Module 7: Technology and Disabilities
TECHNOLOGY AND THE DISABLED
Legislation and Initiatives
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DEMONSTRATION: ACCESSIBILITY.PPTX Learn about disabilities, and about technology that both disabled users and non-disabled users can benefit by using.
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- Laws
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Section 504: Public agencies and recipients of federal funds have to provide necessary modifications, accommodations and services for persons with disabilities so they can participate in activities and programs.
- Section 508: Ensure that users with disabilities can access and use the same computer applications and also communicate electronically with the same results as other users.
- Technology-related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act) PL 100-407: Enables some individuals with disabilities to have greater control over their own lives; participate in and contribute more fully to activities in their home, school, and work environments, and in their communities; interact to a greater extent with non-disabled individuals; and, otherwise benefit from opportunities that are taken for granted by individuals who do not have disabilities.
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Amendments of 1997: Strengthens academic expectations and accountability for the nation's 5.8 million children with disabilities. Bridges gap between what children with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculum.
- Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (S.2432): Supports programs of grants to states to address the assistive technology needs of individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.
- Initiatives
- World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): (www.w3.org/Consortium) Goal is "to make the Web accessible to all by promoting technologies that take into account the vast differences in culture, education, ability, material resources, and physical limitations of users on all continents."
- CAST: www.cast.org
- Bobby: (www.cast.org/bobby) Bobby is a Web page coding validator. It checks a Web page to see if it passes current accessibility standards as defined by the W3C.
- Initiatives in Education
Screen Reader Program (Text to Speech)
The blind and people of different ages who are visually impaired may utilize screen reader software. This software "reads" the computer screen, converting visual information into audible form. Users can purchase screen readers, such as the Jaws program. Screen reader capabilities are provided as standard equipment with the newest version of Windows (Microsoft Windows XP).
When preparing computer applications for screen readers, it is important to provide sufficient, logical information so that someone who only "hears" the screen will understand how to navigate through the application, and how to use the application. Conversely, when preparing audible information within a computer application, assist hearing impaired persons by providing closed captioning or a text version of all audio information.
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Use the Windows XP screen reader (text to speech) capabilities.
- Open the speech settings in the control panel.
- Classic view: Select start--settings--control panel--sounds, speech, and audio devices--speech.
- Category view: Select start--settings--control panel--speech.
- Select the text to speech tab. Make settings as desired.
- Within Word, PowerPoint, or other program, select tools--speech from the menus to enable this feature. Use the language toolbar to utilize this function.
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Putting It Into Practice.
Started in 1971, Project Gutenberg is an electronic repository of public domain literary works and documents. The texts are provided as simple text files, which makes them accessible to most any computer or computerized device (such as a screen reader). They are provided free of charge to the public.
- Navigate to Project Gutenberg at www.promo.net/pg.
- Use Internet Explorer's find function to locate information if needed:
- In IE, press control-F OR select edit--find from the menus.
- Type in partial or complete text to locate on the Web page.
- Copy and paste a portion of text from a classic book into Word.
- Employ the screen reader capabilities in Windows XP to read the text.
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Speech-to-Text Interpreter (Voice Recognition)
Instead of typing text on a keyboard, persons with various disabilities may use a speech-to-text interpreter. These interpreters allow you to dictate information into the computer through a microphone. The program then converts the audio information into written text. Recently, speech-to-text interpreters have become more user-friendly, more accurate, and available to the general public. In addition to the disabled, many students and professionals use speech-to-text interpreters to make text entry easier.
Speech-to-text software typically requires you to "train" the software, teaching it how you speak. This training period (known as enrollment allows the software to more accurately capture your speech. In addition, you can add new and unrecognized words and phrases to the vocabulary, and some programs allow you to purchase specialized dictionaries (e.g., medical or legal terms). In addition, many of these programs allow the user to enter natural voice commands to control the program they are using (e.g., Microsoft Word).
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Use the Windows 10 speech to text (speech recognition) capabilities.
- Open the speech settings in the control panel.
- Classic view: Select start--settings--control panel--sounds, speech, and audio devices--speech.
- Category view: Select start--settings--control panel--speech.
- Select the speech recognition tab. Make settings as desired.
- Within Word, PowerPoint, or other program, select tools--speech from the menus to enable this feature. Use the language toolbar to utilize this function.
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Read about Dragon NaturallySpeaking at voicerecognition.com. Try a free streaming trial of this software from this Web site!
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Windows 10 Accessibility Options
Windows XP provides many accessibility options. Most can be selected from the control panel.
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Quick accessibility feature: A quick accessibility feature located in all Microsoft programs is the ability to increase the size of text and other elements on the screen (zoom). To do this: hold the control key while turning the wheel on the mouse. |
- accessibility options icon: Open the Windows start menu. Select settings--control panel--ease of access center to set the following options:
- keyboard tab
- sticky keys: Allows the user to press and release the control, alt, or shift key. The keyboard will function as if the user held this key while pressing the next key (e.g., control-B, shift-F6).
- filter keys: Control how Windows treats repeatedly pressed keys.
- toggle keys: Have Windows play a tone when the user presses a toggle key (such as the num lock, caps lock, and scroll lock keys).
- sounds tab
- sound sentry: Tell Windows to generate a warning when a program is about to produce a sound.
- show sounds: Tell programs to show captions for speech and sounds they create if available.
- display tab
- high contrast: Have Windows use fonts and colors for easy reading.
- mouse tab
- mouse keys: Use the arrow keys on the number pad as a mouse controller.
- mouse icon: Open the Windows start menu. Select settings--control panel--printers and other hardware--mouse to set the following options:
- buttons tab
- button configuration: Set the mouse for a right-handed or left-handed person.
- double-click speed: Set the double-click speed.
- motion tab
- pointer speed: Set the speed at which the pointer moves across the screen.
- pointer trails: Set mouse trails, so a user can see more easily follow the mouse.
- show location: Press the control key and get a visual cue as to the location of the mouse pointer on the screen.
- other available technology options: Open the Windows start menu. Select settings--control panel--ease of access center to set the following options:
- magnifier: Move the mouse and see that are of the screen enlarged for easier viewing.
- on-screen keyboard: Use an on-screen keyboard instead of typing on the standard keyboard. Ideal for use with a touch screen, head pointer, or other pointing assistive technology.
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Putting It Into Practice.
- Form a small group. One member of the group will assume the role of student, and the other members will assume the role of teachers.
- Select one of the following scenarios (or more if time allows). Read the selected scenario to determine the special needs of the student.
- physical disability: A student in your class has a physical disability that involves use of only one hand. Which accessibility options could potentially assist this student?
- visual impairment: A student in your class is visually impaired, but not legally blind. Which accessibility options could potentially assist this student?
- hearing impairment: A student in your class is hearing impaired. Which accessibility options could potentially assist this student?
- under-developed motor skills: A student in your class is a young child who has not fully developed his/her motor skills sufficiently enough to effectively use a computer mouse. Which accessibility options could potentially assist this student?
- As a group, determine which of the following PC accessibility options would best address the needs of the student in the scenario. Use the check boxes to mark your response. (Press the reset button to start again.)
- On the student's PC, turn on the accessibility options the group selected. The student now attempts to use the PC with using the selected accessibility options. Did the teachers make the best choice of options?
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