Assistive Technology (AT) at Lansing Community College
The Office of Disability Support Services (ODSS) at Lansing Community College continuously evaluates assistive technology (AT resources).
In keeping with the College’s commitment to providing excellent service, ODSS finds software and hardware solutions for students with visual, cognitive, physical and learning disabilities.
These AT accommodations allow students equal access to higher education.
Following is a variety of information about assistive technology that is available at LCC:
For further information about available AT, contact ODSS at (517) 483-1904 (Voice) or (517) 483-1207 (TTY).
What is Assistive Technology (AT)?
List of on-campus AT resources by location
Especially for Blind and Low Vision
Questions? Contact Dianne Moore
What is
Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology is technology used by individuals with disabilities in
order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible.
Assistive technology for students can include hardware, software, and
peripherals that assist people with disabilities in accessing computers or other
information technologies.
For example, people with limited hand function may use a
keyboard with large keys or a special mouse to operate a computer.
Students who are blind may use software that reads text on the screen in a
computer-generated voice.
Students with low vision may use software that enlarges screen content.
List of on-campus AT resources by location
Adobe Reader’s Read Out Loud
http://www.tidalfire.com/accessibility/pdf_accessibility.htm
• Located on ALL campus computers, this simple, easy to use text reader is found in Adobe Reader 6.1 and up.
Click here for easy to follow directions for using Adobe Reader’s on-board text reader, Read Out Loud. Or, ODSS students may call and set an appointment with the Reader Services coordinator, 483-5263, to learn more about how to use this text reader.
The Read Out Loud feature can be useful for individuals who do not use a screen reader, but who still would benefit from having a PDF read out loud.
For example, a person with certain disabilities might benefit from reading and hearing information. It may also give developers an idea of how a PDF would be read by a full-featured screen reader.
Natural Reader – FREE Version www.naturalreaders.com/download.htm
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 225 and
226, both Reader Services quiet rooms.
ODSS students may call and make an appointment with the Reader Services
coordinator, 483-5263, to learn more about this very good, free version screen
reader and also the inexpensive yet excellent personal version with lifelike
voices.
This Natural Reader is a Text to Speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into spoken words.
Natural Reader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD player or iPod.
Text Aloud www.nextuptech.com
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 218, 227, 228, 229, and two ‘Reserved’ computers in the TLC computer lab, and one computer in the West Campus assessment center
TextAloud reads text from email, web pages, reports and more, aloud on your PC. TextAloud can also save your daily reading to MP3 or Windows Media files ready for playback on your iPod or MP3 player.
Dragon Naturally Speaking www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 227, 228, 229, one in West Campus assessment center, one in Main assessment center, and one ‘Reserved’ computer in the TLC computer lab
Dragon NaturallySpeaking® is our most accurate, easy-to-use, powerful speech recognition software ever! In addition to assisting users to operate a computer hands-free, the software contains many new features and general improvements.
After completing about 5 minutes of training you can start talking to your computer and your words will immediately appear in virtually all Windows based applications.
Trackball Mouse
Available for placement where ODSS student may need to use one regularly. Discuss the feasibility of this accommodation with an ODSS counselor or advisor. Call 483-1904 to make an appointment.
A Trackball Mouse can make it easier for a person with a motor disability to operate than a standard mouse. Persons with tremors may be better able to manipulate a trackball.
Specialized Keyboards www.sspdirect.com/specialized-keyboards.html
Available for placement where ODSS student may need to use one regularly. Discuss the feasibility of this accommodation with an ODSS counselor or advisor. Call 483-1904 to make an appointment.
Specialized Keyboards are a variety of modifications that can be used to make a computer keyboard more accessible to its users.
Especially for Blind and Low Vision Students
JAWS for Windows www.freedomscientific.com/products/fs/jaws-product-page.asp
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 218, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, and two ‘Reserved’ computers in the TLC computer lab, 1 computer in the West Campus assessment center, 1 computer in Main Campus assessment center.
JAWS for Windows is manufactured by Freedom Scientific, JAWS for Windows is a powerful accessibility solution that reads information on your screen using synthesized speech.
JAWS provides many useful facilities that make it easier to use programs, edit documents, and read Web pages. With a refreshable Braille display, JAWS can also provide Braille output in addition to, or instead of, speech.
An array of versatile features and customizable options makes it possible to tailor JAWS for individual needs and preferences.
Kurzweil 1000 www.kurzweiledu.com/kurz1000.aspx
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 225, 226, 227, and one ‘Reserved’ computer in the TLC computer lab Kurzweil 1000™ is award-winning software that makes printed or electronic text readily available to people who are blind or visually impaired.
It combines accessibility, communication and productivity tools to ease and enhance their reading, writing and learning experience.
The software speaks text aloud in a variety of natural-sounding voices that can be modified to suit individual preferences.
In addition, it provides users with document creation, scanning and editing as well as study skills capabilities for note taking, summarizing and outlining text.
Duxbury Braille Translator www.duxburysystems.com/dbt.asp
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 225.
Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) provides translation and formatting facilities to automate the process of conversion from regular print to braille (and vice versa), and also provides word-processing facilities for working directly in the braille as well as the print.
Romeo Pro 50 Braille Embosser www.brailler.com/romeo50.htm
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 225.
Romeo Pro 50 is a rugged single-sided embosser built on Romeo 25's heritage of outstanding Braille quality and durability, but there's more than ever inside the transportable, convenient case.
At 50 characters per second, Romeo Pro 50 is twice the speed of Romeo 25 and comes loaded with all the standard features of our larger embossers, making Romeo Pro 50 our best single-sided value ever.
Opelec Clear View www.optelec.com/en_US/product/clearview+-series
Located on 2nd floor of the library: TLC media rooms 225, 226, 227, and one ‘Reserved’ computer in the TLC computer lab
This ClearView+ system magnifies text and photos with an average zoom range of 2.7X – 72X.
Dianne Moore
Reader Services Coordinator
517-483-5263
moored14@lcc.edu
