It’s a whole new world for people with disabilities. People who at one time were confined to the limits of their beds or wheelchairs now have the ability to grow, learn and communicate through their computers. Children have the opportunities to become productive and educated adults by learning alongside their peers. This has all been made available through advances in technology.
It’s amazing just how many products there are out there to help people with disabilities live independent lives. Here are some examples:
Hearing Impairment
§ Speech Recognition ("Voice Recognition") – A system that allows students to control their computer by simply speaking.
Example: Dragon Naturally Speaking Solutions - http://www.nuance.com
§ Assistive Listening - Devices that transmit and amplify sounds to hearing impaired students. Students who experience difficulty processing auditory information might also benefit from using those devices.
Example: Hearing Helper - http://www.azhearing.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=PFM300
§ Signing Avatars - A signing avatar is a virtual human (aka. Cartoon) on the screen that uses sign language to basically act as an electronic interpreter.
Example: Vcom3D - http://www.vcom3d.com/
For more information and resources on hearing impairment go to http://www.hearinglossweb.com
Vision Impairment
§ Personal Reading Machines – A device that scans a printed page and instantaneously reads the page out loud.
Example: Sara Reading Machine - http://www.nanopac.com/SARA%20Reading%20Machine.htm
§ Large Print/Screen Magnification - Hardware and Software functioning like magnifying glasses, automatically moving over a page. This allows visually impaired students to more easily read textbooks, magazines, maps, charts or fine print.
Example: Zoom Text - http://www.aisquared.com/zoomtext
§ Braille Displays – A device that communicates what is on the monitor through Braille to a visually impaired student.
Example: Focus 40 & Focus 80 - http://www.freedomscientific.com/products/fs/focus-product-page.asp
For more information and resources on vision impairment go to http://codi.buffalo.edu/vision.htm
Mobility Impairment
§ Word prediction program – As the user begins to type a word, this software predicts what it is, therefore cutting down on the amount of keystrokes necessary.
Example: Co:Writer 6 - http://www.donjohnston.com/products/cowriter/index.html
§ Alternative Keyboards – This is a device that replaces the standard keyboard and can adapt to the user’s needs, allowing him to type with one hand or a finger
Example: Intellikeys USB - http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Alternative-Keyboards/IntelliKeys-USB;jsessionid=0a0110501f43549a2fc5080a43698c2bd4de2957aa47.e3eSc3aPaxmLe34Pa38Ta38Lc3b0
§ Alternative Pointing System – An alternative to the mouse, usually either a trackball or joystick that can be controlled with the mouth.
Example: SmartNav - http://www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav/
For more information and resources on mobility impairment go to http://www.fctd.info/resources?on=disability&tag=Mobility+Impaired