[Athen] Software licensing for student use on laptops

[Kathleen Cahill]

Hi Colleagues,

More and more, as our students use laptops in ever greater numbers, we find our current model of assistive technology software purchasing and distribution is becoming irrelevant.  Right now we have a lab with desktop computers and AT software installed on them which are not getting the use they once did.  What kinds of models do some of you have at your universities to loan software to students?  Do you loan software for a specific period of time?  Do you buy copies of software for students?  How do you budget for and fund this?  

We know that the AT lab model is becoming a thing of the past but I sure would love to know what you are doing as our AT models evolve.

Thank you,

Kathy

Kathleen Cahill
Assistive Technology Specialist
MIT ATIC (Assistive Tech. Info. Center)
77 Mass. Ave. 7-143
Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 253-5111
kcahill at mit.edu