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Objectives

Assistive Technology Initiative Korey Singleton, ATI Manager George Mason University AHEAD in VA Conference March 25-26, 2010. Objectives. Materials ( http://accessibility.gmu.edu , ATI News & Information section ) Overview of ATI at George Mason Univ.

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Objectives

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  1. Assistive Technology InitiativeKorey Singleton, ATI ManagerGeorge Mason UniversityAHEAD in VA ConferenceMarch 25-26, 2010

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. Staff Korey Singleton • Manager Kara Zirkle • IT Accessibility Coordinator Elizabeth Miller • Accessible Text Coordinator Nancy Borck • Program Support Specialist

  5. ATI Services… • Informal Assistive Technology Assessments • 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

  6. Who We Serve • Mason 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)

  7. A Collaborative Project… ATI Partnerships - • Office of Disability Services • Equity Office • Information Technology Unit • University Libraries • Kellar Institute • Environmental Health & Safety • Learning Services Human Resources Provost’s Office Regional Campus Management Teams Local Public Schools University Information

  8. How these partnerships work (e.g.)…

  9. 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)

  10. 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/

  11. Technology for individuals with learning disabilities • Document Reading/Writing/Scanning • WYNN Wizard/Reader • Premier Accessibility Suite • Voice Recognition • Dragon Naturally Speaking Pro

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. Current Projects/Future Planscont… • 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/

  15. Current Projects/Future Planscont… • 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…

  16. Current Projects/Future Plans cont… • Additional accessible text resources • Bookshare – University Partners • www.bookshare.org • Access Text Network • http://www.accesstext.org/ • 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

  17. Current Projects/Future Planscont… • 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.)

  18. Current Projects/Future Planscont… Access at Any Mason Workstation: “Premier Accessibility Suite”

  19. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • 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!!

  20. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • 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

  21. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • Why Premier? cont… • Premier-In-School Program - Free education grant • http://www.readingmadeez.com/education/premierinschool.html • Minimal start-up costs • Premier-AT-Home Program • http://www.readingmadeez.com/education/premierathome.html • Offers students ability to use same technology on personal machine as in AT Labs

  22. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… Our Partners? Learning Services (CAPS) Writing Center Information Technology Unit ATI Advisory Committee** • Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities (KIHd) • University Libraries • Patriot Computers • Office of Disability Services

  23. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • 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 $5.00 Web:http://www.premierathome.com

  24. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • 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

  25. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • 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

  26. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • 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

  27. Premier Accessibility Suitecont… • 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??

  28. Questions & Answers

  29. Contact Information Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) George Mason University Thompson Hall, Room 114 Hours: M-F, 8:30am-5:00pm Office Phone: 703-993-4329 TTY: (703) 259-0179 Fax: (703) 993-4743 E-mail: ati@gmu.edu Web: http://ati.gmu.edu

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