WHAT COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES DO POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES USE?

Our goal here is to inform you about some of the findings of our research on computer use by postsecondary students with disabilities. In the context of the ADAPTECH Project, we recently surveyed 33 students and 25 postsecondary service providers from universities, colleges and postsecondary distance ed. institutions across Canada. The overall goal of our research is to provide information needed to ensure that recent advances in computer and information technologies reflect the needs and concerns of students with disabilities and the service providers who make technological and other academic supports available. An interesting aspect of our findings concerns what computer, information and adaptive technologies students with various disabilities use.

The listings that follow are based on the information obtained from our 58 research participants in the Spring of 1998.

With regards to equipment for students who are blind, 81% of institutions have equipment for these students. 90% of students use DOS based software. Other equipment used by these students includes

Voice
* Voice synthesizer (hardware)
* Screen reader (software)
* Document reader (software)
Scanner Hardware and Software
* Scanner
* Specialized software for optical character recognition
* Mainstream software for optical character recognition
* Dedicated document reader
Software
* Pine e-mail
* Specialized math software
Braille
* Braille translation software
* Braille printer
* Refreshable Braille
Portable
* Braille and speak
* Type and speak

The Able Informer, Vol. 4 No.8 October 1998
Edited by Rosemary Musachio RosemaryMusachio@COMPUSERVE.COM

Regarding equipment for students who are partially sighted, 82% of institutions have equipment for these students. These students can use equipment of students who are blind with the exception of Braille devices. They also use large screen monitors, visors and masks to cut glare, and encyclopedias and dictionaries on CD-ROMs.

As for equipment for students who use sign and those who use the oral approach, 78% of institutions have equipment for Deaf students who sign and 9% of institutions have equipment for students who are hard of haring and use the oral approach. Equipment used by these students includes:

Software
* Spell check
* Grammar check
* Word prediction software
* Built-in accessibility features such as visual flash
* Encyclopedia on CD-ROM
Portable
* C-Note system

Concerning equipment for students with a learning disability, 70% of institutions have equipment for these students. Equipment used by these students includes:

Voice
* Voice synthesizer (hardware)
* Document reader (software)
Dictation program
Scanner Hardware and Software
* Scanner
* Mainstream software for optical character recognition
* Specialized software for optical character recognition designed for
people who are blind
* Dedicated document reader
Monitor and image
* Large monitor
* Built in software to control font size & background color
Software
* Spelling and grammar check
* Word prediction software
* Electronic dictionary & encyclopedia on CD-ROM
* Literacy software: Plato, Pathfinder
* Tutorials: grammar, math, typing
* Flow charting software (Inspiration)
Portable
* Franklin portable language master and spell checker
* Laptop

Finally, regarding equipment for students with neuromuscular impairments, 64% of institutions have equipment for these students.
Equipment used by these students includes:

Adjustable work station
* Desk and chair height and angles adjustable
Keyboard
* Sticky keys
* Software to allow for 1 handed typing
* Keyguard
* Splints
* Wrist pads
* Key repeat adjustments
Mouse
* Joystick type mouse
* Trackball
* Touch pad
* Ergonomic mouse
* Head mouse
Voice Input
* Dictation program
* Voice control of windows programs
Sip and puff Morse input hardware and software
Scanner hardware and software
* Scanner
* Software for optical character recognition - mainstream
Monitor and image
* LCD projector
Software: Word prediction software
Portable: Laptop

Our results also show that advantages of using computer, information, and adaptive technologies far outweigh the disadvantages.
They further show that good access to computer and information technologies for postsecondary students with disabilities is a vital
component of success. To reach the ADAPTECH project, you can visit our web site at http://www.adaptech.org or join our moderated electronic discussion group by e-mailing Jennison Asuncion at asunc@alcor.concordia.ca .

-Written by Catherine S. Fichten, Jennison Asuncion, Maria Barile,
Darlene Judd, Jean-Pierre Guimont, Iris Alapin, Jason Lavers,
Christian Généreux, Evelyn Reid