment

• Room Control SystemsTouch ScreenWall Mounted Buttons

• Need for support in infrastructure essential

Visual Display Equipment

• Conclusions• Flexibility is important• High quality electronic visual display is most

accessibleData projectorPlasma/LCD screen

• Availability of electronic copy crucial

Audio Equipment

•Room Specification•Based on room size•Installed microphones•Radio microphones•Sound Reinforcement•Loop systems

• Teaching Room Audio Survey•Intended to compliment Visual Display Equipment Assessment

Audio Equipment

• Student Survey• Delivered online to all current students• Option to remain anonymous• ‘User-centric’ focus on user experience

Audio Equipment

• Strong agreement that speakers could be heard during class

• However, results showed that almost 1/3 of student had to sit in specific areas to hear clearly

• Over 70% felt that the teaching experience could be improved by better use of audio technology

• 87.5% reported that speakers did not always use the available systems

Automated Video Capture (web lectures)

• Introduction• Introduced in 2005/06• Initially a pilot project within Faculty of Education

• Background• Managed by Learning Services• Around 140 recordings per annum• Fixed installations 2007

• Installed systems less obtrusive• Faster turnaround of video onto server

Automated Video Capture (web lectures)

• Technical specifications• Installed system• Portable systems• Windows Media Format

• Process • Integrated with Virtual Learning

Environment• Transcriptions & Captions

Automated Video Capture (web lectures)

• Feedback• Initial concern about attendance• No significant drop in attendance demonstrated• Could students film classes themselves?• Fixed systems only work perfectly if they are

installed everywhere.Only as good as infrastructure that supports it.

Video Streaming & Captioning

• 24/7 access to video resources• Access on and off campus• Flexible approach to learning

• Searchable Database (eStream)• Large volume of data, with user control• meta data (including deletion date)• Intellectual Property/Ownership/Copyright

• Transcriptions & Captions• Outsourced• Expensive!• On Demand/Track Disabled students?

• Moving past technology?

Conclusions

Accessible Teaching Room Technologies

Low Cost No Cost

• Accessibility of a standard PC

- Windows Ease of Access Centre• MS Office• Freeware• Stylesheets

Windows Ease of Access Centre

Built-in features:• Display settings i.e. high contrast• Keyboard & mouse settings• Textual & Visual Alternatives• Narrator• Magnifier• Voice-recognition• On-Screen keyboard

Display OptionsThe Display option within Windows Accessibility allows you to switch to a high contrast scheme directly by using a keyboard shortcut.

high contrast black and high contrast white are amongst the available schemes.

This facility allows standard computers in open access labs to be readily switched to high contrast scheme by users who need or prefer such a display.

WORD

There are lots of ways that you can make MS Word easier to use.

You can: change the background colours and font to suit your

own preferences make the spell check tool work harder for you.

Stylesheet

A style sheet will allow you to view most web pages in the most accessible background colour and text size for you.

To create a style sheet: Go to www.oneformat.com Select your preferred background colour and text size Download your style sheet Save to your computer then install

Freeware

EduApps

http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eduapps/

Over 60 pieces of open source software available to support reading, writing, planning as well as sensory, cognitive and physical difficulties

Importance of liaising with Academic Departments

• Student Records System• SSIS• PEGASUS

Impact of Disability, Reasonable Adjustments & Exam Arrangements

• Awareness Training Sessions• Assistive Technology• MS Office• Accessible Teaching materials

Assistive Technology

Accessible Resources

Academic Support

Reasonable Adjustments

The Use of Assistive Technology in promoting accessibility

The availability of accessible course materials is key to most disabled student’s success.

Students use of assistive technology can make accessing accessible materials possible – but often the process continues to demand more time than the same activities for their non-disabled peers.

Non-Medical Personal Helpers and Reasonable Adjustments are also required.

Importance of liaising with other departments

• IT Training Team • Systems Developers• Teaching Room Support• Library Services• IT Helpdesk• Learning Technology Enhancement Team

Any Questions?

www.strath.ac.uk/disabilityservice