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We encourage students with disabilities to use assistive equipment and computer technology as tools of access, personal empowerment and independence in the college setting. Developing appropriate technology skills to address the impact of functional limitations is vital in giving persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to compete in the world of work after college.
Student Disability Services runs an Assistive Technology Lab (ATL) located in the Learning Commons on the first floor of McWherter Library. The ATL is open to any student registered with SDS after they have gone through an orientation and have had a special password set. The ATL contains state-of-the-art assistive hardware and computers with assistive software. The computers also are configured with internet access and software equivalent to other University TigerLAN Labs. The ATL is open the same hours as the Learning Commons and is staffed 20 hours per week by a graduate assistant who can provide students with training and assistance using the computer technology available in the ATL. Appointments can be set with the graduate assistant by calling the SDS office (678-2880). The ATL contains the following assistive items with site licenses for multiple users for all software:
JAWS - a screen reader for persons with visual impairments or reading disabilities. Text and links on the computer’s screen are read aloud. Zoomtext Magic - a screen enlargement software program enlarges the entire computer screen by varying amounts and will also read the screen text aloud. Zoomtext Magic is useful for persons with visual impairments or reading disabilities. Kurzweil 1000 - a computer screen reading system which converts text material displayed on the computer screen to voice output for persons who are blind. Kurzweil 1000 will also convert text files to audio files in WAV or MP3 formats. Kurzweil 3000 - a computer screen reading system which converts text material displayed on the computer screen to voice output for persons with reading disabilities. Text can be displayed in various colors and words being read can be highlighted as they are read aloud. Kurzweil 3000 will also convert text files to audio files in WAV or MP3 formats. TextHelp Read/Write - a software program with extensive dictionary, thesaurus and word prediction features designed to aid students with composing, spelling, writing and grammar problems. This program also reads the text on the computer screen and highlights each word as it is read. Inspiration - a visual organizing tool creating pictoral and graphic representations of ideas to assist in organizing thoughts for written documents. It is particularly helpful for people who have difficulty with traditional linear outlines and with planning and organizing papers. Test-Talker - software which displays a scanned talking version of tests, worksheets and other documents, using a simultaneous auditory and visual presentation. Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional - a voice recognition input system for persons with manual (hand/arm) impairments or written expression learning disabilities. Users enter text with punctuation into the computer by speaking rather than by keyboarding. Users can also control the computer’s operations with voice commands. This program requires a few hours of training, including building a personal voice profile, and practice, in order to become proficient with a good degree of accuracy. Students can train this software on their home computer, save their voice profile on a CD or flash drive, then load their voice profile onto another computer equipped with this software. Scientific Notebook - a text editing program for creating math and scientific application documents for persons who are significantly visually impaired and for those sharing these types of documents via e-mail. PDF Magic - a program for converting normally “inaccessible” PDF files into one of 11 different accessible formats in any of 155 languages. Assistive software for student use is available for installation in other University of Memphis computer labs as needed.
*** FLASH *** We have links to demos of three great software programs
(If the links don't work, copy the link for each software into your browser)
TEXTHELP READ & WRITE GOLD
KURZWEIL3000
DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING
Trackball Mouse with an oversized trackball and oversized mouse buttons is installed on one of the lab computers for use by students with manual (hand operation) impairments. The trackball mouse can be moved to any of the ATL computers. Large Key Keyboards are available for students with manual (hand operation) impairments and can be installed on any of the ATL computers. Head Mouse is a special adaptive mouse for use by students with no manual (hand operation) ability. It can be installed to input keyboard commands to the computer through an infrared transmitter projecting an infrared beam onto the computer screen. Aladdin Genie Pro is a closed circuit variable magnifier linked to a computer that allows persons with low vision to enlarge external materials (such as books, notes or objects) onto the monitor at their chosen power of magnification and to use the computer simultaneously. It is especially useful when a user is referring to enlarged notes or text while writing papers on an ATL computer. Power Braille 80 -- a refreshable Braille display unit which allows blind users to read the computer screen by Braille output and to access formatted text materials such as columnar text, spreadsheets or complex web pages. Versapoint Duo with Speech -- high quality, high volume interpoint Braille embosser which speaks menus so that persons who are blind can operate it. Scanners – Scanners with single sheet scanning and multiple page, automatic document feed capability are available for student use. Materials may be scanned to acquire images and text for use in reports or papers. The scanned material(s) can be saved in text or picture formats. The files can also be loaded into specialized software that can convert the text in the files into actual text documents for editing, copying, cutting, pasting and printing. CCTV -- Two closed circuit magnifiers, one stand alone (My Reader CCTV), and one magnifier which connects to the computer, are available. CCTV’s are useful for persons with visual disabilities and for persons with learning disabilities. The ATL is also equipped with adjustable chairs and with electrically operated wheelchair height-adjustable work stations.
JAWS
Zoomtext Magic
Closed Circuit Magnifier (CCTV) (stand alone) available on the second floor of McWherter Library.
Student Disability Services has a supply of assistive equipment which students may check out each semester if the disability-related need is determined in consultation with the student’s SDS Coordinator. The following items are available for check out:
Before checking out equipment from SDS, students are asked to read and sign a copy of the following: To view the Loan Equipment Check-Out Policy, you must have Adobe Acrobat, a free plug-in available from Adobe Systems, installed on your computer. To download a copy of the Acrobat Reader, visit the Adobe Systems web site. If you are using a computer in one of the campus TigerLAN labs, the Adobe Acrobat Reader is already installed on your computer. This form may also be picked up from Student Disability Services in 110 Wilder Tower. Request for Loan Equipment Check-Out Policy Form
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Student Disability Services 110 Wilder Tower Memphis, TN 38152-3520 901-678-2880 Voice/TTY 901-678-3070 Fax
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