Access through Adaptive Computer Technology and Website Design

January 12, 2005 - Carbondale Community High School - Technology and Transitional Trends Facing High School Students

Your presenters for this event 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.

Bryan Dallas

Bryan Dallas heads the adaptive technology text conversion program at Disability Support Services. In addition to his MS in Rehabilitation, Dallas has years of experience implementing appropriate adaptive technologies for students with disabilities.

Expected Topics of Discussion and Presented Technologies

Our January 12, 2005 presentation is an interactive discussion on technological and transitional trends and issues facing high school students. Goals for this presentation are as follows:

• Make the general populace 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
• Expose participants to adaptive technology trends
• Expose students with the issues persons with disabilities face in academia
• Expose the students with strategies utilized in the disability support field to enable a person with a disability with the means to overcome barriers
• Expose students to accessibility guidelines
• Expose up and coming professionals to technologies and practices that can enable persons with disabilities

Technologies Overviewed

• Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation system
• Read Please reading system
• Arkenstone Open Book scanning system
• Jaws screen reader
• Microsoft Screen Magnification
• Switch technologies
• Alternative mice
• Sip-N-Puff Mouse
• Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard
• Cyberlink Brainfingers Brain Actuated Technology