<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"><!-- P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} --></style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:12pt;color:#993300;background-color:#FFFFFF;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Hi All. In addition to Bryon's timely question, I would like to add:</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>My campus (and our system) is facing severe cuts, as you may have already heard. We have General Access Computer Labs/Lounges around campus that have AT software, (e.g. JAWS, ZoomText, Kurzweil, R&WG). The question came up today in a meeting with IT as
to whether we need all of these in the labs. This question is being asked in light of the budget cuts, but also given all of the new accessibility features in Windows 8 and the accessibility features in the Mac. I do not equate the Windows updates or Mac updates with
providing the AT (referred to in our meeting as accessibility software) that students need, but this seems to be the way that the IT folks are thinking. We discussed individualized accommodations, ADA, and accessibility. I explained how students use AT according
to their disability, skills and abilities, environment, and tasks, and how their preferences are important in determining what is reasonable for the individual. </p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>At the meeting we agreed that we would look into student use statistics for our AT installed in the labs. This will include the last two years. We also agreed that I would gather info from other campuses on how, where and what AT is needed to insure we are
meeting the needs of all of our students, considering retention, but also recruitment.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Here are some questions. How do you make AT available in your campus computer labs? If a student transitions to college after using one type of AT, like Kurzweil, through K-12, is it reasonable to expect them to change to another type of AT, such as RWG,
if that is all that is available through the school? Is there any guidance out there as to what a campus should minimally offer in AT? Has this been tested in the courts? How many students do you think look at AT offerings when making their decisions to come
to a campus? (none, some, many?) Any data? Feel free to respond here or get in touch by phone.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>I'm also watching the responses to Bryon's recent inquiry. Thanks for reading through my wordy questions.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Aura</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div id="Signature">
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:12pt; color:#993300; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:; margin:0">
<div align="left">Aura M. Hirschman, M.S., C.R.C.<br>
</div>
Senior Counselor/Alternative Text Program Coordinator<br>
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Accessibility Resource Center<br>
Mitchell Hall, Room 103<br>
3203 North Downer Avenue<br>
Milwaukee, WI 53211-3153</div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:; margin:0">
<br>
phone (414) 229-5660<br>
<strong></strong>fax (414) 229-2237<br>
</div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:; margin:0">
<br>
</div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:; margin:0">
<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:12px; background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">NOTICE TO RECIPIENT: This email and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws and the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If this email contains any student specific data or information, these laws apply. If you are NOT the intended recipient(s) of this email, please disregard the content, delete the email message and notify the original sender.</span><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>