Access through Adaptive Computer Technology and Website Design

October 25, 2004 - High School Job Shadowing at SIUC Disability Support Services

Your Coordinator is:

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.

Expected Topics of Discussion and Presented Technologies

On October 25, 2004 Michael will work directly with high school students on the importance of integrated adaptive technology and how that concept goes hand in hand with accessible website design. It is scheduled to run from 10 to 12:30 p.m. at Woody Hall B-150. As a part of the presentation, Michael will demonstrate some of the software that we currently employ here at Southern Illinois University. Our goals for this presentation are as follows:

• Expose the high school students with the issues persons with disabilities face in academia
• Expose the high school students with strategies utilized in the disability support field to enable a person with a disability with the means to overcome barriers
• Expose high school students to accessibility guidelines
• Expose up and coming professionals to technologies and practices that can enable persons with disabilities

Technologies Covered

• Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation system
• Read Please reading system
• Arkenstone Open Book scanning system
• Jaws screen reader
• Microsoft Screen Magnification
• Sip-N-Puff Mouse
• Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard
• Opera Browser
• Bobby Accessibility Checking Tool