Access through Adaptive Computer Technology and Website Design

October 25, 2002

Disability Consortium: Adaptive Technology Software and Hardware Overview

Presentation of the following accessible software:

1. Kurzweil 3000 - In broad terms, the Kurzweil 3000 is a software application that reads aloud, visually indicates the text being read, and employs a number of advanced techniques for making the material accessible to people with reading related disabilities. It makes text available to users through multiple sensory channels - letting them simultaneously see, hear and track words.
2. Arkenstone Open Book - Converts printed page into electronic text to be read aloud through its included voice synthesizer and shown on a customizable screen display.
3. Omnipage - Converts paper text into electronic text through the use of a scanner.
4. Read Please - Free downloadable program that converts electronic text into speech.
5. JAWS - JAWS for Windows works with the PC to provide access to today’s software applications and the Internet. With its internal software speech synthesizer and the computer’s sound card, information from the screen is read aloud, providing technology to access a wide variety of information, education and job related applications. JAWS also outputs to refreshable Braille displays.
6. MAGic - Screen magnification features with low vision screen reading ability.
7. Dragon Naturally Speaking - Speech recognition software that students to control a computer without the use of a keyboard by talking to it.
8. Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard - On-Screen Keyboard is a utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the screen and allows users with mobility impairments to type data using a pointing device or joystick. On-Screen Keyboard is intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with mobility impairments.
9. CCTV - Stand alone system that magnifies objects. The one we utilized was an Optelec.
10. Refreshable Braille - Power Braille computer display units translate screen data into 6-dot or 8-dot refreshable Braille for those using many popular software screen readers, such as JAWS for Windows.