Assistive Technology for the Library Media Center

Assistive Technology for the Library Media Center
Jamilla Coleman Stacey P. Flynn Emily Read May, 2011 LBSC 690 – Dr. Rachel Bradley

Introduction “Accessibility is more than just physical access to library services. It means that individuals with disabilities should be able to use and access all the same services and materials in the library as their non-disabled peers, either through alternate means or with assistance. . . . Ultimately, in order to promote broad access for all patrons, librarians should consider the accessibility of their materials and services during the procurement and implementation process, and develop a plan to maximize accessibility for all patrons. “ "What is Accessibility?" American Library Association, 2006. Stacey P. Flynn

Problem Statement We are a library staff in a middle school, and have been assigned the task of incorporating assistive technology to accommodate incoming students who have physical disabilities. For the students, we must meet various needs: One student is visually impaired; one has learning disabilities that make reading and comprehension difficult; and one student is deaf. Solutions will adhere to standard six of the Maryland Teacher Technology Standards, which states in part that teachers: Understand human, equity, and developmental issues surrounding the use of assistive technology to enhance student learning performance and apply that understanding to practice Apply assistive technology to the instructional process and evaluate its impact on learners with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and abilities Possess the ability to operate portable word processors, accessible computer hardware and software, adapted keyboards, screen magnifiers, and other devices Identify devices that help meet the needs of different students Budget: $15,000 Funding not guaranteed for the following year; initial large output of money required, but solutions should not carry the same expense year to year. Jamilla Coleman

Activities in the Library Media Center for 21st Century Literacy Reading Research and Search Strategy Evaluation of Source Material Note-taking Skills Citation Skills, Digital Citizenship & Ethical Use Participation in Group Activities Reading Enrichment Activities Stacey P. Flynn

Social & Psychological Criteria for Evaluating AT Competency & Independence Allows the student to master basic AT skills and be able to advance to higher levels of skill acquisition Allows individual to strive for independence by alleviating frustration and building confidence Self-esteem & Peace of Mind Allows ways to support the student’s feelings of self-worth Allows student to contribute positively through participatory learning and communicate with others Skill Development & Specialization Supports age-appropriate goal-setting Allows more productive functioning for learning activities Lifelong Tools for Learning Accounts for upgrades in a rapidly developing field of products Hopkins (2006) Stacey P. Flynn

Meet Mary Jo – a Student with a Learning Disability What are learning disabilities? What type of assistive technology is beneficial for students with learning disabilities in reading? What are some ATs that can be integrated into the school library media center? Mary Jo Emily Read

OCRs Optical recognition devices with text-to-speech Scanning capabilities necessary Importance of Bookshare.org compatibility Multi-sensory approach – visual/auditory Ability to highlight words Source Emily Read

OCR Software Kurzweil 3000 – single interface for viewing documents Highlighting Example Toolbar Display WYNN 4 Wizard – 4 color-coded rotating toolbars in program Rotating Toolbars Read and Write 10 GOLD – floating toolbars works within applications Toolbar in Microsoft Word Read and Write 10 GOLD Mobile – flash drive Emily Read

Evaluating AT Software for the Learning Disabled Emily Read

Portable Devices Playaways – portable battery-operated devices pre-loaded with digital books; one per device Photos Audio Player - SanDisk Sansa Clip+ audio player; MP3 and WMA files can be downloaded onto player Photos E-reader with MP3 – Barnes & Noble Nook Photos Emily Read

Evaluating Portable Devices for the Learning Disabled Emily Read

The challenge for a low vision user in the Library Media Center It’s a vision-intensive world As part of the Library Media Center’s instruction, all tasks require the use of assistive technology for participation. Even simple search on a website can be a challenge The use of screen magnifiers, screen reading software and portable devices offer the low vision user equal access when paired with support and appropriate materials. Stacey P. Flynn

Important Technology Solutionsfor Low Vision Users The DAISY Consortium-Digital Accessible Information System developed by a worldwide , open source initiative. DAISY allows the user to navigate print documents using a combination of XHTML and hierarchical authoring. This markup language is the main ‘talking book’ language for eBooks Bookshare.org Microsoftnow supports DAISY with a “SAVE AS” function for Word & PowerPoint in 2010 version. Stacey P. Flynn

Screen Magnification & Enlarging Software Microsoft Accessibility: Review of Current Microsoft Office 2010 with 21” widescreen monitor Screen resolution adjustable for high contrast Fonts enlarge feature with zoom magnifier DAISY ‘Save As’ feature for screen reading WinZoom Portable USB …………………… $428.00 Portable for using on any PC Highest magnification – 35X “Font Smoothing” Eight viewing angles and styles Includes screen reader and online support/FAQ ZoomText Software ……………………… ……$695.00 Quick contrast adjustment Highest magnification – 16X Includes screen reader software “Font Smoothing” Online support & FAQ Also available on USB for portability Stacey P. Flynn

Screen Reader Software &Portable Players Jaws Screen Reader …….. $ 1017.00 Kurzweil 3000 ……………..$ 525. 00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3KSTxDShZo Read OutLoud………………..$369.00 AMIS - Free Open-Source……. $ 0 Victor Daisy Reader Portable…… $359.00 Stacey P. Flynn

Peripherals Widescreen monitors really help when using magnification software “Big Keys” keyboard ($130) with extra large fonts or a set of extra bold adhesive labels to convert a keyboard ($12.00) Signage for the library Slanted, adjustable desktop for keyboard and monitor Stacey P. Flynn

Criteria for Assistive Technology Stacey P. Flynn

Assistive Technology for a Deaf Student Jamilla Coleman Deaf: Having a hearing loss in the severe to profound range Communicate mainly through sign language (ASL) “Many D/HH children perceive themselves as different because they wear hearing aids, cochlear implants and/or an FM system [a type of assisted listening device] and may have difficulty communicating with others.” Reading comprehension and writing depend heavily on aural skills Visual teaching aids are a must with Deaf/HH students It’s very important to employ techniques and provide accommodations and cognitive tools that serve the deaf student. Abraham

Interact-AS for Educators Automated closed-captioning software designed by the company Auditory Sciences, for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals Load onto your computer or tablet PC Text to speech / speech to text Words spoken by others are instantly displayed onscreen. The computer “says” whatever the user types or writes using a synthesized voice Can be used in conjunction with videos that don’t have closed-captioning. Usefulness in educational setting User can see a transcript of what is being said in the classroom. Transcript can be saved as a Word file. Handwriting recognition No typing skills required Easy to use socially or in alternate educational settings with a tablet PC or iPad: Go on field trips or talk in the halls without needing a flat surface for your computer—just write with a stylus and the computer will speak aloud whatever you write Image source: http://www.speechgear.info/sites/default/files/Interact-AS_User_Guide_v4-0.pdf Jamilla Coleman

Additional Features for Interact-AS Instantly translates conversations from an extensive variety of foreign languages Language learning capabilities make it a useful tool for ESL learners Language needs can be altered as needed (geographical area, relevant terms and dialect) If language needed is not available through software, a live interpreter can be contacted Document meetings: very useful for documenting required IEP meetings, in which teachers and parents discuss children’s Individual Education Plans. Jamilla Coleman

Captioning A system that allows a speaker's words to be displayed in the form of typed words on a TV set or a computer screen. A student with hearing loss and adequate reading skills is able to access the same information available to hearing students during a video presentation. Captioning benefits other students: ESL learners and students who have reading problems may also find it to be helpful. Image source: http://www.ncicap.org/preview/cappic.asp Jamilla Coleman

Providing Closed-Captioned Videos Library media specialists should ensure that DVDs available in their collection are closed-captioned or come with subtitles: Free DVDs with closed-captioning available through the Described and Captioned Media Program, a free-loan library media program funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the National Association of the Deaf No rental fees; return postage included Video-described DVDs for blind or visually impaired persons also available Over 4,000 titles, including ones on topics in school subject areas and classic movies Educational titles come with lesson plans Example rentals: Internet & electronic research skills; Library Skills: Discovering New Worlds Jamilla Coleman

Creating Closed Captions Create captions for your original or pre-existing videos Media Access Generator (MAGpie): open-source software package developed by the National Center for Accessible Media (MCAM) Free, downloadable Add captions, subtitles and audio descriptions to your original work or to existing video files. CaptionTube: Create captions for your YouTube videos or existing YouTube videos No software download necessary; sign in with a Google account Google app Video-record a lesson and then insert your own captions Captioned recordings can be uploaded to YouTube, or downloaded to portable hardware like an iPad Image source (top): http://webaim.org/techniques/captions/magpie/version2/ Jamilla Coleman

PolyVision ēno InteractiveWhiteboard An interactive whiteboard that uses Bluetooth technology Install the driver on a PC or Mac No wires or cables required for installation. Open technology: use any whiteboard software you like or regular software applications When used with software, uses special pens to write; but can also be used as a regular whiteboard with markers. Teacher can face students and be visible, instead of having his/her back turned to write on board. Deaf/HH students can read lips or hear without interruption. Deaf students can learn visually, which is essential to educational success. Engages all students Great capacity for interactive learning Large size also benefits visually impaired students Image source: http://www.electronic-whiteboard.net/index/product/id/8982/ Jamilla Coleman

Criteria for Assistive Technology Jamilla Coleman

Teacher In-Service Day Teachers will receive electronic invitations to the training. Training will be held during professional development week in August. Jamilla Coleman

Cost Breakdown Grand Total = $9,585.00 Under budget by $5,415.00 Total does not include costs of shipping or other unforeseen expenses (replacement parts, installation, etc.) Very possible to use remaining money to buy more than one software license or more hardware; to schedule multiple teacher trainings throughout the year; to purchase upgrades or add-ons; or to pay for any student assistance not provided by MCPS. Jamilla Coleman

References and Resources Emily Read Assistive Technology Tools for Reading http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/948-reading-tools.gs?page=1 Assistive Technology for Children with Learning Disabilities http://www.frostig.org/pdf/ATguide.pdf National Center for Learning Disabilities http://www.ncld.org Kurzweil http://www.kurzweiledu.com/default.html Kurzweil Resources through MCPS http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat/tech_quick_guides/Krz_QG.shtm WYNN http://www.freedomscientific.com/LSG/products/wynn.asp Read and Write GOLD http://www.texthelp.com/page.asp?pg_id=10059 Playaway http://playaway.com/ SanDisk Sansa Clip+ http://www.sandisk.com/products/sansa-music-and-video-players/sandisk-sansa-clipplus-mp3-player Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp?PID=35699

References and Resources (cont.) Stacey P. Flynn American Library Association. (2011). Accessibility Basics for Librarians. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/emailtutorials/accessibilitya/accessibility.cfm High Incidence Assistance Team, Montgomery County Public Schools. (2009). Examples of Assistive Technology Available at MCPS. Retrieved from http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat/tech_quick_guides/ATbyTechModYr.shtm Hopkins, J. (2004). Assistive Technology: An Introduction for K-12 Library Media Specialists. Worthington, OH: Linworth. Library of Congress, United States Government. (2011). National Library for the Blind and Dyslexic. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/nls/ Montgomery County Public Schools. (2010). MCPS Vision Program. Retrieved from http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/vision/technology2009.html# Parent to Parent of Georgia. (2011). Parent to Parent of Georgia. Retrieved from http://p2pga.org/roadmap/advocacy/educationlaws504students.htm Montgomery County Public Schools. (2010). MCPS Vision Program. Retrieved from http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/vision/technology2009.html# Wojan, R. H. (, February 2006). Everyone's Invited: Way's to Make Your Library Welcoming to Children with Special Needs. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6302984.html

References and Resources (cont.) Jamilla Coleman CaptionTube http://captiontube.appspot.com/ Described and Captioned Media Program http://www.dcmp.org/ Doyle, M. (2002). Mainstreaming the Student Who Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Retrieved fromhttp://www.handsandvoices.org/pdf/mainst_cal.pdf Interact-AS http://www.speechgear.info/products/interact-as Interactive Whiteboards and Touchscreen Whiteboards by PolyVision http://www.polyvision.com/ MAGpie http://ncam.wgbh.org/invent_build/web_multimedia/tools-guidelines/magpie Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Teacher Technology Standards www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/technology/techstandards/standard6.shtm Uncredited image (young African-American boy) http://www.harrycutting.com/graphics/photos/children/african-american-child-FC5010-76.jpg

Assistive Technology for the Library Media Center