AccessSTEM

Can a person with a hearing impairment use a stethoscope?

Yes, there are digital electronic stethoscopes that can be used by people with hearing impairments.

For example, the ViScope™, amplifies sounds 30 times louder than an acoustic scope and provides a visual display of the phonocardiogram or phonopneumogram. The ViScope™ is intended for use with In-the-Ear (ITE) and "open fit" Behind-the-Ear (BTE) type hearing aids. Some models are supplied without headphones allowing the user to choose the appropriate listening device to meet their specific needs.

Are there standards or guidelines for providing audio description?

Audio description is the term used to describe the process of providing descriptive narration of key visual elements in a video or multimedia product. This process allows individuals who are blind to access content that is otherwise accessible only through sight. In audio description, narrators typically describe actions, gestures, scene changes, and other visual information. They also describe titles, speaker names, and other text that may appear on the screen.

Are Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) accessible?

This article is also available in Spanish.

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are small handheld computers, also known as palmtops, handheld PCs, or handhelds. PDAs are becoming increasingly popular, not solely for business and personal use but also for use in education. At all educational levels, PDAs are being used in the classroom for increasing students' organization, fostering collaboration, and maximizing portability of technology.

Are frames accessible?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) includes elements called frames and inline frames (iframes), both of which can be used to add content to a web page from external sources. A common example is embedding a frame of audio or video content from another site. The strongest arguments against using frames have more to do with usability than accessibility.

Is there a federal program to help companies hire injured veterans?

Yes, the U.S. Department of Labor administers a program called the Recovery and Employment Assistance (REALifelines) Advisor. Developed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), the REALifelines Advisor provides valuable information and access to contact information for one-on-one employment assistance and online resources to assist wounded and injured transitioning service members and veterans in their reintegration into the civilian workforce."

What is Hire Heroes USA?

Hire Heroes USA was formed in 2007 by representatives from Seattle area corporations who wanted to help veterans and military family members find corporate workforce jobs. Each year, Hire America's Heroes hosts an annual symposium to "share best practices and success strategies for sourcing, recruiting, hiring, on-boarding, and retaining America's transitioning service members and military veterans."

What is braille translation software?

Although people who are blind use speech output systems to read aloud electronic documents, tactile formats are often most effective in highly technical disciplines such as mathematics, physics, computer science, and engineering. Braille translation software translates electronic documents into braille code. From these files, a refreshable braille display can present tactile braille or a braille embosser can produce a hard-copy on special paper.

Accessibility Reviews: A Promising Practice to Improve the Accessibility of Local Science Education Programs

The Alliance for Access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (AccessSTEM), which is funded by the National Science Foundation created an Accessibility Review Competition as a way to improve the accessibility of local science education programs and to develop the leadership skills of students with disabilities.

EAST's Undergraduate Research Fellowships: A Promising Practice on Access to Research Fellowships for Students with Disabilities

Undergraduate research fellowships (URFs) can have a transformative effect on students with disabilities entering science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields. At the Eastern Alliance for Students with Disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics2 (EAST-2) URFs were funded opportunities for students to propose research and collaborate with faculty mentors at the University of Southern Maine (USM).

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