| Differences | Accessibility Issues | Assistive Technology | Selected Websites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision Differences: low
vision, perceptual differences (depth, peripheral differences),
near-sightedness, far-sightedness; color blindness: see:
http://www. lighthouse.org/ color_contrast.htm; Degrees of blindness: Blindness=equal to or less than 20/200 even with corrective lenses=legal blindness: causes include cataracts, cerebral palsy, diabetes, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, retinitus pigmentosa, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hemianopia; aging, injuries ... Top of Page |
Low vision: font size, quality, styles (italics), screen
resolution, glare, lack of alternative formats, i.e. audio, large print versions
color-blindness: lack of no-color alternatives, contrast between colors' certain [combinations of] colors blindness: lack of alternative formats, i.e. audio, Braille Web: lack of web-based text alternatives that are labeled and properly formatted tables, forms, images (ALT tags), interactive content |
Low vision: specialized monitors, software that
increase font size, glare guard screens, magnification software,
hardware, audio output, alternative keyboards; webpages:
adjustable font size, styles, ALT tags /alternative text for all
images
color blindness: no-color alternatives to color Input: optical character recognition software+scanner, barcode scanners, talking signs, Braille: 6 dots per cell, 8 dots per cell on Braille display for function keys; Grade 1: verbatim; Grade 2: contracted; manual and computerized production, tactile graphics (representation of maps, graphs charts, embossed, homemade, computer generated; audio descriptions of visual aspects added to television, videotapes, CDs, kiosks, exhibits, live production; cassette tape; Access to Computers: Screen Magnification: via operating system, specialized software. specialized monitors, software products that increase font size, glare guard screens; webpages: adjustable font size, styles, no-color alternatives to color; ALT tags /alternative text for all images; Speech output: voice synthesis, screen reading software; Braille Displays, alternative keyboard entry |
Websites: Braille: Tack-Tiles Braille System,
Tactile
Graphics, An Overview and Resource Guide, Audio: Media Access Group at WGBH;
American Foundation for the Blind
[AFB]; Cassette;
Recording for the Blind and
Dyslexic
Computer Access: Screen Magnification: Optelec, Inc., Telesensory Corporation, PulseData/HumanWare/Lampert Division: Magnification Station; Speech Output: Jaws screen reader software, AI Squared (Zoomtext software), Sendero Group GPS systems; Braille Displays: Refreshable Braille Displays/Alternative Keyboard Entry, Alva Access Group, Baum Retec AG, Braille output: Duxbury Systems (Braille translation software), American Thermoform Corporation (Braille embossers, paper); voice output, scanners, Braille calculatorsScanSoft Corporation/Kurzweil Educational Systems, Robotron Sensory Tools/Galileo Systems, Compusult Limited, G.W. Micro (WindowEyes), Dancing Dots-Braille Music Translation: Voice Recognition: ScanSoft Dragon Naturally Speaking; audio books, E-books: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, U.S. Library of Congress. National Library Service |
| Hearing
Differences: Hearing
Loss/Hard of Hearing: degrees of hearing loss; deafness (from
birth, post-natal); Deaf Culture, deafness: absence of hearing;
differences depending on onset age of deafness: causes: rubella,
hereditary (leading cause), premature birth, complications of Rh
Factor, meningitis, noise, aging ...
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Conductive Hearing Loss: differences of the outer or middle
ear, around the location of the eardrum and "ossicles" (hammer,
anvil, and stirrup). causes: fluid in the ear, wax build up and
stiffening of the middle ear bones actors: Sensorineural Hearing Loss, most common type; causes: aging or hereditary hearing loss, noise damage results of medical conditions, Many of these conditions lend themselves to surgery or correction because there is no neural damage with these conditions. is the most common type of hearing loss and is typically found in cases of aging hearing loss, hereditary hearing loss, noise damage, caused by damage to the sensory and nerve structures of the cochlea. This type of hearing loss may be accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ear) or vertigo (dizziness). People who have this hearing loss have trouble hearing in crowded places and the loss is gradual, usually in the higher frequencies. Issues: cannot speech read, use of one ear, hearing aid compatability, sound quality of phone, background noise; Deaf Culture Issues: lack of captioning; on web: audio without text equivalent |
Assistive Devices: hard wired systems, FM (radio
frequency), infrared (light), electromagnetic induction loop
(magnet), telecoils and microphones (hearing aids; commonly found
in telephones and speakers), coupling devices (headphones,
earbuds), direct audio input, FM boot, cochlear implants;
microphones: omnidirectional, unidirectional, lavaliere or lapel,
table top or conference, environmental; remember to charge
batteries; telephones: rotary, pulse, touchtone, analog vs.
digital, wireless, cellular, pay phones, office lines, beepers,
pagers; make ring louder, change frequency, flashing lights,
vibrating beepers; TTYs and TDDs: with and without
printer-etiquette sheet; relay services; interpretation: ASL,
signed English, Minimal Coded English, Oral, Cued, Tactile;
lipreading + sign language; transcription: realtime, remote,
C-Print summary, notetakers; captioning; hearing dogs
Interpretation: ASL, signed English, Minimal Coded English, Oral, Cued, Tactile; lipreading + sign language; transcription: realtime, remote, C-Print summary, notetakers; captioning |
WWW resources: Gallaudet University Library website resources, Deaf.Com, PEPNet [Postsecondary Education Programs Network] Resource Center, Computer Prompting and Captioning Company (captioning), Rochester Institute of Technology Deaf/Hard of Hearing Internet Resources, Deaf Culture, American Speech, Language and Hearing Association |
| Speech Differences:
degrees of difficulty in speaking clearly, audibly; complete loss
of ability to speak
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Physical: muscle weakness, paralysis, joint discomfort, spinal injuries, disease processes, i.e. arthritis, muscular dystrophy, repetitive stress; cognitive or neurological: dyslexia, dyscalculia, ALS, dystonia, Huntington's disease. multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy; issuse: auditory perception, seizures, sensitivity to flashing animations, blinking; aging | Augmentative and Alternative Communication [AAC] Devices: Sign language, speech and voice amplification, special techniques: picture cards, language boards, communication wallets, boards, picture exchange, clock scanners, computers with software, dedicated devices: assisted keyboard, onscreen keyboard, cursor control, pointer systems, alternative keyboards, voice recognition, eye-gaze, mind control, keyboard emulation (ASCII), switches: direct switch interface, scanning, Morse Code, switch encoding, auditory, word and icon prediction software; output: synthesized (text to speech), type of synthesizer, digitized (recorded speech and sound), amplification, tone, ethnicity, language, integration with other assistive technology | Websites: Dynavox, Prentke-Romich, Turning Point Therapy and Technology, Inc., Zygo Industries, Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc., AbleNet, Inc., Attainment Company Words +, Speech to Speech News.Com |
| Mobility Differences
: wide and varied:
muscle weakness (paresis), paralysis, joint discomfort, spinal
injuries, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, repetitive strain
injury; aging
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Seating and positioning, mobility: dependent, independent, driver controls, interconnectivity to other assistive technology | Seating systems, alternative position devices, manual (dependent-stroller, etc. and independent-wheelchair) and power mobility devices (scooter, wheelchairs), driver controls: joystick, foot controls, head controls, chin controls, pneumatic (sip/puff). digital controls (tongue touch keypad, single switches, scanning), recreational mobility devices (walkers, wheeled walkers, canes, crutches, trainers); interconnectivity to other assistive technology: augmentative and allternative communication [AAC] devices and mounts, electronic aids to daily living (EADL) controls, computer access | Websites: Seating/Position: Family Village Shopping Mall-(Trace Center), Adaptive Equipment Systems [AES], Dynamic Living, Sammons Preston, Invacare, Permobil; Rifton Equipment; Switches: Academic Software; Wheelchairs: Sunrise Medical |
| Cognitive/Learning
Differences: reading, writing, comprehension,
interpretation of words, symbols: dyslexia, dyscalculia,
perceptual differences: depth perception, peripheral vision,
balance
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Issues: long, involved text construction, flashing, blinking, unclear print, concentration, memory, focus; everyone learns differently: visual, auditory, tactile learners... | Augmentative and Alternative
Communication
[AAC] Devices: Reading/Visual supports: "Post-It" notes,
highlighters, pictures and sound to support text, webbing and
mapping of information and vocabulary, auditory text through
talking books, single word support - Reading Pen, text reading
software, electronic books,scanning books;
Writing: No/Low/High Tech: writing assistants, writing tools, stable paper with clipboard, angle, give boundaries, adapt the tool, model with stencils, labels, stamps, portable word processing, record or dictate instead of writing: voice recognition; dictionaries for vocabulary and spelling, text editing checklists, notetaking, writing assistants: software: outlining software, webbing, mapping software, spelling and grammar checkers, dictionaries and thesauri, print to symbols, story frames, templates and stationery, on-screen keyboards for writing, alternate keyboards for learning and reporting, auditory support through talking word processing, support through word prediction; organizational assistants: work and school related organizers, calendars, project planning software, voice diaries, activity task assistants, time assistants, portable digital assistants, beepers; Learning Support: project meeting and lesson notes, homework help, research assistance, math supports: calculators, math worksheets |
Websites: Don Johnston, Tash, Inc., textHelp, Inc., Adaptivation, Assistive Technology, Inc., Voice Recognition: ScanSoft Dragon Naturally Speaking; ScanSoft/IBM ViaVoice hands-free word processing: AlphaSmart, QuickPad, The Reading Pen; resources: Hello Friend/Ennis Cosby Foundation, Don Winkler's Cyberwink - on Learning Differences , |
|
Electronic Aids to Daily Living [EADL]
a/k/a Environmental Control Units: EADL Controls: Input:
sends signal to activate system: Direct, scanning, single/dual
switch, voice recognition, computer: AAC, Personal Digital
Assistant Throughput: Receives signal from input and transmits it
to device; needs line of sight, i.e. TV/VCR remote; same coded
receivers can be used in different rooms. Signal can travel
through walls, though affected by interference from other
devices, one location effective throughout house (inteference)
Output receives the signal and device turns on/off; Visual or
auditory feedback to user; EADLs for security
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Considerations: interference from other devices, safety concerns (don't exceed house wiring levels), need to train users, difficult to obtain funding: most funding sources require justification, physician's prescription; never connect EADLs to automatic doors | Devices: Security, independent living | Websites: Family Village Shopping Mall-(Trace Center), X-10 Inc., EnvisionAmerica (talking barcode scanners, Scriptalk prescription reader), Smart Home, Inc., powersphere.com, TASH, Inc., Dynamic Living |
| Ergonomics:
"Fitting the job to
the person;" Goals: increase safety and health, increase
performance, reduce costs, increase profits; areas of concern:
manual materials handling, falls prevention in workplace,
repetitive jobs
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Considerations: low back injury, back injury, impact injury, workstation ergonomics | Devices: adustable chairs, desks, backrest, armrests, footrests, alternative keyboards, mouse alternatives, wristrests, forearm supports, monitor positioning, size, glare-free; Environmental: lighting, noise, stretching and strengthening exercises, ergonomics software | Websites: Footrests: AliMed Inc., Smart Home, Inc., Powersphere.com, Tash, Inc., Alternative Keyboard/Mouse: InfoGrip, Inc.,, Madentec, Ltd., Foot Mouse: Hunter Digital; Facts, figures, guides, standards: U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| Whatchamacallits: You don't
know what it is or what it is called, but there must be some
practical use for it. Or you use a device in a way other than
how the manufacturer intended.
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Considerations: Why not? Think outside the box. | Devices: Everything | For instance: Sammons Preston, your local dollar store ... |
