[Athen] Working with ICL staff

[Robert Martinengo]

Larry,

Just an opinion here, but it sounds like your administration is coming
from a place of fear, so rational arguments will only take you so far.
What will really shake their attitude is if they fear something else
even more, such as a discrimination lawsuit. Short of that, you will
be playing catchup for a long time.

Bob Martinengo

On 9/18/07, Larry Kiser <larry.kiser at sfcc.edu> wrote:

>

>

>

>

> Folks:

>

>

>

> Due to losing an AT person over a year ago, budget cuts and a freeze on

> hiring at our institution I took on the responsibility of overseeing our

> Adaptive Technologies Lab and institution–wide adaptive workstations just

> before the start of the Fall Semester 2007.  Besides our main campus we have

> four other centers.  When our AT staff member left the lab and other

> workstations were somewhat neglected but continued to operate.  For example

> the Instructional Computer Lab techs held our copies of Kurzweil version 10

> for almost a year and only since I took over has it been installed.  The

> problems are numerous and I seek some guidance.

>

>

>

> The last AT staff member had administrative rights to install software and

> updates at all locations and conduct operational checks.  According to the

> ICL techs in order to maintain "security and stability of computers" no one

> except ICL techs will have administrative rights.  Our administration

> supports this restriction.  That would not be a problem but for the fact

> when ICL techs install software they do not conduct operational checks.  If

> I am informed that computers with adaptive technologies are back in the labs

> etc I find that most of the software is not useable.  In August I informed

> ICL and network staff that Kurzweil 3000 had a 10.04 update.  They continue

> to install version 10.00 only and consequently the audio output does not

> function correctly.  We have ZoomText version 8.0. the most recent update

> for that version corrects "crashes" when the reading features are activated

> with Word 2007.  ICL continues to install ZT without the proper update.

>

>

>

> ICL staff members I need to deal with insist they cannot install even JAWS

> or ZoomText icons on the desktop or start menu due to security protocols.

> This hinders our low vision students' access.  I have expressed concerns

> about ensuring accessibility, as well as enhancing retention and academic

> progress of students with disabilities.  I have been told ICL will not

> install software updates unless a computer quits working and needs to be

> ghosted.  An ICL staff member expressed the feeling that adaptive software

> was only meant for home computers and not a secure network environment.  It

> has been suggested to me that students should bring their own computers to

> school rather than expect that adaptive software will work on institutional

> computers or that AT computer workstations should be off the network with

> the expectation they will not be well maintained.

>

>

>

> Over the years our institution has moved heavily toward the use of

> information and communication technology.  Our department matched that trend

> in the purchase of a wide array of adaptive software and hardware.  Now due

> to security measures students with disabilities are in danger of being

> relegated to the technological backwaters.  The administration supports the

> security protocols because a rash of viruses two years ago shut down the

> network at a critical time.  The ICL department wants our department to be

> responsible for the licenses but not the installs.  Do you have any

> suggestions?

>

>

>

> Larry Kiser, Counselor

>

> Disabilities Resource Center

>

> Santa Fe Community College

>

> Gainesville, FL

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> Athen mailing list

> Athen at athenpro.org

> http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org

>

>