Section 3 - Computer Access

Computers can open up a world of possibilities for people with disabilities, allowing them to work, play, communicate, and connect with the world. Many people with disabilities can access the computer using standard keyboards and mice; those with mobility and sensory impairments typically use some type of adapted interface.You can see a number of these if you visit the Queen's University Disability Access Centre, located in the Stauffer Library. For an overview of how computers can be adapted for access by people with disabilities, view this video:

http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/wt_dis.html

When you enter the site, choose whatever media player you have on your computer, such as the Windows Media Player for T1 (on campus), Broadband or Modem. Also note that this video is from Do-It, a site at the University of Washington. There are a number of other videos at that site you might find interesting, or useful in your work.

IDevice Icon Activity

Check out the accessibility options available through your own computer. They will be in a slightly different location, depending on whether you are using Windows 2000 or Vista, or a Mac. In Windows, go into "(My) Computer" and you will find many of them under "Accessibility Options" or "Ease of Access" (or look in the Accessories folder). Find and play with the following functions:

  • screen magnifier
  • narrator
  • change icon size
  • mouse keys
  • double click speed (under mouse settings)
  • pointer speed
  • sticky keys (keyboard option)
  • onscreen keyboard
  • speech recognition
  • lots more!

Many of these are not very sophisticated (e.g. there are much better onscreen keyboards, screen magnifiers and speech recognition programs, many of which you will see in the lab), but they can be useful for conducting a screening evaluation, or for accommodating the needs of someone with basic adaptation needs. Consider the person with an upper limb tremor who could use a computer well if the icons were simply enlarged, or the click speed adapted. Or the individual with slight visual loss who could function well with a slight adaptation to the text size on the screen. All of these adaptations can be made easily, and at no cost.


Now, look at the organizational features on your cell phone: you have calendars, alarms, timers, contacts managers, and handheld devices.

Assistive technology is becoming more and more available in the mainstream, and as it does so it becomes less and less stigmatized. The use of smartphones is an excellent example. The numbers of apps available is growing daily, and it is so much a part of the iBrain generation that it offers an excellent tool to build on what is working well already. Word prediction is something everyone who texts is familiar with, and new apps such as Nuance’s Dragon Naturally Speaking are available for free for the iPhone. You could use your smartphone to browse the Internet to the Google Calendar site, and set up all your appointments and tasks, with text and email reminders prompting you throughout the day to keep on track.

 


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