[Athen] [External] Your experiences accommodating students with combined physical and visual disabilities

[Wershing, Alice D.]

There are communication devices that will offer auditory scanning, where the row or column will offer an auditory prompt when scanning through and then auditory prompts for the choices in the row/column.   It is best that the individual work with a speech/language pathologist and determine funding options for that individual so that the device is theirs.  There are options for scanning software that will offer auditory scanning as well, which would be used with a switch interface to access the computer, that can also be set up for use with specific programs where a scan array has already been developed.

You could look at Prologuo2Go<https://www.assistiveware.com/support/proloquo2go/customize-for-alternative-access/get-auditory-cues> for ios
Some of the software options for the computer (Windows) are Grid 3<https://grids.thinksmartbox.com/en>, Communicator 5<https://www.tobiidynavox.com/en-us/products/software/>
What is the student's level of literacy?  What is the student's experience with switch scanning?  Scanning input is the slowest method of access, and it also may take time to develop scan arrays based upon access needs.   Also using word prediction and specific word banks for course content may need to be considered when looking at writing and test taking.

Alice D. Wershing, M.Ed., A.T.P.<http://www.resna.org/atp-general-info>, C.P.A.A.C.<http://www.accessibilityassociation.org/cpacccertification>
Disability Services, Technology Specialist Pellissippi State Community College
865-694-6751
865-539-7699 (fax)

East TN Region Accessibility Specialist<http://www.tnecampus.info/specialists>
Tenessee Board of Regents-TN eCampus

PSCC Access for All Blog<http://blogs.pstcc.edu/access4all/>
PSCC Accessible Format Facebook Page<https://m.facebook.com/psccdisabilityservices> (PSCC-Disability Services)
PSCC Access4All Twitter Feed<https://twitter.com/Access4allPSCC> (@Access4allPSCC)







From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Deborah Armstrong
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 11:47 AM
To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [External] [Athen] Your experiences accommodating students with combined physical and visual disabilities

I've been asked to look around for resources for accommodating a new student. He is severely visually impaired, so cannot use magnification. He is speech-impaired so cannot use Dragon. He is also physically limited, permanently reclined in a wheelchair.

We've served other students with these limitations but not usually one person with all these disabilities. For example, one of our students worked with JSay to more independently read, write and take exams.

The student's counselor is concerned about him taking notes and tests, reading and participating in class.

I think I have the reading part figured out. The NLS player can be switch-controled and I have a puff and sip switch that will do the trick. I can convert any text-based book to play on the NLS player. Also it will play Learning Ally, which really helps.

But I don't know of any augmentative communication device that can be used without vision, nor do I know of a hands-free recording device. You can of course use an iDEVICE with switch control but I don't know how well VoiceOver would play with that.

I wish there was a clearing-house for this kind of information; does anyone know of one?

Here's the info about what I do have:

Sip Puff Switch
http://www.orin.com/access/sip_puff/

(you can search the web for sip puff switches and find many competing brands)

Bite Switch
https://www.adaptivetechsolutions.com/bite-switch/

(also there are tongue switches and many competing brands to choose from)

NLS Digital talking book player:
                https://www.loc.gov/nls/enrollment-equipment/equipment-needed-for-nls-materials/digital-audiobook-players/


--Debee



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