Your Journey to Embracing Assistive Technology: A Tech Geek's Perspective

1. What’s AT?I’m Not a Tech Geek. HELP!

2. Today’s Path • My journey & how I got here • What is AT? • Embrace your inner geek • Your journey • Identifying resources • Working with students

3. I’m an AT Geek andProud of It! • NOT an IT geek – • don’t build computers. • No degree related to IT or technology • No ‘formal’ training related to AT • Never thought I’d be a tech geek (job didn’t exist when I started college!)

4. How Did I Becomean AT Geek? Completely by accident. Like to get my hands on cool software & hardware. Love to play with it. Stretch it to its limits & figure out how to use it differently.

5. It didn’t happen over night!

6. It was not a straight road to this destination

7. It wasn’t a road that was just a little curvy

8. Job: R&T Ctr for Deaf or Hard of Hearing (admin. support -> research associate) It was a very winding road!! Grad school: Rehab Cnsling (emphasis Deafness) Job: Asso Dir – AT/Alt Format Started college: business Job: 1-person DSS office Job: 2 fed. grants (faculty development & PEPNet outreach) Back to school: BS in CnslingSvcs to the Deaf

9. Assistive Technology - Formal “Assistive technology (AT) can be defined as 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 individuals with disabilities. (29 U.S.C. Sec 2202(2))” http://standards.gov/assistivetechnology.cfm http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3859

10. Assistive Technology - Basic • Anything, • whether pre-fab or customized, • that removes barriers • for people with disabilities.

11. Pre-fab AT Examples SuperNova Screen Reader JAWS for windows Freestyle2 keyboard Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium

12. AT can be anything! Pictures include:Open box with the words “Pre-fab AT”.A computer tablet.A rollerball mouse with buttons.Rubber finger tips.A wacom tabletA pencil.A smartphone

13. Your Technology • “An application’s use is in the eye of the user” • i.e. consider all types of technology that you use in a day • The same tech may be used in a variety of ways depending on the need • Consider low tech as well as high tech • Think about general technology, not just specialized

14. Embrace Your Inner Geek • No matter how small – EMBRACE IT! • Basic knowledge of technology: • PC, Mac, iPads, Android tablets, etc. – IMPORTANT! • Look at tech you use everyday (apps on phone, computer, at work, at home) • Identify • What you know • What you don’t know

15. 4 people sitting around a computer from the 1960s 4 waterfalls in Laos

16. Photo of the Grand Canyon

17. Baby hedgehog Underwater eel hiding in sand Flock of flamingoes with baby flamingoes

18. Things to Keep In Mind… Take a leap of faith! Keep your send of humor! Keep your sense of humor (laughing Otter) Take a leap of faith (golfish bowl to bowl) Keep on going (circus bear) Break out of your shell (chick out of shell) Give a shout out to others (howling wolf) And ask for guidance (2 starfish) Break out of your shell! Ask for guidance! Whatever you do, keep on going! Give a shout out to others.

19. Your Journey – Reach Out • Find someone to teach you • General tech: • IT, Faculty Teaching Ctr, Student Tech Ctr • AT: • Network with other AT folks in & out of state • Attend workshops – physical or virtual

20. Searching On Your Own • Learn what you need to know • Play with technology – ANY technology • Surf the internet for info, software, instructions on hardware • Watch YouTube videos (seriously!)

21. Resources – Even The Unlikely • Connect with • Professional organizations • AHEAD, ATHEN • Listservs • DSSHE, ATHEN • Websites • AT specific & general technology

22. Technology All Around • What technology are students, in general, using every day? • Mainstream technology can be useful - maybe in different ways • Take a look at apps for Android & iOS • There are thousands so surely some of them would be useful (not just fun)

23. Task-oriented Approach • This helps students understand how AT can work for them. • What academic tasks pose struggles for the student?

24. Tasks & Possible Solutions • Organization of projects/papers? • FreeMind (free mind mapping) • Learning terminology? • StudyBlue.com • Spelling? • Ginger.com • Writing? • Dragon Naturally Speaking/ Dragon Dictate

25. More Tasks& Possible Solutions • Note-taking? Writing everything down & unable to pull out main points. • Livescribe pen – Echo with earbuds • Using PDFs effectively? • NitroPDF Reader (free) • Completing reading assignments? • Alternative formats • Word using Central Access Reader

26. Show and Tell with Backup • Demonstrations bring the AT home to students • Provide brief handout &/or website info • List multiple options at different price points • Helps students understand multiple options exist & they aren’t always expensive • Sometimes combo of free/inexpensive options can be comparable to higher cost option • Ask students for feedback regarding what they use & why they like it

27. Many thanks to one and all! Heidi Scher Associate Director Center for Educational Access University of Arkansas hascher@uark.edu 479-575-3104

28. Resources!

29. Unexpected Resources • PCMag.com • Numerous newsletters • http://www.pcmag.com/newsletter_manager/ • Software & Apps • Technlicious.com – Tech Made Simple: daily emails • ZDNet: newsletter@zdnet.online.com • Tech stories • Woot.com • Priceplunge.com • CNET Cheapskate Tech Deals • Best Buy Deal of the Day

30. * Support Resources * HTCTU: High Tech Center Training Unit – California Community Colleges: www.htctu.net/ DSSHE: Disabled Student Services in Higher Education: http://listserv.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=DSSHE-L AHEAD: Association on Higher Education and Disability: www.ahead.org/ ATHEN: Access Technology Higher Education Network: http://athenpro.org/ *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

31. * Support Resources – page 2 * CAST: Center for Applied Special Technology: www.cast.org/ EDUCAUSE: mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology: www.educause.edu/ *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

32. * Some ImportantAlternate Text Resources * Bookshare: www.bookshare.org/ Learning Ally: www.learningally.org AMX Database Exchange: www.amxdb.net/ ATN (Access Text Network): www.accesstext.org/ DAISY Consortium: www.daisy.org/ National Library Service: www.loc.gov/nls/ Publisher contacts through Publishers’ Lookup: www.publisherlookup.org/

33. * More Alternate Text Resources * Badger Accessibility Services: Fee-for-service based out of University of Wisconsin-Madison. Fast & accurate DigilifeMedia: Conversion service with a pretty good reputation. Read How You Want: Bookstore for Braille and DAISY titles. Catalog is fairly small. Librivox: Human-read audio versions of books in the public domain. Free. OpenLibrary: Large number of DAISY books adding more all the time. Standard audiobook places: iTunes, Audible.com, Audiobooks.com, etc. *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

34. * Check Out State Resources * • AR Dept. of Career Education - Rehabilitation Services • http://ace.arkansas.gov/arRehabServices/Pages/default.aspx • Check out Field Services & Special Programs • AR Dept. of Human Services - Division of Services for the Blind • http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dsb/Pages/default.aspx • AR Independent Living Council • http://www.ar-ilc.org/ • Increasing Capabilities Access Network • http://www.ar-ican.org/ *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

35. * Around the Country* • PEPNet: http://www.pepnet.org/ • Rochester Institute of Technology (through PEPNet) offers free online notetakertraining: http://www.netac.rit.edu/onlinenotetakertraining.html • Other Disability Resources Colleagues & AT Specialists *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

36. * From Colleagues Around the Country * • WordTalk, http://www.wordtalk.org.uka free text-to-speech plug-in for MS Word • Click-n-Type Virtual Keyboard: • http://cnt.lakefolks.com/ • AT products – listed for different types of use: • http://ndco.cds.org.au/index.php/at/80-accessapps • Alternate download from: http://eduapps.org/?page_id=67 • Accessible document design for MS Office & PDFs. • http://www.karlencommunications.com/

37. * Blogs… * *Source: Wink Harner, Mesa Community College, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology” • Karlen Communications Blog • Information on accessible document design, how to use MS Office applications with keyboard and/or a screen reader and general information on accessible document standards and guidelines. • http://www.karlencommunications.com/Blog/ • http://www.ajmcclary.com/topics/web-design-blog • Tips regarding 508 compliance and JAWS • http://webaxe.blogspot.com/ • Web Axe: web accessibility podcast and blog - practical web design accessibility tips

38. * …Podcasts, Websites… * • http://disability411.jinkle.com/?q=node&page=7 • Disability411 - The Podcast for Disability Information • http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/accessibilityinclusion • http://webaim.org/articles/ • http://www.radar.org.uk/radarwebsite/tabid/194/default.aspx *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

39. * …And A Wiki * *Source: Wink Harner, Mesa Community College, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology” “The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia (GATE) has been created by AbilityNet, the UK's largest provider of advice and information on all aspects of Access technology. Its' purpose is to provide live and up to date information on everything to do with Assistive Technology. It's a showcase of both products and useful sources of information.” • http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com

40. * Digital Writing * • Digital writing pad: http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php?gclid=CPWHkJPJpKUCFWBN5Qod1C33g • aPen: http://apenusa.com/ • Write on regular paper, and send your handwritten notes and doodles to your computer (or smartphone)

41. * Livescribe Pens * • http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/?gclid=CKvFoeGorKUCFUVqKgodPWMyYA • Easily access audio at any point in a lecture based on your written notes • Echo pen with earbuds (have microphones for recording) • How to use the Livescribe pen – check out YouTube! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU_RKv5zemM • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoKYAO5cpOU&feature=related

42. * GA Tech & Accessible Distance Ed * • CATEA GRADE PROJECT: Georgia Tech Research on Accessible Distance Education (GRADE) - a research project at the Georgia Tech Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) http://www.catea.gatech.edu/grade/ • Accesselearning Tutorial: free, 10-module tutorial on the creation of accessible and usable distance education materials. *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

43. * GA Tech & Accessible Distance Ed– page 2 * • Course Design Models: real-world courses designed for accessibility; invaluable as "how-to" examples. • Fact Sheets: easy-to-use information briefs on essential points of accessible design. • Guidelines for Accessible Distance Education: Principles and practices for the improving the access and use of common non-html elements in distance education, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe and video files. *Source: Wink Harner, 2010 AHG Presentation “Newbies Guide to Assistive Technology”

44. * Giz Explains * • “GizExplains: How Blind People See the Internet” http://gizmodo.com/5620079/giz-explains-how-blind-people-see-the-internet • Great article to share with those who are needing broad accessibility awareness.