Maintained by drc@ucsc.edu

Tips for Working with Students with Disabilities
In the Campus Computer Labs

 

In a computer lab environment consultants may encounter students that have one or more of the following disabilities:

• Learning challenges (attention deficient hyperactive disorder, dyslexia, and learning disorders)
• Blind and low vision
• Deafness and hard of hearing
• Mobility, or orthopedic disabilities (muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis)
• Psychological disabilities
• Chronic health disabilities, multiple chemical sensitivity

Remember that each student is unique
And many disabilities are not obvious.

If you observe a student straining to read a computer monitor, you may refer him or her to ZoomText Magnifier/Reader. This software program will enlarge the text on the screen so it makes it easier to read. It will also read text out loud. Headphones are provided for student use. ZoomText Magifier/Reader is available in the Adaptive Technology Room (ATR) in the Cowell Lab and all PC’s in the Cowell Lab.

Students with orthopedic and other disabilities can benefit from an adaptive technology program called Dragon Naturally Speaking. Dragon is a voice recognition software program with speech-to-text features that allows students to work their voice instead of their hands. A headmouse is provided for student use. Dragon Naturally Speaking is available in the ATR at the Cowell Lab.

Kurzweil 3000 is a combined scanning and reading software program that benefits students with audio processing and reading comprehension problems. Users can download and listen to audio books. Kurzweil 3000 also has visual tracking and highlight abilities, a thesaurus, dictionary and other study skills features that allow students to customize their documents. Kurzweil is available on one of the PC’s in the Cowell Lab as well as the ATR room in the Cowell Lab.

For the blind and visually impaired, JAWS is a software program that reads aloud to help with navigating the web, reading or writing email messages, or accessing information from a data base. A headset and a large print keyboard is provided for student use. JAWS also works with the most popular refreshable Braille displays. JAWS is available in the ATR room at the Cowell Lab.

If a consultant encounters a student who is attempting to enter the Adaptive Technology Room (ATR) and does not have a key, please refer him or her to the Disability Resource Center at 146 Hahn Student Services. Students can also be referred to the DRC website at: http://drc.ucsc.edu for more information about disabilities and other adaptive technology locations on campus.
 
Questions can be answered by contacting:

Angela Holleman, Adaptive Technology Coordinator
      Disability Resource Centter
      Email: adhollem@ucsc.edu or Phone: 459-3225