Accommodations & Services
Assistive & Learning Technologies
The University of Connecticut Center for Students with Disabilities maintains a wide variety of assistive and learning technology to help students access materials in alternate formats. Assistive computers and other equipment are located at both the Center and the Homer Babbidge Library (on the first floor near the Information Desk). Students interested in utilizing the equipment should contact the Center for Students with Disabilities at 486-2020 for an introductory session. The assistive technology is available for use by any student with a disability who has completed an orientation to the equipment and the rules regarding its proper use. Technology demonstrations are also available to students interested in learning about various technologies available to them. If you have any questions regarding assistive and learning technologies or wish to set up a technology demonstration, please contact Elisabeth Werling, Associate Director, at (860) 486-2020 or Elisabeth.Werling@uconn.edu.
This is a list of technologies available at the Center.
Communication Technologies
Skype
- Website: www.skype.com
- Brief Description:
Skype is a downloadable program that allows for the user to call another Skype user via the Internet. As well as voice conversations, Skype supports video conferencing, small file transfer, and instant messaging.
Embossers:
ViewPlus Tiger Max Embosser
- Website: www.viewplus.com/
- Brief Description:
Tiger embossers are the only embossers that allow creating and embossing of Braille directly from mainstream Windows(r) software like MS Office(r), as well as from traditional Braille-making software like Duxbury and Megadots. The Tiger Max Embosser can emboss Braille and graphics together on regular paper. Users can create graphics like they would for an ink printer using familiar Windows(r) software. Braille production is just one use for the Tiger Max; also get amazing graphics straight from Windows, and emboss math graphics from mainstream software.
Learning/Multimedia Technology:
Adobe Acrobat
- Website: www.adobe.com
- Brief Description:
This software allows the user to create, edit, and share PDF Documents. Using the revision tools, users can make notes and record ideas on any PDF file.
Apple iPod Touch
- Website: www.apple.com/ipodtouch/
- Brief Description:
This is a portable device of the iPod line developed by Apple. It has access to many apps and programs designed to simplify and expand the capabilities of it as well as being a general media player.
Inspiration
- Website: www.inspiration.com
- Brief Description:
This is interactive software that helps in brainstorming. It is designed to turn brainstorming and outlining into a visual procedure that helps the user develop stronger ideas.
Kurzweil 1000 and 3000
- Website: www.kurzweiledu.com/
- Brief Description:
This is comprehensive scanning and reading software. Supports various learning and study strategies and skills.
Pulse Smartpen
- Website: www.livescribe.com
- Brief Description:
Using a small computer, IR camera, audio recorder, and dot-matrix paper, this pen records everything the user writes and any sound in recordable distance. It can link both sound and writing, making both electronic and paper copies interactive.
Listening Systems and Devices:
Phonic Ear Solaris Binaural Precision Hearing System
- Website: www.phonicear.com
- Brief Description:
This system consists of a wireless transmitter and receiver, each with 40-channel built-in dial-selectable FM channels. The speaker wears the transmitter, which sends the sound through an FM radio frequency to the handset. The receiver amplifies the sound and sends it directly to the listener's ear through ear-mics connected to the listener's earmolds (transducers may be used as well). The Solaris Binaural can also be connected to personal hearing aids or a variety of other listening options.
Phonic Ear Toteable Sound Field System
- Website: www.phonicear.com
- Brief Description:
This personal listening system consists of a FM transmitter that sends the desired speech or other auditory signal to the FM receiver, which is used by the listener. The signal is then amplified and sent to the listener's ear. Since it is wireless, it can be used indoors and outdoors. It is especially useful in noisy areas or where there is a large distance from the speaker to the listener.
Williams Sound Personal FM Listening Systems
- Website: www.williamssound.com
- Brief Description:
Students who are deaf or hearing impaired may also require an assistive listening device in the classroom. The most common device is a personal FM System where the speaker or class faculty member wears a microphone and the student wears an amplification unit. Students may borrow an FM System from the Center on an as-needed basis. Students are requested to fill out an equipment loan agreement form and work out the terms with the Director. Please contact the CSD for more information.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Technology:
Aladdin Ambassador
- Website: www.telesensory.com
- Brief Description:
This machine uses high quality OCR scanning technology to produce accurate transcriptions of text and produces quality speech from that text.
Portable Word Processors:
QuickPAD
- Website: www.quickpad.com
- Brief Description:
The QuickPAD is a portable keyboard that functions as a word processor. It can be used for notetaking in class or any other place a student may need to write. The files can be stored in ten separate folders for security (up to 70 pages of text). The information is then transferred to a computer to be inserted into a current document or to be printed. Some other functions include: spell check dictionary, typing tutor, and calculator.
MathType 6.6
- Website: dessci.com/MathType/
- Brief Description:
MathType 6.6 is an equation editor for writing mathematical equations. It is compatible with a number of other programs, allowing the equations to be inserted into other documents.
Recording and Voice Recognition Technologies:
Audacity
- Website: audacity.sourceforge.net
- Brief Description:
Audacity is audio recording and editing software. It is capable of saving any recorded or edited sounds as MP3 files.
Dragon Naturally Speaking
- Website: www.nuance.com
- Brief Description:
This is voice recognition software that learns the user’s voice through training, allowing control of the computer and typing of documents via speech.
Scanners and Scanning Devices:
IRIScan Express 2
- Website: www.irislink.com
- Brief Description:
This is a portable scanner that allows for scanning anywhere a computer is available. It comes with special software that allows the user to apply OCR(optical character recognition) to the scanned documents.
PlanOn DocuPen
- Website: planon.com
- Brief Description:
This is a portable, battery-powered scanner that allows for black-and-white scanning while away from a computer. All stored scans can be uploaded to a computer.
Note: There are several non-portable scanners at the Center for Students with Disabilities offices in the Wilbur Cross Building, Room 204.
Text-to-Speech Technologies:
ReadPlease
- Website: www.readplease.com
- Brief Description:
ReadPlease is a text-to-speech program allowing almost any text to be read aloud on a computer. Running only on Microsoft Windows-based computers, the free version of ReadPlease enables users to cut and paste text into the program for listening. The free version comes with four distinct voices and two slidebars: one controls the size of the font and the other controls the reading speed. The Plus version (available for purchase from ReadPlease) gives users many more options, including AT&T Natural Voices.
WordTalk
- Website: www.wordtalk.org.uk/
- Brief Description:
This is text-to-speech software designed for Microsoft Office Word. It is capable of reading any text within a document on Microsoft Office Word.
Visual Devices and Software:
Talking Calculator and Talking Alarm Clock
- Website: Independent Living
- Brief Description: Uses a large, 10-digit, high contrast display and high contrast keys for ease of use. Voice support allows for input, results, and units to be announced to the user via built-in speaker or headphones. Has controllable volume and can repeat results. Uses two AA batteries.
Sci-Plus 300 Scientific Calculator with Speech
- Website: Perkins Products
- Brief Description: This calculator uses a high contrast display and keys, allowing greater ease in performing calculations. There is full voice support for all functions, which is output through a speaker or headphones. The calculator is fully rechargeable and has a long battery life.
JAWS
- Website: www.freedomscientific.com
- Brief Description:
JAWS is general-purpose screen-reading software. It is designed to be compatible with numerous other computer programs.
MAGic
- Website: www.freedomscientific.com
- Brief Description:
MAGic is general-purpose screen-magnification software. It is capable of magnifying a computer screen up to 36-times its original size.
MegaDots Braille Translator
- Website: www.duxburysystems.com
- Brief Description:
This is Braille translator software designed to be simplistic and to run on a large number of Windows computers.
ZoomText
- Website: www.aisquared.com
- Brief Description:
This is multi-part software for computer screen magnification and/or computer screen-reading for any text present.
Aladdin Companion CCTV
- Website: www.telesensory.com
- Brief Description:
This is a light-weight, portable 9-inch black-and-white CCTV for use at the Center or easily moveable to other locations as necessary.
Aladdin Rainbow Color CCTV
- Website: www.telesensory.com
- Brief Description:
This CCTV is a 14-inch monitor with a 13.3-inch diagonal viewing area. It will magnify standard, 10-point newspaper print to over 3-inches tall with various background and foreground color options.
American Printing House for the Blind - Handi-Cassette 4-track Tape Recorders/Players
- Website: www.aph.org
- Brief Description:
These tape recorders are designed to deliver clarity and high-quality playback using prerecorded text-book tapes and blank tapes.
Victor Reader VIBE (Daisy CD Player)
- Website: www.humanware.com
- Brief Description:
This is a disk player designed particularly for reading textbooks and manuals. It also is capable of reading mp3 files on CDs.