[Athen] Working with ICL staff

[ron at ahead.org]

The key to resolution of this issue is adminstrative support to get the mainstream IT folks to understand the issue and work with you instead of against you as they are also trying to do thier job.  Or if that does not work a direct instruction to quit being counterproductive can help as well.

Also working to cultivating an understanding IT person helps.  At the start it may take Pizza or Chocolate, but the technology we work with is pretty cool and quickly pegs the geek-meter of almost any technophile.  You may also be working against outdated impresions of how hard AT is to work with, though with VISTA I am again being reminded.

Ron Stewart


On Sep 18 17:11, "normajean.brand" <normajean.brand at hccs.edu> wrote:

>

> Subject: Re: [Athen] Working with ICL staff

>

> I am working with a similar situation here, and see a continuing trend

> with our academic IT with regards to installation, maintenance and

> timeliness, so I'm also open to suggestions and insights.

>  

> <going back to lurking and learning from you all>

>  

> NJ

> 

> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

> NJ Brand

> Houston Community College-NW

> Technical Support and Innovation Center

> Assistive Technology Specialist/Sr. Lab Assistant

> Town and Country Square Campus

> MC 1379 Room RC13

> 1010 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N.

> Houston TX 77043

> VM/Office: 713.718.5604                    

> FAX: 713.718.5430 

> Email: normajean.brand at hccs.edu

> http://nwc.hccs.edu <http://nwc.hccs.edu/>  

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

>  

> 

> ________________________________

> 

> From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On

> Behalf Of Larry Kiser

> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 2:43 PM

> To: athen at athenpro.org

> Subject: [Athen] Working with ICL staff

> 

> 

> 

> 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 

> 

>  

> 

>  

> 

> 

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