Computer Technologies for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities
|
Myrtis-Eirene
Fossey, Catherine S. Fichten, Maria Barile, Jennison V. Asuncion 2001 |
Objectives
Computer Technologies for Students with Disabilities
Funding
Funding Sources for Adaptive, Computer and Information Technologies
Free or Inexpensive
Computer Technologies for. . .
Students Who Are Blind
Students Who Have Low Vision
Students Who Have A Hearing Impairment
Students With Learning Disabilities
Students Who Have Mobility ImpairmentsBenefits Of Adaptive Computer Technologies
Other Resources
Contact Information
Objectives
The Adaptech Project conducts research and makes recommendations to ensure that new policies, software and hardware reflect the needs and concerns of postsecondary students with disabilities as well as those of college and university personnel who make technological, adaptive, and other supports available to the higher education community.
It was in this context that in 1999 we surveyed almost 800 college and university students with different disabilities across canada. We asked a variety of questions, including: what equipment students used and wanted, how they financed their computer technologies, and why they failed to take advantage of government subsidy programs.
We found that many students did not know about the types of computer technologies that could be helpful for them. Nor were they well informed about available subsidy programs to help them obtain needed equipment. Our goal in this guide, which is based on what the students themselves told us, is to "get the ball rolling" by providing information about the types of computer technologies and financial aid that exist. Please note that our list is by no means complete; it is intended as a starting point for students and for personnel who provide services to students with disabilities in their search for products and financial aid.
Computer Technologies for Students with Disabilities
Students in our studies indicated the types of computer technologies that could be useful in getting their work done. They frequently mentioned sophisticated features already available in popular mainstream software or equipment. For example, the most valued technology was spelling and grammar checking, followed by a scanner and a portable note-taking device that could be taken to class. Dictation software (voice recognition) and the availability of materials in electronic format (e.g., textbooks, course handouts) were also seen as especially helpful. While these are likely to be useful for all students, for many students with disabilities such technologies are a necessity.
Forty-one percent (41%) of students indicated that they needed special adaptations to use a computer effectively, but only a little more than half of them actually used these. When we asked why they did not use needed adaptations, the overwhelming response was that these cost too much. Students also told us that these technologies are unavailable to them and they expressed uncertainty about where to buy them.
Funding
The most common problem noted by students is that computer technologies cost too much to buy and maintain. Yet, by far the most common way for students to obtain computer technologies was to buy it for themselves (34%) or to have their families buy it for them (30%). Only one quarter of our sample took advantage of provincial government subsidy programs. Students also borrowed equipment from family and friends (14%). Small numbers of students benefited from equipment donated by a foundation or provided by their college or university.
In general, students who took advantage of a government computer technology subsidy program were pleased with the equipment provided: the equipment they received was up-to-date and met their needs, the program was flexible in accommodating their requirements, and contacting the necessary people was generally easy. There were some complaints as well: many restrictive rules and regulations, long waiting periods, a complicated process for submitting applications, as well as a lack of good training on the technology.
Most students did not take advantage of available government programs designed to help offset the high costs of adaptive equipment. When asked why, the majority of these students told us that they were simply unaware that there were any programs out there. Others chose not to apply because there were too many restrictions or because their family income or the nature of their disability excluded them from existing programs. But these reasons were far less common than lack of information. In fact, many students spontaneously commented that now that they knew that there were programs where they could apply, they would be sure to investigate their options.
What are Funding Sources for Adaptive, Computer and Information Technologies?
Provincial and federal programs and eligibility criteria are always changing. By the time you read this, much of our information will already be out of date. So we cannot provide a definitive listing to use as a reliable resource. Here, we simply provide information to direct students on the right path to finding out about what financial assistance is available to them. More detailed information is available on the NEADS web site: http://www.neads.ca. Some popular sources include:
- Federal government plans such as the Canada Study Grant, Canada Student Loan
- Provincial government programs such as the Programme d'Aide Visuelle (Quebec), Adult Services Program (British Columbia), Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) Special Needs Bursary (Ontario), Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (EAPD) (available in most provinces)
- Institutions and agencies that provide and/or administer subsidy programs such as the Centre Louis Hébert (Quebec), Montreal Association for the Blind (Quebec)
- Foundations and organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Rotary Club, War Amps
Free or Inexpensive
If you want to try some adaptive computer technologies before buying, many products have downloadable "demos" which you can usually find at a company's web site. You can also try some of the readily available free or inexpensive products available - check out the Free or Inexpensive section on the Resource Page of the Adaptech web site: http://www.adaptech.org
Adaptive Computer Technology
On the list of tables we describe the types of computer technologies which students with different disabilities found helpful. We provide some brand names - this is not necessarily because these are the "best" products but because these are the products the students in our sample indicated they used. Also, we have no listing of Macintosh products because most of the students in our study used PCs rather than Macs. For the most part, English-only products will be listed in the English version and French-only products in the French version of this booklet.
Computer Equipment for Students with Other Disabilities Who Could Benefit From Adaptive Computer Technologies
Equipment that is of use to students with one type of disability can also be useful to other groups of students. In fact, the tendency to "cross-use" equipment and to use mainstream equipment in unusual and innovative ways is one of the many findings of our research.
Caveat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware!
Some students reported compatibility problems when using certain combinations of adaptive hardware or software. Check out potential compatibility problems with the manufacturer or someone else knowledgeable before buying.
In Conclusion
We hope you find this information helpful. If you have any feedback for us or have an interesting application or piece of software or hardware to share, please communicate with one of us.
Other Resources
If you have difficulty obtaining information locally, you can contact the following student organizations for suggestions:
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
Webpage:
http://www.neads.ca/
Address:
Rm. 426, Unicentre
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6Voice / TTY: (613) 526-8008
Email: info@neads.caAssociation québécoise des étudiants ayant des incapacités au postsecondaire (AQEIPS)
Address:
Université de Montréal
5255 Ave. Decelles #404
Montréal, Québec H3T 1V6Tel: (514) 340-7136
Email: aqehps@cedep.net
Contact Information
For additional information or to provide feedback contact:
Catherine S. Fichten, Ph.D.
Catherine.fichten@mcgill.caMaria Barile, M.S.W.
maria.barile@mail.mcgill.caJennison V. Asuncion, B.A. (with distinction)
asuncion@alcor.concordia.caMyrtis E. Fossey, B.A.
mfossey@securenet.netAdaptech Project
Dawson College
3040 Sherbrooke St. West
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H3Z 1A4(514) 931-8731 (voice)
(514) 931-3567 (fax)Adaptech Project Web Site
http://www.adaptech.orgAcknowledgements
The research which forms the basis for this document was carried out in partnership with the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) and l'Association québécoise des étudiants ayant des incapacités au postsecondaire (AQEIPS). It was funded by the Office of Learning Technologies (OLT). We are also grateful for the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).