Access to Course
Materials
eTexts,
eBooks (electronic and audio publications)
Making
Word and PDF documents accessible - Preparing
Accessible Word documents Word's style sheets: Style
sheets should be used for titles, headings and
paragraphs of text.
Making
print materials more accessible - It is
recommended that as much information as possible be
available in electronic format.
Timely
availability of course materials - Timely access
to course materials is seen by students with
disability as critical for their academic success.
Where
can I find electronic versions of text books? -
Electronic versions of text books can often be
obtained direct from the publishers.
Using
Plain English to enhance readability - Many
Australians have difficulty reading a standard printed
document. This may be for a variety of reasons.
Alternative
Formats
Guidelines
for the preparation of large print materials - The
needs of individuals requiring Large Print format vary
greatly. Large print is a format that is used by those
with a range of print disabilities...
How
PDF documents can be made more accessible - There
are two types of PDF files:
- PDF Text files use standard text format
packaged as a PDF file to preserve layout and
formatting features to ensure that the document
always prints out as intended.
- PDF Image files are effectively images of
documents packaged as a PDF file. Acrobat Reader
allows these files to be read visually by the
sighted user but can be problematic for those with
limited vision.
Later versions of screen readers such as Window
Eyes (as of 4.1) and Jaws (as of 3.7u) will read
PDF text files. PDF image files cannot be read by
screen readers and require further Optical
Character Recognition (OCR) processing in order to
convert them into text but the accuracy of such
processing will vary.
It is usually better to provide textual material
in Rich Text Format (RTF) to ensure that all
formatting and textual information is retained for
use by all vision impaired readers.
Please visit WebAim's comprehensive guide to
creating PDF files that are accessible to people
with a variety of disabilities at: http://www.webaim.org/techniques/acrobat/
Andrew Downie presented a paper entitled
“The Pros and Cons of PDF Files”
at the Round Table Conference on Print Disability
Sydney, 2004. The paper summarises developments
which have made PDFs more broadly accessible. The
paper may be downloaded at http://www.adcet.edu.au/Uploads/Documents/downiePDFfiles.doc
Music,
maths or scientific notation - Text, music and
scientific and mathematical notation can be translated
into Braille using computer software and a Braille
printer.
Providing
information in audio format
TOP
Assistive
Technology
Adaptive
Equipment for People with Vision Impairments
Accessibility
information resources
Accessibility
Videos and Podcasts - DoIT (Division of
Information Technology, University of
Wisconsin-Madison) has produced three online videos:
Introduction to the Screen Re! ader, Screen
Magnification and the Web, Screen Readers and the
Web
Assistive
technology and computer adaptations
iListen
- Voice recognition software for Macs.
Jaws
for Windows - On this page, you can discover more
about JAWS, quickly and easily navigate to a number of
online resources, download updates, and learn some
valuable tips and tricks for using JAWS.
sayitT
- sayitT is software technology to assist anyone who
is losing or who has lost the power of speech, and who
is losing or who has lost fine motor skills and muscle
coordination in fingers and hands.
Screen
readers and screen magnification software - Screen
Reading Software Screen reader software such as Jaws
allows the user to hear via a speech synthesiser or
touch via a Braille display.
Software
- Free enabling software for people with
disability
Web
accessibility - online access resources
What
are the alternatives to using a computer mouse? -
There is a range of software and hardware alternatives
available for students who have a physical
disability.
What
Colour - What Colour is colour recognition
software which can be downloaded free (1mb file) and
gives the RGB (red, green, blue) and the HTML values
of the colour.
What
keyboard learning programs are available for students
with disability? - Typequick for Students works as
an animated movie telling the story of Kewala as he
moves around a map of Australia while building touch
typing skills.
Where
can I find information on voice recognition
software? - Voice or Speech Recognition programs
allow the user to dictate information into the
computer through a microphone and, to varying degrees,
control
Word
of Mouth Technology - Specialising in assistive
technology for the deaf and hard of hearing.
TOP
Assistive Technology:
Resource Services
Assistive
Technology Trainers Discussion List - A UK
discussion list and resource links for Assistive
Technology Trainers.
Closing
the Gap - Closing the Gap is a US Assistive
Technology Resource for Children and Adults with
Special Needs.
Green
PC - Green PC has refurbished computers at
discount prices for people with a health care card,
disability card or a pension card. Their computers
range in price from $140 to $500. They have a 12 month
back to base warranty and deliver all over Australia.
For more information contact: Green PC on 1300 306
645.
Low
cost/no cost Adaptive Tech. guide for PWD - "The
low cost / no cost Adaptive Technology information
pack was developed in conjunction with the Assistive
Technology Forums held in Victoria in 2006 facilitated
by the RDLO/DCO programs.
TOP
Assistive Technology:
Text to Speech
Alternative
text to speech programs - Looking for
'text-to-speech' support? There are some excellent
programmes that provide voice output options for your
classroom computer.
Assistive
Software: Dragon Naturally Speaking 8 -
Information is provided about this voice recogntion
software along with the facility to purchase it
online.
CoolSpeech
5.0 - CoolSpeech is the text-to-speech program for
Windows. This software allows you to listen to online
news, email messages, clipboard text, keyboard typing
and entire text documents spoken by sophisticated
computer voices.
Computing
Out Loud -This site is intended to help people
using speech recognition software. The focus is on
desktop speech recognition including-- Dragon
NaturallySpeaking and ViaVoice and Microsoft
products.
Co:Writer
SOLO - Co:Writer is word prediction software, it
recognises and predicts words based on phonetic
spellings. Co:Writer is for students who struggle with
translating thoughts into writing. Students can
effectively express ideas in writing, improve spelling
and create coherent sentences.
Help
Read (Freeware) - HELP ReadT is FREE software that
reads along with you while you do the reading. Whether
you're younger or older, new to reading or have your
own library, HELP ReadT should be able to help you
read more and understand more of what you read.
SayzMe.
Text to Speech reader - Sayz Me is a free
text-to-speech reader for Windows. Text is typed in or
copied from the clipboard and then read aloud. Words
are highlighted as they are spoken. Select voice,
adjust reading speed, voice pitch, font, font size and
colour.
ScreenReader.net
- ScreenReader.net provides the Thunder screenreader
software, free for use by blind and visually impaired
individuals. This allows the user to read Microsoft
Word documents and web pages by having them read out
aloud by the software
Speak
Lite - Speak Lite can read your documents, emails,
web pages or any text in the clipboard. You can
control the speed and pitch and enjoy many characters
with different expression s and animations.
Talking
Clipboard - Talkingclipboard is a powerful
freeware that includes Microsoft AgentTechnology. It
sits in your tray and it can read any text in any
window, just by selecting the text you want to be read
and copying it into clipboard. Talkingclipboard will
automatically start reading the text you've just
pasted.
Text-To-Speech
- TypeTalker (for Macintosh computers) is an editor
that speaks aloud by using Text-To-Speech. It is able
to create real-time pronunciation of text as data is
being input.
Text
to Speech (Mac) - An article written about the
Apple Macintoshes Text to Speech capabilities.
WinSpeech
- WinSpeech reads text and produces speech to the
audio output devices (sound card or PC internal
speaker). WinSpeech takes text from files, Windows
Clipboard, or through the DDE links from other Windows
applications.
TOP
Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Adaptive
Equipment for People with Vision Impairments
National Bodies: Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Ability
Technology - Ability provides a complete range
of services designed to help a person with a
disability benefit from modern technology. These
services start from advice on suitable equipment,
moving to the supply and customisation of systems,
right through to training and support.
Australian
Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology
Association
Artificial
Limb Services Australia (ALSA)
General
Adaptive Technology
Information
on Disability - Equipment Access Services
(IDEAS)
Low
cost/no cost Adaptive Technology guide for people
with disabilities
Quantum
Technology
Scooters
Australia
TADAust
Connect
Technical
Solutions Australia
WebAIM:
Simulations - WebAIM has developed a number of
simulations that provide a way to experience what
it is like to: Use a Screen Reader; or what a user
with Low-vision, Dyslexia Distractibility
experiences when using a computer.
Word
Prediction Software Comparison Chart -
Spectronics. The people at Spectronics have
evaluated a number of popular Word Prediction
Software and their findings are included in an easy
to read chart.
Australian Capital Territory: Service Providers
and Commercial Products
Technical
Aid to the Disabled
New South Wales: Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Ability
Technology
Multi-Tems:
Accessible Technology Consultants
Sydney
Electric Wheelchair Rentals
Technical
Aid to the Disabled
New Zealand: Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Medix
21 Rehabilitation Equipment
Queensland: Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Independent
Living Center
Technical
Aid to the Disabled
South Australia: Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Independent
Living Center
RSB
Adaptive Technology
Technical
Aid to the Disabled
Victoria: Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Compic-Australia
Equipment
Recycling Network Inc (ERNI)
Microsafe
- Mobility Equipment
Mobility
Plus Wheelchairs Australia
REHABTech
Robotron
Group
Technical
Aid to the Disabled
Western Australia: Service Providers and
Commercial Products
Daily
Living Products
Technical
Aid to the Disabled
Western
Australia Electronics- For deaf people
International: Service Providers and Commercial
Products
Accessibility
Center
Blind
+ Linux = BLINUX
RJ
Cooper's Software, Hardware, and Assistive
Technology Services
TOP
Tools: Guidelines and
Advice
Audit
processes and reviewing provision for students with
disability - The AUTC/Carrick funded CATS project
has established benchmarks that could usefully be
included in any review process.
Equipment
- rehabilitation technology and mobility aids for
people with disability
Google:
Accessible Web Search for the Visually Impaired -
Accessible Search a Google Labs product designed to
identify and prioritize search results that are more
easily usable by blind and visually impaired users.
Regular Google search helps you find a set of
documents that is most relevant to your tasks.
Accessible Search goes one step further by helping you
find the most accessible pages in that result set
Guidelines
for Accessible and Usable Web Sites: Observing
Users - The main focus in 'Guidelines for
Accessible and Usable Web Sites: Observing Users Who
Work With Screen Readers' was understanding how blind
users work with Web sites and what that means for
designers and developers
Inclusive
E-Learning - The Inclusive E-Learning guide
outlines e-learning resources, research and reports
that have been undertaken by the Framework to help
education and training organisations meet their legal
obligation to learners with disabilities.
Observing
Users Who Listen to Web Sites - This article
discusses findings of usability testing with blind and
low-vision users to:
- Understand how blind and low-vision users work
with web sites.
- See the relationship between accessibility and
usability and
- Assess the usability of specific web sites for
blind and low-vision users.
OmniPage15
and TextBridge - OmniPage 15 allows you to turn
paper and PDF files into editable electronic documents
that look just like the original - complete with text,
tables and graphics. TextBridge Pro 11 turns printed
pages into electronic documents that can be used with
Windows applications.
Online
learning: Guidelines to maximise accessibility -
Developments in online learning can present
opportunities for a more inclusive education for
students with disabilities.
Physical
Access: Are there guidelines for making the library
accessible? - The Australian Library and
Information Association [ALIA] has produced
Guidelines on library standards for people with
disabilities.
Policies:
What guidelines exist for improving services for
students with disabilities? - National Code of
Practice for Australian Tertiary Institutions
WebAIM:
Accessibility Features in Acrobat Reader 7 -
Provides detailed information and resources about the
accessibility features of Adobe Acrobat Reader 7
WebAIM:
PDF Accessibility - Provides detailed information
about the accessibility of Adobe PDF files.
WebAIM:
PowerPoint Accessibility Techniques - Provides
advice and explanations for creating accessible
PowerPoint presentations.
Voice
Recognition Users Group Forum - An on-line user
group where registered users can ask questions
relating to voice recognition software and
hardware.
Tools: Guidelines and
Advice: Teaching Subjects
Astronomy: What
strategies can assist blind students studying
astronomy? - Many resources and study tips are
available to assist vision impaired students in their
astronomy studies. Use a textbook in Braille or
e-text.
Laboratory Class: Safety
for students with disability in laboratory classes
- There are various approaches that can be taken in
teaching students with disability in laboratories and
workshops.
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