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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=609080822-18092007><FONT face=Verdana
color=#0000ff size=2>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.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=609080822-18092007><FONT face=Verdana
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=609080822-18092007><FONT face=Verdana
color=#0000ff size=2><going back to lurking and learning from you
all></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=609080822-18092007><FONT face=Verdana
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=609080822-18092007><FONT face=Verdana
color=#0000ff size=2>NJ</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV align=left><PRE class=style1><SPAN class=style3>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<SPAN class=style2>NJ Brand</SPAN>
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
<STRONG><STRONG>VM/Office: </STRONG>713.718.5604 </STRONG>
<STRONG><STRONG>FAX: </STRONG>713.718.5430 </STRONG></SPAN>
<STRONG><SPAN class=style3>Email:</SPAN> <A href="mailto:normajean.brand@hccs.edu">normajean.brand@hccs.edu</A></STRONG>
<A href="http://nwc.hccs.edu/">http://nwc.hccs.edu</A>
----------------------------------------------------------------------- </PRE></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
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<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> athen-bounces@athenpro.org
[mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Larry
Kiser<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 18, 2007 2:43 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
athen@athenpro.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Athen] Working with ICL
staff<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Folks:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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?
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Garamond size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Larry Kiser</SPAN></FONT><FONT
face=Garamond><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">,</SPAN></FONT><FONT
face="Freestyle Script"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Freestyle Script'">
</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Garamond><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Counselor</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><FONT
face=Garamond size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Disabilities</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceName><FONT
face=Garamond><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Resource</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><FONT
face=Garamond size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Santa
Fe</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceName><FONT face=Garamond><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Community
College</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face=Garamond
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Gainesville</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT
face=Garamond><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">, <st1:State
w:st="on">FL</st1:State></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><FONT face=Garamond><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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