Access through Adaptive Computer Technology and Website Design

February 18, 2003 Adaptive Technology Overview at Rend Lake Community College

This first presentation at Rend Lake Community College is an overview of adaptive computer technology that will be given as part of a training day for all college employees. As it is just an hour long, it will be a cursory introduction to the technology we employ and the concerns about equal access to information that dictate our work here at SIUC-DSS. Since this is our first presentation to a community college, and Rend Lake College in particular, we will also be distributing a survey form from which we will gather information to help us tailor subsequent presentations. Our goals for this presentation are as follows:

• Make the general populace of the college aware of the issues we in the disability support field deal with
• Inform people who need to know of our country and state's legislative push towards accessibility of new technologies
• Distribute demo versions of some accessibility software suites
• Establish contacts between ourselves and employees of Rend Lake College and also create a support network wherein colleagues know who to contact at Rend Lake to address disability concerns
• Create a model for how future presentations at Rend Lake College will be administered

Your presenters for this technology and disability overview are:

Michael Whitney

Michael Whitney heads adaptive technology and accessible web creation for Disability Support Services at SIUC and is also the coordinator of the Adaptive Computer Technology & Website Design HECA grant project. In addition to his MA in Rehabilitation, Whitney has completed training on designing universally acceptable web resources and an assistive technology applications certificate program offered by the State University of California Northridge. He will discuss and demonstrate some of the common adaptive technologies utilized by students with disabilities.

Kathleen Plesko

Kathleen Plesko directs SIUC's Office of Disability Support Services and is an expert in disability accommodations in higher education settings. She will discuss and delineate the provisions of mandated accommodations in real and electronic classrooms. As an important counter-balance, Plesko will discuss fundamental course requirements and how they can limit the need to provide accommodations, particularly in the area of testing.

Expected Topics of Discussion and Presented Technologies

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Illinois Web Accessibility Standards
• Administrative Order
• Section 508 : Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards
• Bobby
• A-Prompt
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• Read Please
• Arkenstone Open Book
• Jaws
• Microsoft Screen Magnification
• Sip-N-Puff Mouse
• Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard
• Example of web navigation with assistive technology.
• Review of tools and resources on the CD provided with session.