Using Assistive Technologies to Access Instructional Materials

DET/CHE Conference 2008

Presented by Melissa Repa, M.A.Co-Director, Services to Students with Disabilities/

Interim Project Coordinator, Accessible Technology Initiative California State University, Sacramento

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Presentation Learning ObjectivesParticipants will be able to:• Identify some of the assistive technologies

used by students with disabilities to access instructional materials in alternative formats

• Explore how assistive technologies and instructional materials accessibility can benefit learners and improve learning

• Learn about the collaboration and use of resources involved in providing access to instructional materials

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Background: CSU Accessible Technology Initiative

To assist CSU campuses with the implementation of Executive Order 926, Disability Support and Accommodations http://www.calstate.edu/EO/EO-926.html

“It is the policy of the CSU to make information technology resources and services accessible to all CSU students, faculty, staff and the general public regardless of disability.”

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Assistive Technology & Accessibility

Assistive Technology:

“products, devices or equipment… that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities...” (Assistive Technology Act)

Accessibility: “enabling IT hardware, software and services to be used

effectively by people with disabilities.”(Mary Cheng, former Director of CSU ATI)

Complementary but different – both are necessary

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Assistive Technology Demonstrations

Screen readers are software programs that present the screen and text as speech.

Screen magnifiers are programs that allow the user to enlarge everything on the screen

Scan/read software scans information to the screen and “reads" it aloud with text-to-speech

Alternative input devices allow individuals to control computers through means other than a standard keyboard or mouse.

Alternative formats include Braille, large print, digital text file, MP3, or audio recording.

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JAWS Screen Reader

JAWS Screen reader - http://www.freedomscientific.com

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ZoomText Screen Magnifier

Zoomtext Screen magnifier - http://www.aisquared.com

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Kurzweil Scan/Read

Kurzweil Scan/Read software - http://www.kurzweil.edu

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Alternative Input Devices

On Screen Keyboard, Microsoft Accessibility – http://www.microsoft.com/enable

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Limitations of Assistive Technology Web sites, online instruction are unusable with assistive technologies if not developed with accessibility in mind– What if the web page content is only accessible by

using a mouse? What would students do if they use assistive technologies or can't use a mouse?

– What if the software uses all graphics instead of text? If screen readers can only read text, how would students using screen readers read the graphics?

– What if an online quiz is timed? What would students do if they needed extra time to use assistive devices?

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Accessibility Benefits Many

60% of working-age adults (18 to 64 years old) are likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology (http://www.microsoft.com/enable/research/workingage.aspx)

“Technologies such as voice recognition, wireless communications and speech output improve the ability to access IT for those who have disabilities and are also increasingly in demand by today's society seeking convenience and ease of use.” (http://www-306.ibm.com/able/access_ibm/qa.html)

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Leveraging Accessibility to Improve Learning

• Multiple means of representation

• Multiple means of expression

• Multiple means of assessment

Universal Design pedagogical concepts

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Leveraging Accessibility to Improve Performance

• Accessible technology can increase usability and effectiveness of the tools and thereby can improve performance of students

Example: accessible electronic text

increases ability to search text

Accessible Media Production

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Tim

e Intensive Process

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Accessible Technology: A Team Approach

TEAM Approach:

Various units working together - no one team member can act as the single agent for providing accessible instructional materials

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Resources• Accessibility at Sacramento State

-http://www.csus.edu/accessibility • High Tech Center at Sacramento State -

http://www.csus.edu/sswd/services/htc.html • CSU Accessible Technology Initiative -

http://www.calstate.edu/accessibility • National Center on Accessible Information

Technology in Education (Access IT) -http://www.washington.edu/accessit/index.php

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Recap & QuestionsWe Aimed To: • Identify some of the assistive technologies used

by students with disabilities to access instructional materials in alternative formats

• Explore how assistive technologies and instructional materials accessibility can benefit learners and improve learning

• Learn about the collaboration and use of resources involved in providing access to instructional materials

Questions and Comments?

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Contact Information

Melissa Repa, M.A.

Services to Students with Disabilities

California State University, Sacramento

6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6042

E-mail: repam@csus.edu

Voice: 916-278-7821

Fax: 916-278-7825