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Assistive technology (AT) is designed to help develop, maintain or improve your ability to function in all aspects of your life and daily activities. It promotes greater independence by enabling a person to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing. Assistive Technology can assist by providing an enhancement, piece of equipment, service or change to the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. It is available to help people of all ages who may have a broad range of disabilities or limitations and includes items such as wheelchairs, reading machines, devices for grasping, etc. In the area of Web Accessibility, common software-based assistive technologies include such items as screen readers, screen magnifiers and on screen keyboards. Below are some of the Assistive Technology that are available within the North Central Counties Consortium.
1) TTY
A TTY is also known as a TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf)
HOW IT WORKS: This device 'rings' via flashing light or the more recent vibrating wrist band that resembles a watch. The TTY consists of a keyboard, which hold somewhere from 20 to 30 character keys, a display screen, and a modem. The letters that the TTY user types into the machine are turned into electrical signals that can travel over regular telephone lines. When the signals reach their destination (in this case another TTY) they are converted back into letters which appear on a display screen, are printed out on paper or both. Some of the newer TTYs are even equipped with answering machines.
2) Accessible Workstations
The Accessible workstation is set up to provide universal access to organizations who encounter patrons with a wide range of abilities and needs. Implementing an Accessible Workstation will welcome individuals with vision, hearing, communication, learning and mobility challenges.
3) On-Screen Keyboard - Microsoft
On-Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen that allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. Besides providing a minimum level of functionality for some people with mobility impairments, On-Screen Keyboard can also help people who do not know how to type. This tutorial tells you how to turn on and use On-Screen Keyboard.
4) Narrator - Microsoft
Narrator is a text–to–speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Narrator reads what is displayed on the screen—the contents of the active window, menu options, or text that has been typed. You can select from a number of Narrator options. This procedure shows you how to set Narrator to announce when new windows are opened on screen.
5) Magnifier - Microsoft
Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people who have low vision by creating a separate window that displays a magnified portion of the screen. Magnifier provides a minimum level of functionality for people who have slight visual impairments.
6) JAWS
This screen reading program provides voice output for information displayed on the screen. this program requires a voice output device.
7) WYNN Vision Wizard
WYNN Wizard provides optical character recognition (OCR), the ability to scan a printed page and convert it into electronic text. Speech synthesis enables this scanned text to be read aloud. A special correction feature provides automatic correction of misrecognized word. WYNN Wizard permits two views of material: Exact View shows material exactly as scanned; Text View displays the text only to enable visual tailoring for individual use. WYNN assists in reading and comprehension by spotlighting each word as it reads it aloud.
8) MAGic
This program enlarges the screen from two to eight time’s normal size. The program is switched on and off by holding down the Alt key and by holding down the Space Bar.
9) Enlarged Keyboard with large letters
10) 19” LCD
11) Zoom Text
12) A negative tile keyboard arm for ergonomic positioning
13) Language Line
In over-the-phone interpretation, Language Line Services interpreters listen to your limited English speaking (LEP) customer, analyze the message and accurately convey its original meaning to you or your staff member. |
