Advancing Technology Use Beyond TraditionAHEAD 2015 Session 1.6

PresentersAlex Axelsson – Assistive Technology Manager, Disability Access Services, Oregon State UniversityJennifer Gossett – Accessibility Specialist, Disability Services, Portland Community CollegeGabriel Merrell – Associate Director/ADA Coordinator, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Oregon State University

Conversation on Unconventional TechWhat do you think this topic means?What we mean.Technology solutions for accommodations/processes where technology is not typically considered. So, beyond alt formats, captioning, notetaking, or record keeping systems.Why did you come, what takeaways?

Conversation on Unconventional TechHave you ever wondered how we could use technology beyond the standard methods to improve access? Do you have ideas, or have you implemented unconventional tech solutions already?

Projects for DiscussionClassroom Furniture Project (OSU)Parking Sensor Project (OSU)Beacon Wayfinding (OSU)Accessible Online Maps (PCC)DIY Assistive Technology (PCC)Brainstorming Conversation

Classroom Furniture ProjectProblem – arranging for furniture placement and tracking untenable, lost furniture, required students to register with office.Partners – Disability Access Services and Facilities Services (Finance & Administration).Outcome – find solution that reduces staff time needed for both offices.

Classroom Furniture Accommodations

Old Way Students request before term Coordinate list of needs Determine how to fulfill Request placement Rely on student to confirm or complain if missing

Solution Pursue universal design with furniture in each room

o Tableo Lumbar chair with armso Lumbar chair no armso Interpreter/Transcriber chairso Podiums

TrackProblems/Challenges

Data on classrooms lacking General purpose vs departmental space Funding Tracking improvement

Types of Classrooms at OSU

General Purpose 125 Classrooms Central control by the registrar office Central funding Furniture placed

o 250 Interpreter transcriber chairso 155 Lumbar support chairso 52 Tables

Departmental 238 Classrooms Dispersed control by each department Funded by Dept. No furniture placed through this project, but still need for

accommodationsClassroom Furniture PurchasedThree kinds of furniture purchased and placed in general purpose classrooms: accessible height adjustable tables, chairs for interpreters and transcribers, and lumbar support chairs (some with arms, some without). Lumbar support without arms can provide access for those of larger stature.

Data on ImprovementsData shows that improvements have been made in number of accommodations automatically covered, versus number of locations where furniture still needs to be placed. When taking into account that

departmental classrooms far outnumber general purpose classrooms, the impact has been great.

2010 Fall

2011 Winter

2011 Spring

2011 Fall

2012 Winter

2012 Spring

2012 Fall

2013 Winter

2013 Spring

2013 Fall

2014 Winter

2014 Spring

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%Needing FurnitureAlready Present

1 Interpreter Transcriber Chairs Data

Before furniture was placed, 100% of the accommodation requests for interpreter or transcriber chairs had to be fulfilled by placing furniture in each and every room. After the project, about 75% of rooms needing chairs term to term already have them placed. The chart “Interpreter Transcriber Chairs Data” shows this trend by identifying term by term what percentage of furniture was already present in classrooms versus needing to be placed.

2010 Fall

2011 Winter

2011 Spring

2011 Fall

2012 Winter

2012 Spring

2012 Fall

2013 Winter

2013 Spring

2013 Fall

2014 Winter

2014 Spring

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%Needing FurnitureAlready Present

2 Requests for Tables Data

Before furniture was placed, 100% of the accommodation requests for tables had to be fulfilled by placing furniture in each and every room. After the project, around 50% of rooms needing tables term to term already have them placed. Tables are more likely needed in smaller rooms, departmental classrooms tend to be smaller rooms. The chart “Request for Tables Data” shows this trend by identifying term by term what percentage of furniture was already present in classrooms versus needing to be placed.

2010 Fall

2011 Winter

2011 Spring

2011 Fall

2012 Winter

2012 Spring

2012 Fall

2013 Winter

2013 Spring

2013 Fall

2014 Winter

2014 Spring

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%Needing FurnitureAlready Present

3 Requests for Lumbar Support Data

Before furniture was placed, 100% of the accommodation requests for lumbar support or larger chairs had to be fulfilled by placing furniture in each and every room. After the project, about 45% of rooms needing lumbar chairs term to term already have them placed. The chart “Request for Lumbar Support Data” shows this trend by identifying term by term what percentage of furniture was already present in classrooms versus needing to be placed.

Classroom Furniture Tracking Tracked with RFID tags and software Tags installed on each piece of furniture not locked (all but

interpreter chairs) Integration with accommodation management database

Classroom Furniture Project CostsFurniture Costs

o $153,463o 271 interp. chairs with wall mountso 186 lumbar chairso 67 adjustable tableso 10 adjustable podiumso Delivery and labor

Technology Costso $77,275o RFID tagso Licenses o Engineer/installo Negotiated annual renewal

Parking SensorsProblem – lots of request for reserved parking spaces, scattered accessible spaces, good/bad spaces, difficult to find.Partners – Disability Access Services, Transit and Parking Services, Office of Equity and Inclusion.Outcome – find solution that provides better knowledge of parking/availability.

Sensors were installed in 76 of the most central accessible parking spaces on campus. We avoided installing sensors in known low-usage areas and in areas where the accessible parking is not as accessible as it could be.

Parking Sensors – Finding ParkingHow to find accessible parking

Apply filters Notice current location Nearest parking highlights Get auditory directions Click “park” to remember where

Sensors send constant info through network to program.App updates in real time with number of spaces available.

Parking Sensors - CostsStart Up Costs

24 month contract $25,000 50 parking sensors (76 installed) Real-time data available 24/7 to us, quarterly reports provided by

vendorAfter Initial Contract

Annual fee $10,000 Maintain current service only Parking could not provide funding Est. usage 30/month Service discontinued

Beacon WayfindingAccess through emerging technologiesProblem – Many new students, especially ones with visual impairments, find it difficult to navigate indoor locations on campus.Objective – To find a mobile, technological solution for all students. Accessibility features are essential.Solution – Beacon Wayfinding, bluetooth technology for indoor navigation using smart devices (phones, tables, etc.).

What is iBeacon Technology?Low-power Bluetooth technologyProvides ID to smart deviceSmart device goes to cloud for more infoVery flexible in terms of solutions

Similar Solution – London SubwayLondon Underground wayfinding video

How Far Did We Get?Capstone project video

What We EnvisionOpen Source projectiBeacons used in a variety of waysCollaborations with other institutions

Accessible Online MapsAccessibility Features Displayed and Described

Accessibility features are displayed and described via online maps that have been built to work well with text to speech and keyboard navigation.

PCC access maps

Collaboration is key to solving common problemsCollaborator

Role in the Project

Facilities Services

Supervises interns and facilitates generation of architectural plans for the project

Web Team Develops the map and administrative interfacesKeeps an eye on analytics and feedbackUshers in improvements and upgrades

Disability Services (DS)

Collects information on location of accessibility featuresBrings end users who experience disability to the table as active participants and evaluatorsSupervises interns and hires accessibility technicians

Academic Areas

Internship opportunities from Architecture and Drafting, Engineering, Graphic Design, Web Design, and Technical Writing

Process and Project Management Web Team and DS met to discuss Established wiki page to track project

o Phase one – floor plans with accessibility features o Phase two – path of travel info for all campuses

DS surveyed accessibility features Web Team and DS met with Facilities and agreed to recruit Intern

for Phase One Pull floor plans for each building, upload to wiki Web Team developed administrative interface DS collected data for intern to map Quality Control/End User Testing Map additional locations (with QC & refinements) Transition from Phase One to Phase Two

o Web Team will finish documentation and enhancements for Phase One then move on to Phase Two

o Disability Services will work with additional interns to produce additional Phase One features

AT Computer Station Pages Text description of location Photograph Features Hardware Software Furniture

Tactile Maps

4 PCC Rock Creek Campus Map

Mapping CostsApprox. $10,000 in intern labor costsInternal hours/costs not trackedPartner offices provided no cost support

Interested in Replicating? Portland Community College that we would love to see benefit others. We will be happy to talk through logistics with teams who are interested in replicating the process at other schools.

The Word Press Template developed was by Gabriel Nagmay.

Do It Yourself Assistive Technology3D Printing to create tactile learning objects

Open source repositories Partnerships between students and educators Availability of accessible learning objects

Creating custom equipment and adaptations Portable desks Custom magnification stands Universal cranks for adjustable height tables

AnalysisProcess for each project

Determine desired outcome/steps Search for partners Advocate for project/resources Sustainability after initial push

Takeaways Infrastructure needs Relationships and buy-in are key Best practices In-house vs vendor products

ConversationBased on these examples, spend 5 minutes in groups discussing other potential ideas of uncommon technology solutions.

Simple solutions? Complex solutions?

If you have examples from your work, share!Group conversation to follow