DISABILITY NEWS

The LIGHT Center, T-90, College of the Redwoods (476-4290) - November 27, 2000

SERVICES FOR LOW VISION AND BLIND STUDENTS

While some of us may feel intimidated and overwhelmed with the speed that technology is evolving, it is a blessing to many students with visual problems. We have students on campus that are either low vision or blind. The low vision student is one who is not totally blind, but may have significant difficulty in class taking notes off the board, reading a textbook, or seeing a computer screen. The totally blind student is unable to utilize any vision, a situation that changes his or her life completely. When one considers how difficult school must be for the visually impaired or blind student it is amazing that they are able to succeed in an educational setting. Part of this ability to function results from new technology in the area of visual aides.

Reading Machine

A reading machine or print reader is a piece of hardware that provides a verbal readout of print. At CR we have the "Reading Edge". One places a book or handout on the machine and it reads out the print to the student in synthesized speech.

Screen Readers

A screenreader provides a verbal readout of any print on a computer screen. "JAWS" is one version available at CR. It requires simply a computer file of print and it will use synthesized speech to provide a verbal output. Print can be scanned in, on a disk, or typed in by the student.

Screen Magnifier

A screen magnifier is software that magnifies print on a computer screen. This would be suitable for some low vision students. It is adjustable in terms of the degree of magnification. One version being used at CR presently is "Zoom Text".

Closed Circuit TV Magnifier

A closed circuit TV magnifier can be used in a classroom. It involves a small camera on the student’s desk that can be "flipped" up to view the board, or down to view a textbook. The camera sends the visual signal to a pair of glasses worn by the student, allowing for enlargement of the material. Again, this would be for a student with low vision and not a blind student. The version used at CR is called the "Flipper", describing the function of the TV camera.

Braille Printer

The Braille Printer allows for print (typed) to be converted to Braille output. It must be in the form of a computer file . Once in this form it can then be converted to Braille. The problem with Brailled material is that it involves a great many pages and is cumbersome. Also, it does not handle pictures of multiple columns. However, there is new hardware on the market that uses a refreshable Braille output, and is no larger than a standard keyboard.

Tactile Graphics

The use of tactile graphics involves a specialized photocopy paper that results in a sandpaper type reproduction of the image being copied.

Please send any comments to trish-blair@redwoods.edu

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

Mobility Services: At CR, the DSPS bus is available to transport students with visual difficulties from one area of campus to another.
Books on Tape: Students with visual difficulty can request that their textbooks be put on tape. The problem that can arise with this service relates to time. The student must request the textbook on tape well before the start of class, as it is a lengthy wait time to have it completed.
Large Print Books: The student can also have reading material enlarged. This would be suitable for those students who are not totally blind. This is also done with class schedules, course outlines etc. The wait time to have this done is considerably less than to have the book converted to audiotape.
Taped Lectures: The student is likely to be allowed to tape their lectures. The DSPS office loans out tape machines to the students for this purpose.
Note-taker: If the student has difficulty taking notes in class due to their visual problems, they may be allowed a note-taker. This would be another student in class who provides the visually impaired student with a copy of their notes. The notes are then stored in the DSPS office.
Reader/Scribe: The visually impaired student can also be provided with a reader and a scribe for exams.