The document discusses assistive technology that can be used in various work environments. It describes how assistive technology enhances functionality and access for people with disabilities. It provides examples of assistive technologies that can help with common work tasks like organizing, writing, reading, communicating, and collaborating. It also discusses accessibility features and settings available in Windows, Mac OS, and mobile operating systems.

1. Assistive Technology @ Work
Presenter: Carrie Anton
Assistive Technologist & Accessibility Specialist
VRA Conference 2012

2. Where Do We Work?
 Programming  Medicine
 Finance  Social
 Project Management Services
 IT  Art
 Analytics & Forecasts  Music
 Inventory Control  Teaching
 CAD/CAM  Architecture
 Administrative  Sciences
 Clergy  Sport
 Construction/Labor

3. Assistive Technology
Any item, equipment, software or system
used to increase, maintain, or enhance
functionality & access.
AT is used to enhance or facilitate a skill or
area that has been impacted by a disability.
Assessment Process: (Joy Zabella)
Person > Environment > Task > Tool

4. What Do We Do at Work?
 Organize
 Manage our Time
 Write
 Read
 Communicate
 Collaborate

6. Accessibility & AT Features Should
 Built in to System Preferences
 Designed to provide multiple, flexible ways to
access content
 Accessibility Features for visual, keyboard &
mouse options, people with hearing loss
 Standard Customization for what we see, how it
works and consistency

7. Windows 7 Ease of Access Center
 Magnifier
 High Contrast
 Narrator screen reader
 Remove Animations
 Remove background images
 Voice Recognition
 On screen Keyboard
 Sticky Keys
Tons of 3rd party AT AU
 Toggle Keys (alerts Num, Types of Assistive Tech
Scroll, Caps) Page
 Filter Keys (ignore hits) Microsoft Accessibility Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/en
 Visual Alerts for sounds able/products/windows7/
 MSN for chat

8. Windows 7 Ease of Access Center

9. Accessibility Features - Apple
 VoiceOver
Text to mp3 converter
 Zoom & Invert Colors
 Cursor & Dock Magnification
 Sticky Keys  Reverse Colour Contrast
 Alternative Keyboard Layouts  Safari Reader
 Keyboard Shortcuts  Finder Views, Spotlight Search
 Mouse Keys on numpad  Talking Alerts, Calculator
 Assignable Key & Mouse/Trackpad
Gestures http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
 InkWell
 Onscreen Keyboard
 Character Viewer
 Automator for Repeat Workflows
(Mouse/Trackpad Tasks)
 Speech Recognition

10. Accessibility Features - Apple
 Flash Screen
 Open & Closed Captions
 QuickTime Recorder (signed videos)
 iChat
 FaceTime  Speak Selection
 Mono Audio  Assignable Backgrounds
 Log in Items
 Simple Finder & Spotlight Search
 Dictionary & Thesaurus
 Spelling & Grammar Checker
 Word Completion
 Text to mp3
 Grapher, Calculator, Conversions
 FaceTime & iChat
 Video Recording

11. Universal Access Panel

12. No matter the platform there
are Tools

13. Organize
COLOUR
 Lists
S
 Agenda
h
 Filing,
Shape
Procedures
p
 Notes
e
 Syncing &
Sharing L-I-N-K Ideas
 Mobility

14. Mind Maps
Revolutionary Method of……
 Note Taking
 Group Brainstorming
 Studying
 Presenting ideas
 More effective than linear
notes
MindView, Inspiration, Mind
Node, Personal Brain, etc.
“…the ultimate organizational thinking tool –
16 Aspects of Business
the Swiss army knife of the brain!” (Tony
Thinking
Buzan, “the ultimate book of mind maps”, pg.
6)

15. Sticky Notes
Windows: Open Sticky Notes by tapping the Start button. In the search
box, type Sticky Notes, and then tap Sticky Notes. Use a keyboard or
stylus to hand write.
Apple: Open the Apple menu, then select Stickies. If a blank note
doesn't appear, open the File menu and select New Note (or press
Command-N).

16. Time Management
 Calendars/ Agendas
 various views
Color coding
 Alerts – visual or
auditory
 Clocks/Watches

17. Colour Coded Calendars

18. File Systems & Syncing
 Use Folders
 Folder Sharing for
easy access
 View Options
 Customize Icons
 Security Concerns
 computers >
device

19. Writing
 Typing/mouse use
 Hand Writing
Recognition
 Note Taking Systems
 Spell Checkers
 Dictionaries
 Grammar Checkers

20. Prediction
 as you type it predicts the
rest, you choose from a list
 Customizable vocabulary
 some have Text to speech
 WordQ, CoWriter
Mobile Devices built in
 Auto Correct
 Auto Capitalization
 Double space = period
 Connect your input device
(keyboard)
 Sometimes default is off

21. Keyboards

22. More Alternatives

23. Apple OSX
unique track pad OS X Mouse use
gestures On screen keyboard
Trackpad schemes
Multi finger gestures

24. Voice Dictation
5 Main Considerations
 Strong Voice Pattern
 Train it – Patience
 Speak Continuously
 Consistent Hardware
 Computer Knowledge
Dragon Naturally Speaking –
Windows
Dragon Dictate – Apple
Mobile Apps (SIRI,
GoogleTalk, Dragon Dictate,
voice to text apps)

25. Hand Writing Recognition
 Tablets
 Computers
 Mobile Devices
 Apple OS X &
Windows 7 Home
A Bamboo or Intuos Premium & higher
tablet connected to your  Windows Journal
mac, you will find an Icon
labeled “INK” in your  Bamboo & Intuos
System Preference Pen Tablets
Windows install app.

27. More Note Taking Systems
 Record, Listen, Share
 SmartPens
 LiveScribe
 Scanning Pen
 Digital Recorders
http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/

28. There’s an App for That!
 NotAbility
 NotesPlus
 OneNote in MS Office
 Audio Note
 EverNote
 Every platform

29. Other Writing Tools
 Spell Check
 Grammarly.com
 Dictionaries
 Ginger – phonetic spelling

30. Reading
 Text to Speech
 Text to Mp3
 Magnification
 eReaders
 Braille
 Screen Masking
 Audio Books
 Reading Pens & OCR Scanning
 Dictionaries, Translators
 Speaking Devices
 Digital Recorders & mp3 players

31. Screen Readers & Text to Speech
All platforms, free & commercial
Consider what you want, where
 Braille support
 Application support
 Usability (multiple fingers required)
Apple leads the way as far as Free built in on multiple
platforms (iPad, iPhone, computer)
Android developers are making an attempt but its not
consistent and everywhere (proprietary apps).
Windows Narrator is still there. 3rd party products like
JAWS, Window Eyes lead this feature rich category.
FREE – NVDA, SAToGO, Thunder, WebAnyWhere, VO

32. Read & Write Gold TTS video

33. Text to Mp3
Apple great feature - Convert to Speech using iTunes
(on an Apple computer)
Other text to mp3 conversion is done by 3rd party
 Zoomtext 10
 JAWS 13
 Read & Write Gold
 Kurzweil
 Natural Reader Pro
 Text Aloud
 Premier Assistive
 & more

34. OS X Services

35. Zoom & Colour Contrast video

36. Screen Masking
Read & Write Screen Masking helps focus attention

37. Customizing Appearance
 Text Only
 Slow internet
speed
 Mobile devices
 Certain
technologies
 Only see certain
colours or contrast
Less Distracting
 Change viewing
preferences in
browsers,
documents, mouse
& font size/color,
remove images

38. Other Reading Tools
Magnification
System
Braille
Printer
Refreshable Braille
Display

39. Other Reading Tools
OCR & Scanning
ClassMate Readers
Mp3 players
(Olympus DM-4)
Dictionary
Reading Pen

40. Devices that Speak
 ScanTel - identify bar coded items
 DigiCite - electronic device that converts LED
displays to speech, works with telephone
consoles, measurement, recording and test
equipment, etc
 TeleTalk - provides access to telephone console
indicator & message display information for blind
users
(from Compusult www.compusult.net

41. Communication & Information Access
 Messaging – language is changing LOL
 Aug Comm devices are portable & durable
 Lower cost on things like iPad (Proloquo)
 Collaborate – social networking, web
conferencing, captioning, chat, texting

42. Other Everyday CITs
 InterpreType: Connect
2 Netbooks or devices
 Video Messaging
 Captions in Web
Conferences (Elluminate,
Adobe Connect)
 Video Relay Service
 Transcripts
 IASL
E Buddy, Z4Mobile,
ZVRS,
 Speak It app

43. AT Enhances the Workplace
 Contribute To The Team
 Give Value Added
 A Voice & Expression
 Deliver Creative
Innovative Results
 Efficiency (speed)
 Accessibility Benefits
Everyone

44. Trends
Horizon Report 2011 – trend in next 5
years are e-text, open source, mobile
Devices
Accessible eReaders
CAUTION: Free apps
-Difficult finding
support
Less Feature Rich
Need more apps to
do what a commercial
app can do

45. Tablets & Cell Phones
 Great Functionality
 Lower Cost
 Portability
 Touch Screen is
easier for many to use
 Intuitive
 Not a computer
replacement, yet

46. Mobile - Market Share

47. Android Devices
 Most phones Android 2 &Tablets Android 3
 Android 4 ice cream sandwich is expected to be
the most accessible Android yet
 Accessibility still is up to 3rd party developers
 Apps4Androd & Eyes-Free lead the way with their
IDEAL brand proprietary accessible apps
 Many note taking apps are also available on
Android as they are in IOS (EverNote, AudioNote,
DropBox, etc)
 Accessibility is not there yet

48. Android Accessibility
Built In
TalkBack – speaks
what you touch
sometimes
SoundBack –
makes a sound
when things are
pressed
KickBack – vibrates
when keys are
pressed

49. It’s a Start for Android
 Voice Dictation
 Auto Correct
 Auto Capitalization
 Double space = period
 Connect your input device
(keyboard)
 Default is off
 Kickback, SoundBack
TalkBack

50. Apple IOS Accessibility

51. More IOS Accessibility
 Holding home button
opens voice dictation for
certain commands SIRI or
not Siri
 Features carry over the
entire device & most apps

52. Favorite iPad Feature (Speak
Selection video)

53. Accessibility Barriers to ALL AT
 Inaccessible documents
 JavaScript in apps
 Inaccessible Flash
 No Captions/Descriptions
created
 Mouse exclusive control
(no keyboard access)

54. Accessibility
Provides Equal Access
to:
 Information
 Space
 Communication
 The net & technology

55. Definition of Accessibility
 At the most basic level, Accessibility is about
people being able to get & use content.
 Practice of making online content & applications
usable by everyone
 Appropriate design ensures that all users have
equal access to information & functionality
 Is not about just digitizing or virtualizing

56. Why Be Accessible?
 The right thing to do - Equal Opportunity to
education
 Good for business – helps everyone not just
people with disabilities. Can’t afford not to be
accessible. Accessible content works on mobile
devices & computers
 The Law

57. Employers Can…
 Accessible Documents - using styles
(headings, Lists), Alt text for images, proper
use of tables, don’t rely on color to convey
info, chunking of info, captions/transcripts.
 Plan ahead and make all spaces usable
(above standard)
 Create respectful & accessible training env
(material, spaces, activities)

58. Candidates Can
 Be Honest.
 What do you have?
 What assists you best.
 Offer testing on systems.
 Be Patient: a process with you is
education & the employer/IT people
are mostly unaware of AT &
Accessibility

59. Skills
AT - Get it. Learn it, Use it.
 in school & out there is funding
Skills
 Type 40 wpm for office jobs
 MS Office, Browser
 E-mail Concepts (attachments, forward)
 Types of Documents (DOCX, PDF, MP3)
 Where You Save Things
Strategies for:
 Easy, Interactive Communication Method
 Reading method for the workflow
 Note Taking System

60. Tech Best Practice in Seeking
Have an e-mail... That you check
Have a cell phone... That you answer
Figure out your Transportation issues
Clean Profiles (facebook, twitter, Flickr, YouTube).
Any answer impacts first impressions
They hire confident, skilled & personable people (disabled
or not)
Offer opportunities not criticism.
Your network is your advantage.

61. Opportunity Awaits
A pessimist sees the
difficulty in every
opportunity; an
optimist sees the
opportunity in every
difficulty.

62. Questions?
Thank You!
Carrie Anton
Assistive Technologist
Access to Students with Disabilities
Athabasca University
1200, 10011 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5G 3J2
Ph: 780-421-2548
E-mail: carriea@athabascau.ca or
carrie.anton@hotmail.com