AccessSTEM

Thousands of specialized hardware and software products available today allow individuals with a wide range of abilities and disabilities to productively use computing and networking technologies (Closing The Gap, 2002). However, assistive technology alone does not remove all access barriers. Described below are examples of access challenges faced by students and instructors in typical distance learning courses.

For some people with visual impairments the standard size of letters on the screen or printed in documents are too small for them to read. Some people cannot distinguish one color from another. Fortunately, specialized hardware and software can make computer systems usable by individuals with visual impairments.

Input

Most individuals who have visual impairments can use standard keyboards, but large-print keytop labels are sometimes useful, particularly when they are learning to type.

Providing Braille materials for students, faculty, and staff who request them and for whom this accommodation is considered reasonable is typically considered the responsibility of the postsecondary institution. Schools differ in processes established for creating Braille materials. In many schools, students who wish to request academic accommodations must register with a campus disability services office and provide proper documentation of their disabilities.

A specific learning disability is unique to the individual and can appear in a variety of ways. It may be difficult to diagnose, to determine impact, and to accommodate. Generally speaking, someone may be diagnosed with a learning disability if they are of average or above-average intelligence and there is a lack of achievement at age and ability level or there is a large discrepancy between achievement and intellectual ability.

There are many benefits to being a mentor to a student with a disability. Mentors' personal communication about their hard-earned experiences contributes to the personal, academic, and professional growth of students with disabilities, many of whom may not have seen themselves as professionals. In this way, mentors contribute to the participation of students with disabilities in fields in which they are traditionally underrepresented - science, mathematics, and technology.

The keyboard can be the biggest obstacle to computing for a person with a mobility impairment. Fortunately, those who lack the dexterity or range of motion necessary to operate a standard keyboard have a wide range of options from which to choose. Pointers can be held in the mouth or mounted to a hat or headgear and used to press keys on a standard keyboard. Repositioning the keyboard to the floor can allow someone to use his feet instead of his hands for typing.

Low vision is used to describe a loss of visual acuity while retaining some vision. It applies to individuals with sight who are unable to read a newspaper at a normal distance of viewing, even with the aid of glasses or contact lenses. People with low vision often need adaptations in lighting and/or enlarged print to read something. There are two specific types of low vision:

The term modification is defined as an adjustment to an assignment or a test that changes the standard of measurement for the task. A modification is not the same as an accommodation. An accommodation is the practice of making the assignment or assessment more accessible to the student with a disability through changes in formatting, timing, setting, scheduling, and/or presentation. An accommodation does not change the standard of measurement for the task, only the accessibility of the task.

Many universities offer training in assistive technology and the design of accessible technology as individual courses and/or as part of certification programs. Whether you want to pursue a degree or certificate or just take one course, be clear about the outcomes you desire and the methods of instruction you prefer. Some courses focus on book learning; others include active learning, with adequate time to master new skills. Many programs have at least an aspect of online education; some are offered only as distance learning programs.

Speech recognition software converts words spoken into a microphone into machine-readable format. Speech recognition products can provide an appropriate computer input method for some individuals with a wide range of disabilities.