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Disabled Student Programs & Services |
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Assistive Technology Center SoftwareScreen Reading & Screen MagnificationDocument ReadingVoice Recognition SoftwareWord PredictionTyping & Keyboarding ProgramsSign LanguageBraille TranslationAccessibility SoftwareScanning SoftwareOffice Productivity Applications
Screen Reading & Screen MagnificationJAWS for Windows
DescriptionJAWS for Windows is a screen reader which uses the numeric keypad for its basic functions. A number of interactive hot key commands are available to change settings easily. Recommended Uses:Blind, Visually impaired and Learning Disabled. ZoomText Xtra Level 2
DescriptionZoomText Xtra comes in two levels now and a third is scheduled for release sometime in 1998. Level 1 is a screen magnifier for the Windows 95 environment. Level 2 offers a fully integrated magnifier and screen reader designed specifically for the low-vision computer user. Level 3, which is still under development, will add scanning, OCR, form-filling and printing. Another innovative feature of ZoomText Xtra is its document reading module, called DocReader. Existing in all three product levels, DocReader is a full-screen environment for reading text from any Windows application. DocReader automatically reads through complete documents, including web pages and email. This version also provides Microsoft's Active Accessibility which should be installed if using Microsoft Office 97 applications. Recommended UsesZoomText is intended for use by persons with low vision. It may also be of value to individuals with learning disabilities. CloseView
Description:CloseView is a utility that comes included with every Macintosh It is designed to make it easier for users with visual impairments to read or view screen images. Contents on the screen may be magnified two to sixteen times. Display of the screen can be inverted to make images appear white on black instead of black on white. Recommended Uses:CloseView is typically used by students with low vision, a brain injury or a learning disability. By adjusting the size of text or changing the background/foreground the right combination can be achieved for nearly all needs. Document ReadingKurzweil 3000
Description:Kurzweil 3000 can read out loud any text file you open for reading, anything you type into its text editor, virtually any printed material you scan into the Kurzweil program, as well as your email and web pages. Purchasing Information for Students:
Voice Recognition SoftwareDragon Dictate & Dragon Naturally Speaking
Dragon DictateThe Dragon Dictate programs are speaker dependent, discrete utterance, speech recognition systems. They differ in active vocabulary sizes from 5,000 to 60,000 word customizable vocabularies. Each system uses a 110,000 word dictionary which allows for accurate word prediction and spelling. Text can be dictated at around thirty to thirty-five words per minute with an accuracy rate of about 95%. Dragon Naturally SpeakingThe Dragon Naturally Speaking is the fast, easy, and accurate way to turn speech into text. Users can dictate into virtually any windows-based application at speeds up to 160 words per minute and achieve higher levels of accuracy than ever before. Dragon Naturally Speaking delivers significant benefits to:
Recommended Uses:This program is recommended for persons with repetitive strain injury or moderate to severe physical disabilities. Word PredictiontextHelp! Ver 2.10
Description:This software program provides students with learning disabilities and dyslexia with specialized tools to make the writing and reading process easier. textHelp! is a free-standing utility which works with other applications. The program speaks text as it be being typed, performs real time spell checking, can suggest phonetically close spellings, will automatically correct words, will support a small magnified viewing area, and provides automatic word prediction as a person types. Although in actual practice any one student generally will only use a few of these features, they all will work together. Recommended Uses:This program is recommended for students who have difficulty spelling, difficulty in reading what they have written, or who have poor recognition ability in differentiating between homonyms. Additionally some students with mild visual disability may benefit from the limited ability of the program to magnify small areas of text, and students with orthopedic difficulties who are unable to key in text rapidly may benefit from using this program. TextAssist
Description:The TextAssist TextReader provides high quality speech output for selected text. Options to change the volume, rate, and pitch of the current TextReader voices are accessible via the TextReader button bar or the System menu. The speech is customizable to the voices of the familiar DECtalk speech synthesizers. Recommended Uses:The TextReader application can serve as a proofreader for any user, but is especially useful for those who have difficulty reading. Typing & Keyboarding ProgramsMavis Beacon Teaches TypingDescription:Let Mavis show you the keys to success. The first time you enter the program, Mavis tests your typing ability identifies your level and places you in the appropriate lesson. Mindscape’s Adaptive Response Technology; continually monitors your progress; adapts the program to your strengths, weaknesses and rhythms; and customizes each lesson to fit your needs. Recommended Uses:An alternate keyboarding program for those who get bored with the Typing Tutor 7 software. Just don’t take the comments too seriously. Typing Tutor 7
Description:This multimedia typing tutor evaluates strengths and weaknesses of the typist and then creates customized lessons based on the typist's individual needs. A novel addition is the inclusion of practice sample writings taken from over 100 well-known books. Learning is made fun with video clips which run as a reward after the completion of certain typing tasks. Excellent statistics are kept by the program. Recommended Uses:This Davidson product is recommended for any individual desiring to learn or improve typing skills. The program incorporates some newer features: e.g., typing drill embedded in the construction of particular letter types, and provides real-time practice on useful activities.
Sign LanguageThe American Sign Language Dictionary on CD-ROM
Description:This is a visual and interactive tool to learn and practice the signs of American Sign Language (ASL). Based on the ASL Dictionary series by Martin Sternberg, this CD-ROM provides the resources of a dictionary but also includes games, reference materials and fingerspelling aids. Recommended Uses:This disc is useful for: persons wishing to learn about sign language; students taking sign language classes; persons wishing to improve existing sign language skills. The disc is also a dynamic learning tool for persons with a hearing loss, and for teachers, professionals, friends and family of persons with hearing loss. The documentation mentions that ASL is the third most frequently used language in the united States, after English and Spanish. Braille TranslationDuxbury Braille Translator for Microsoft Windows
Notable Features of DBT
Recommended Uses:To translate information into braille for the braille embosser. Accessibility SoftwareAccessibility Options
Description:The Accessibility Options include five types of adaptive system support: Keyboard, Sound, Display, Mouse, and General. Recommended Uses:The Options provide system support for: persons with physical difficulty in using the keyboard; persons who have visual disabilities and need larger print, stronger contrasts or larger mouse pointer; persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and need to see sound events; and, persons using a serial device to connect to the computer. What is singular about this cluster of operating system support is the fact that previously, almost all of these features had to be purchased from third party vendors. Easy Access
Description:Easy Access is a control panel in the system folder. This control panel provides three features, "Sticky Keys," "Mouse Keys," and "Slow Keys." These features assist people with disabilities who have difficulty typing with both hands on the keyboard, or manipulating the mouse. The "Sticky Keys" feature lets the user type combination keystrokes without pressing the keys simultaneously. The "Mouse Keys" feature allows for manipulation of the pointer using the numeric keypad instead of the mouse. The user can click, drag, and perform all the usual mouse activities. The "Slow Keys" allows the user to set an interval for a delay before a keystroke is accepted. Recommended Uses:Good for anyone using one-hand for keyboard input or having limited control or range of motion. Scanning SoftwareOffice Productivity ApplicationsInspiration
Description:Inspiration is an application that assists users express thoughts effectively, by integrating easy-to-use diagramming and outlining. Concepts entered can be viewed as a chart and as text by easily switching from one view to the other. Inspiration is based on the visual creativity concepts of mind-mapping and clustering. Mind-mapping comes from the work of Tony Buzan and his book, Use Both Sides of Your Brain. Mind-mapping is used for memory retention, note taking, and creative thinking. Clustering is a creative writing technique presented by Dr. Gabriele Rico in her book, Writing the Natural Way. Clustering is non-linear, visual and has a free form style that assists the user in associating thoughts and reducing the barriers to creative thinking. Recommended Uses:Inspiration can be used for brainstorming and creating a visual representation (diagrams, charts and plans) of thoughts through the use of symbols that hold each concept and associated linking ideas. In text, the same concepts and ideas can be represented through outline topic levels. The program design allows for easy organizing, rearranging, prioritizing and adding of details, which enables the user to have a dynamic document. Microsoft Word 2000
Description:Word is a powerful document processing environment. This version includes the basic features of several applications users generally think of as separate from their word processor, e.g., charting with the graph function, graphics with a draw function, mathematical equation writing with an equation editor, and built-in spell check, grammar check, and thesaurus. Recommended Uses:Word can be used to accomplish nearly every word processing task. This Windows version adds ease of use to its list of powerful features. For students with learning or cognitive disabilities, the menus and icons of the graphical user interface may be more intuitive and thus easier to use. Built-in interactive spell check, auto-correct, thesaurus, and grammar check should also help these students. For students with physical disabilities, having an equation editor and draw function built-in should also prove to be very useful. Students with mild visual disabilities will benefit from having larger print available within the program by changing the size of the type or using the zoom feature. Microsoft Office Pro
OverviewMicrosoft Office 2000 is the ultimate suite software
package providing the most important applications for today's businesses -
Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint® and the Outlook®. Recommended Uses:This suite of programs is helpful to all students. Quicken 6.0
OverviewQuicken is a personal finance program which allows the user to easily get a reading on their personal finances. Recommended Uses:All students Netscape Navigator & Internet ExplorerOverviewNetscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are Internet browsers or navigation tools. Both programs are available in the lab. Recommended Uses:These programs are useful for searching the Internet. Encarta
Description:Encarta is an interactive multimedia encyclopedia with over 26,000 articles. It includes audio clips, and high-resolution graphics and videos. Recommended Uses:Encarta 95 can be used as a research tool to write reports. You can also access on online version of Encarta in the lab. |
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