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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Folks:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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 size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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 size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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 size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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 size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Garamond><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 size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Garamond><span style='font-size:12.0pt;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 size=3
face=Garamond><span style='font-size:12.0pt;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 size=3
face=Garamond><span style='font-size:12.0pt;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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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