assistive technology initiative korey singleton, ati manager george mason university ahead in va...
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Assistive Technology Initiative
Korey Singleton, ATI ManagerGeorge Mason UniversityAHEAD in VA Conference
March 25-26, 2010
Objectives Materials
(http://accessibility.gmu.edu, ATI News & Information section)
Overview of ATI at George Mason Univ.
Overview of Premier Accessibility Suite Software Demo
Premier @ GMU
Questions & Answers
Mission of the ATI
Our mission is to help provide individuals with disabilities an accessible university environment by supporting access to all technological, architectural, and educational resources available at George Mason University through the incorporation of assistive technologies, the provision of technical support, and the development of university-wide strategies for universal access.
Korey Singleton Manager
Kara Zirkle IT Accessibility Coordinator
Elizabeth Miller Accessible Text Coordinator
Nancy Borck Program Support Specialist
• ATI Manager
Korey Singleton
• IT Accessibility Coordinator
Kara Zirkle
• Accessible Text Coordinator
Elizabeth Miller
• Program Support Specialist
Nancy Borck
Staff
1. Informal Assistive Technology Assessments2. Provision of Accessible Text Services 3. Assistive Technology Labs4. Technical Assistance for ITU and Library
personnel on AT-related issues5. Section 508/Web Accessibility Training and
Support
Informal Assistive
Technology Assessment
s
Provision of
Accessible Text
Services
Assistive Technology
Labs
Technical Assistance for ITU and
Library personnel on
AT-related issues
Section 508/Web
Accessibility Training
and Support
ATI Services…
Who We ServeMason community (with or without
documentation) Informal assessments Overview of AT available for personal use
Faculty, staff and students with documented disabilities Faculty/Staff - registered with the Office of Equity and
Diversity Services (OEDS) Students – registered with the Office of Disability
Services (ODS)
A Collaborative Project…
ATI Partnerships - Office of Disability Services Equity Office Information Technology Unit University Libraries Kellar Institute Environmental Health & Safety Learning Services
ATI
Office of Disability Services Equity
Office
ITU
University Libraries
Kellar Institute
EHSLearning Services
OLLI
Distance Education
Council
Provost’s Office
Human Resourc
es
Regional Campus
Management Teams
Local Public
SchoolsUniversity Information
Office of Disability Services• Accessible Text Services for Students• AT Assessments/Training for Students• Community Outreach with local public schools
Equity Office• Accessible Text Services for Staff/Faculty• AT Assessments/Training for Staff/Faculty• University-Wide Training Initiatives
University Libraries• AT Labs• Training & Consultation
Learning Services• Sharing of adaptive technology• AT Assessments/Training for students (registered/unregistered)• Training for LS staff
How these partnerships work (e.g.)…
Technology for individualswith low vision or blindness
Screen Enlarging Software ZoomText Xtra
Screen Reading Software JAWS for Windows
Optical Character Recognition Scan & Read Pro WYNN
CCTV (Desktop & portable)
Technology for individualswho are deaf or hard of hearing
TTY/TDD – Text Telephone Device for the Deaf NexTalk Workplace http://www.nextalk.com/products/workplace
Assistive Listening Devices
Personal FM, IR, Large Area FM
DocSoft (captioning)
iCommunicator – Voice recognition software with signing capabilities http://www.myicommunicator.com/
Technology for individuals with learning disabilities
Document Reading/Writing/Scanning WYNN Wizard/Reader Premier Accessibility Suite
Voice Recognition Dragon Naturally Speaking Pro
Technology for individuals with physical disabilities
Adapted/Alternative Keyboards & Mice Microsoft Natural Keyboard Type Matrix keyboard Trackball Mice Large Print keyboards
Voice Recognition Dragon Naturally Speaking Pro
Current Projects/Future Plans
Libraries
Address physical access in each library AT lab (i.e., adjustable height workstations) – completed by Sum ‘10
Provide equivalent access at Fenwick library on Fairfax campus (i.e., workstations, CCTV) – completed by Sum ‘10
Current Projects/Future Plans cont…
DocSoft GMU
Solution for providing Departments, faculty, staff, students with ability to provide captioned audio/video in classrooms and on the web. Likely a small cost associated with this for GMU community.
Partnership with Kellar Institute (KIHd) e.g. http://www.nvcc.edu/tvcenter/vod/
Current Projects/Future Plans cont…
Nextalk Workplace
Telecommunications solution for individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing that adds text, video and voice capabilities to an existing office phone system.
http://www.nextalk.com
Change in FCC rules changed scope of project. In c/o with Deaf Services Coordinator, in the process of identifying individuals on campus that would benefit from this solution. Ongoing…
Additional accessible text resources
Bookshare – University Partners www.bookshare.org
Access Text Network http://www.accesstext.org/
Current Projects/Future Plans cont…
Virginia Higher Education Assistive Technology (VA HEAT)
This site has been developed to act as a resource for institutions of higher education in Virginia. The main purpose of this site is to share information and resources related to providing alternative text to students with print related disabilities enrolled in postsecondary institutions.
http://ati.gmu.edu/va_heat.html
Current Projects/Future Plans cont…
Transition Training
Focusing on raising awareness of adaptive technology in students transitioning from k-12 and community colleges
Local public schools in Northern Virginia In-services/trainings available by request Meetings with transition coordinators/AT specialist
Working to develop partnership with Northern Virginia Community College
Local Conferences/Fairs Prince William County Transition Fair (every Feb.) Future Quest conference (every other Nov.)
Current Projects/Future Plans cont…
Access at Any Mason Workstation:
“Premier Accessibility Suite”
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Collection of reading and writing tools for study and electronic print access
http://www.readingmadeez.com
Universal Reader Plus E-text reader Talking Dictionary Talking Word Processor Scan & Read Pro PDF Equalizer Text-to-Audio Among other tools…
Software Demo!!
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Why Premier?
~70% of students that we service have learning disabilities
Software also incorporates some tools for individuals with low vision and blindness
A good number of these students take advantage of accessible text services
Seen it improve over the years
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Why Premier? cont…
Premier-In-School Program - Free education grant http://www.readingmadeez.com/education/premierinsch
ool.html
Minimal start-up costs
Premier-AT-Home Program http://www.readingmadeez.com/education/premieratho
me.html
Offers students ability to use same technology on personal machine as in AT Labs
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Our Partners?
Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities (KIHd)
University Libraries
Patriot Computers
Office of Disability Services
Learning Services (CAPS)
Writing Center
Information Technology Unit
ATI Advisory Committee**
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Where do we stand today?
“Pilot program” provides up to 2000 licenses that can be used on any workstation in the library, KIHd, and LS computer labs
Premier is installed in all of library AT labs (main and regional campuses), the KIHd lab, and in the LS lab
Implemented Premier-AT-Home program Software (PC or Mac) sold through Patriot
Computers for $5.00Web: http://www.premierathome.com
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Where do we stand? cont…
We have implemented training Initiatives
BYTE Week - Provide AT training (university wide) at beginning of each semester for BYTE week
Premier AT Training videos listed on ATI website (http://ati.gmu.edu/atilab.html)
Library staff training beginning of each fall semester
One-to-one and group training offered as needed
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
What have we learned?
Premier has a lot of crossover appeal English as Second Language Information processing
Company is still figuring it out
Product is very good, but can be buggy
Decentralization = making friends
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Next Steps
Negotiating with vendor to have license cover classroom and general labs
ATI Advisory Committee
With aid of Classroom Technologies, coordinating process for having software included as a part of software images used in all general and classroom computing labs
Working with University Information to market solution more effectively throughout the university
Telecom Coordinators - developing AT liaisons for each department
Premier Accessibility Suite cont…
Next Steps cont…
Evaluating other AT for campus-wide access at any workstation
Converting some ZT licenses to USB? Converting some JAWS licenses to USB? Encouraging use of different screen-reader for
general access? NVDA (free/open-source) System Access Mobile
Premier vs. Read & Write GOLD Why??
Questions & Answers
Contact InformationAssistive Technology Initiative (ATI)
George Mason UniversityThompson Hall, Room 114
Hours: M-F, 8:30am-5:00pm
Office Phone: 703-993-4329TTY: (703) 259-0179Fax: (703) 993-4743
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://ati.gmu.edu