A DIY Accessible Hardware Solution for Students with Disabilities

1. A DIY Accessible Hardware Solutionfor Students with Disabilities Ryan Vernon BC College and Institute Library Services (CILS) cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

2. Falling through the cracks? cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

3. Raise the floor... Raising the Floor: Enabling everyone, regardless of extenuating circumstances, to obtain access... cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

4. DIY: do it yourself • Recipe: • Cheap hardware • Free or cheep software • Combine cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

5. Hardware • Desktop PC • The computer you have now • The library's computer • Any old computer! • Netbook / Ultra-portable laptop • Asus Eee PC (windows version) • Acer Aspire One (windows version) • Other netbooks or subnotebooks • Any old notebook! cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

6. Hardware • Things you might need • Windows 2000 or newer • Onboard sound • Speakers • Custom input device • An Internet connection cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

7. Software • Thunder (screen reader) • WebbIE (Accessible browser) • Accessible RSS news reader • Accessible podcatcher • ReadPlease (text to speech engine) • TextAloud (text to speech engine) • AMIS (DAISY book player) • WinAMP (media player) and the PaceMaker plugin (which allows users to adjust playback speed) • Iconico magnifier (screen magnifier) cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

8. Software: Thunder Screen reader: A screen reader is a software program that uses a synthetic voice to read a computer screen out loud.* • From the Thunder website: • "Free of charge to EVERYONE and any organization." • "A quick and easy download on a modern computer." • "For everyone who needs it." cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

9. Software: Webbie • An accessible browser • When combined with Thunder users may listen to and navigate webpages • Keyboard controlable • Plain text output • Includes magnification function • Free download cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

10. WebbIE "webpage" view cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

11. WebbIE "text" view cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

12. WebbIE also includes... ...an accessible RSS reader cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

13. WebbIE also includes... ...an accessible pod catcher cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

14. WebbIE also includes... ...an accessible Project Gutenberg cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

15. WebbIE also includes... ...an accessible Directory(providing access to the ODP) cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

16. ReadPlease • Text-to-speech software: Converts computer readable text into spoken language • Free and paid versions • Available to download • Tutorial available at CILS cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

17. ReadPlease cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

18. TextAloud • Text-to-speech software: Converts computer readable text into spoken language • Free trial available • ~$30 to buy • Available to download cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

19. TextAloud cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

20. DAISY • DAISY book format • DAISY: Digital Audio Information System • A highly navigable digital audiobook format: navigable by chapter, section, heading or page number • May be human voice or synthesized voice • May have full-text or just heading information cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

21. AMIS (Daisy Player) • Open Source • Freely available • Available for download • Tutorial available at CILS cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

22. AMIS (Daisy Player) cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

23. AMIS (Daisy Player) cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

24. WinAMP • A media player, like Windows Media or VLC • Freely available • Allows plugins • Tutorial available at CILS cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

25. WinAMP with PaceMaker • Pacemaker: a WinAMP plugin • Freely available • Changes tempo (play back speed) • Changes pitch cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

26. WinAMP with PaceMaker Allows you to speed up your MP3 without making it sound like a chipmunk: cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

27. Magnifier • Enlarges a portion of a computer screen • Freely available cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

28. Conclusion • Don't be afraid... • ...to get your hands dirty • ...to try • ...to ask You can do it! cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

29. Thank you This presentation is available in multiple formats at http://www.langara.bc.ca/cils/Tel: 604-323-5685Fax: 604-323-5577E-Mail: cils@langara.bc.ca cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

30. Questions? cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils

31. Photo Credits • All photos were generously made available by their creators under a Creative Commons license: • Stick Figure Loses Foot In Crack! • Sunrise - Project City Center • Computer Cooking • Master in Computer Architecture, Network and Systems • Lightening 16x9 03 • Chipmunk Checking Email • Three magnified morons • Don't Stop Questioning cils@langara.bc.ca | www.langara.bc.ca/cils