Guidelines for
Students Using Interpreters
Because people with disabilities face a variety of barriers when
providing computer input, interpreting output, and reading documentation,
adaptive hardware and software have been developed to provide functional
alternatives to standard operations. The following are examples
of functional alternatives
Disability |
Computer Input, Interpreting Output, and Reading
Documentation |
Low Vision |
Input: Large print key labels
Output: Enlarge the display on monitor, large print
handouts, large print lab signs and equipment labels, class
assignments made available in electronic formats, TV monitor
connected to microphone to record and enlarge images, adjustable
or reverse colors, use an anti-glare screen, or use voice
output system
Documentation: Use scanner with optical character
recognition for reading printed material, store it electronically,
use voice synthesizer or large print for independent access
to materials
|
| Blindness |
Input: Braille key labels, Braille
input devices
Output: Voice output to read screen text, refreshable
Braille display to move vertical pins into Braille configurations
as screen text is scanned, or Braille printers, Audio-taped
or Brailed lecture notes, handouts, and texts.
Documentation: Use scanner with optical character
recognition for reading printed material, store it electronically
on computer, use voice synthesis or Braille embosser for
independent access to materials
|
Color Blindness
|
Limit color-related instructions
or screens. Use high contrast.
|
Learning Disability |
Input: Quiet work
area or ear protectors. Software to aid in efficient and
accurate input--spell checkers, thesauruses, grammar checkers,
or word prediction programs
Output: Large print displays, adjustable or
reverse colors, use an anti-glare screen, or use voice output
system
Documentation: Use scanner with optical character
recognition for reading printed material, store it electronically,
use voice synthesis or print in large font sizes. Software
that regulates speed in which messages are flashed on screen
or with auditory cues, textual cues offer flexibility.
|
Mobility/Health Impairments |
Input: Equipment
which provides flexibility in the positioning of monitors,
keyboards, documentation, and table tops. Access to a pointing
device, software which allows sequential keystrokes, keyguards,
expanded or mini keyboard, left or right hand keyboards,
a track ball, switches, scanner, voice input, or Morse code
Output: assistance in obtaining output from the
printer, voice output
Documentation: On-screen help for accessing
the user guides and ability to change the speed of movement
or change on-screen visual cues to auditory cues
|
Hearing and/or Speech Impairments |
Input: Generally, a standard keyboard and mouse
Output: Speech synthesizer acts as a substitute
voice. Alternatives to audio output such as on screen visual
cues or text descriptions in addition to beeps.” Add
captioning to streaming video.
Documentation: None |
|
