Assistive Technology Overview Sevgi Kirboyun Legal Definitions Assistive

Assistive Technology Overview Sevgi Kirboyun

Legal Definitions Assistive Technology Devices • Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities. (Section 300. 5)

Legal Definitions Assistive Technology Services • Any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. (Section 300. 5) • Evaluating • Providing devices • Selecting, Designing, Customizing • Maintaining, Repairing • Coordinating • Training/Technical Assistance –student, family and school service providers

Types of AT • Low tech vs. Medium tech vs. High tech

Common technology options for people with visual impairments (High-tech) 1. Braille-related options a) b) c) d) Braille notetakers Braille embossing Refreshable braille display Other braille writing devices 2. Math related options 3. Accessing and editing print 4. GPS 5. Screen readers 6. Screen Magnifiers and CCTVs 7. Tactile Graphics 8. Mobile phone and Apple devices

Braille Notetakers • What: Braille notetakers are mobile information management systems. These devices use either a Braille or QWERTY keyboard for input and voice and/or refreshable Braille for output. • Who: students and professionals who need access to electronic information. • Example: Braille. Note Apex, Braille Sense

Braille Embossing • Braille Embosser(printer) + translating software(printing driver) • What: These embossers have the ability to produce Braille on small singlepage documents up to large magazine- and book-style production documents. In order to produce Braille, you must have Braille translation software to convert an electronic document into Braille before the document can be embossed. • Who: braille transcribers, students and professionals who would like to have access to physical braille materials, schools and school districts • Example: Juliet Pro Braille Printer, Duxbury Braille Translator, WINTRANS BT

Refreshable Braille Display • What: A refreshable Braille display is a device that produces Braille dot patterns by electronically raising or lowering pins to display information displayed on a computer screen in Braille. In order to take advantage of the features of a refreshable Braille display, one must have compatible screen access software installed on a computer or mobile device. • Who: Those who use braille as their primary medium of reading, students and professionals accessing books and data in braille • Example: ALVA BC 640, Braille Edge, Focus Blue Braille Displays

Other Braille Writing Devices • What: Number of devices have been developed for writing braille manually. Some devices contain electronic functions, emulating braille embosser and translator capability. • Who: Students, TVIs, Professionals, and parents who need to create manual braille materials • Example: Perkins brailler, Mountbatten Brailler

Math-Related Options • What: Set of hardware and software aimed at granting access to math materials and concepts have been utilized in educational environment for people with visual impairments. • Who: students and professionals who regularly access math and science materials. • Example: Scientific Notebook, Math Flash, Audio Graphing Calculator

Accessing and Editing Print • Scanner + Optical Character Recognition(OCR) • What: printed material is scanned and converted to editable text. Text can then be translated into braille or speech. Scanners are responsible for capturing image and OCR software is converting scanned images into text. • Who: Anyone who would like to convert printed text into editable materials • Example: Scanna. R, SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance), Omnipage

Global Positioning System(GPS) • What: GPS systems are used to assist a blind person to find out about a city or particular location. A vehicle or pedestrian route can be created and interactively followed with a GPS. The system also provides directional information. A GPS system is primarily aimed at providing orientation information and it cannot function for detecting obstacles. • Who: Individuals with visual impairments who are in need of direction and or frequently visit new places • Example: Kapten Mobility GPS: , Braille. Note GPS

Screen Readers • What: Screen access software allows a blind person to access the text material on a computer screen. All Microsoft Windows operating systems: Windows XP, Vista 7 and 8 are accessible. Computers running OSX 10. 4 (Tiger) or higher work with Voice. Over technology. • Who: Anyone who cannot access computer screen using print or those who need speech output of their screen contents • Example: JAWS for Windows, NVDA, Voice. Over

Screen Magnifiers and CCTVs • What: Magnification software or hardware aimed at, to provide better access for people with low vision. They provide adjustable magnification of anything in the environment (e-mail, Internet, Word, etc. ) and usually allows the user to change the colors and contrast as well. Many versions provide text-to-speechfor sustained reading. • Who: People with low vision requiring to access written documents and computer with magnifications. • Example: MAGic, Super. Nova Magnifier/Reader Magnifier, Amigo

Tactile Graphics • What: Innovative software and materials are used to create tactile graphic materials for people with visual impairments. Some are aimed at creating tactile images while others are focused on user interface and access. • Who: students and professionals who need to have access to graphs, diagrams, and maps. • Example: P. I. A. F. (Pictures In A Flash), Talking Tactile Tablet, Tiger Braille Embosser Series

Mobile Phones and Apple devices • What: Many Android phones now come with some accessibility features installed, though these vary depending on the phone and the version of the operating system. i. Phone and i. Pad, the touch screen devices are made accessible with Voice. Over that provides specialized gestures tailored for allowing nonvisual access to the system. A zoom function and color inversion are also available for low vision customers. • Who: ? ? ? ? Anyone • Example: i. OS Android

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