What is "Assistive Technology"?
According to the United States Assistive Technology Act of 1998, assistive technology (also called adaptive technology) refers to any "product, device, or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used to maintain, increase, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." Common computer-related assistive technology products include screen magnifiers, large-key keyboards, alternative input devices such as touch screen displays, over-sized trackballs and joysticks, speech recognition programs, and text readers.
Disability Services at SCTCC offers students who qualify the opportunity to try various types of assistive technology while on campus. Software licensures prevents us from sharing assistive technology tools with a student’s home/personal computer.
Below is a list of Assistive Technology tools available to qualified SCTCC students.
Augsburg College has created a list of Free or Low Cost Assistive Technology tools that are available for everyone.
Kurzweil
Features:
- Literacy software with a Text-to-Speech program built in that will read textbooks, articles and the web out loud
- Includes study skill support including highlighters, dictionaries, and note taking and study aids
- Includes writing support with mind mapping brainstorming tool
- Available in versions 3000 – for those with sight and 1000 – for those with limited or no sight
- More Information: https://www.kurzweiledu.com/default.html
Compatibility: Windows or Mac
SmartPen by Livescribe
Features:
- Take hand written notes and record your lecture using the same device
- Written notes are synched with the audio recording using specialized notebooks
- Tap on any written text and listen to your lecture from that exact moment in the lecture or meeting
- Upload your notes to your computer for playback, and ability to search content
- More Information: http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/smartpen/
Compatibility: Standalone Device with Supplemental Software for Windows or Mac
Dragon Naturally Speaking/Dragon Dictate
Features:
- Use Dragon, Speech Recognition Software, to turn your spoken words into text
- Create documents, emails, surf the web and more by talking to a microphone on your computer
- Use simple voice commands to execute tasks and control most programs on your computer
- Available in Home, Premium, Professional, and Legal versions
- More Information: https://www.nuance.com/dragon.html
Compatibility: Windows or Mac
JAWS by Freedom Scientific
Features:
- Screen Reader developed for those with vision loss
- Reads aloud what is on the computer screen
- Intelligent tools for accessing and navigating webpages and screen content
- Can be paired with a Refreshable Braille Display for Braille output instead of speech
- More Information: http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/JAWS
Compatibility: Windows
BUILT-IN ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
Windows
Features:
- Personalize your Windows Computer with any of the build-in Accessibility Features to support ease with seeing, hearing, and mobility interactions with computer
- Features Available Are: Screen Reader/Text-to-Speech (Narrator), Magnification (Magnifier), Keys Commands (Mouse Keys), Speech-to-Text and Voice Control (Speech Recognition), Visual Notification to replace sounds, Keyboard on Screen, Toggle Keys, Adjustable Mouse Settings, High Contrast Schemes, and Ability to Personalize the Appearance of the Computer including text
- Tutorial Videos Available on the websites below
- More Information: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility
Mac
Features:
- Personalize your Mac Computer with any of the build-in Accessibility Features to support ease with seeing, hearing, and physical/mobility, literacy interactions with computer
- Features include: Text-to-Speech (VoiceOver), Zoom, High Contrast, Sticky Keys, Speech-to-Text and Voice Control (Speech Recognition), Word Completion (Word Prediction), and more!
- More Information: https://www.apple.com/accessibility/mac/