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Assistive Technology

WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

Assistive technology can range from a simple low-tech device, such as a tape recorder, to a high-tech device, such as a talking calculator. Some other examples of assistive technologies include screen readers that read aloud Internet articles and electronic text documents (even PDF files) posted by professors. There are also Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) that can help one organize daily activities and assignments. A college student with severe visual perception cannot read a textbook in the common way. The student buys their textbooks and the Student Disability Resources Alternate Media Team create electronic text. Assistive Technology works with students on using the software. If books and the syllabus are made available in a timely manner by the instructor, the student could be reading their books at the same time other students are reading. Often, they can't get the book until school has started and the process of making electronic text can take from two weeks to a month.

Assistive Technology works with faculty to help make on-line course material accessible for all disabilities.

How Assistive Technology is used by CSU students (See video at bottom of page)

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Students with vision, hearing, mobility, learning, and psychiatric problems often require special accommodations which involve having their books read to them on the computer, using dictation software to write their papers, using modified equipment such as one handed keyboards, and creating enlarged text or magnification on the computer to name a few.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU:

Assistive Technology works with faculty in making course content and classroom presentations accessible to students requiring assistive technologies. Demonstrations of assistive technology are available, consulting for making web-based content accessible and general Universal Instructional Design principles for classroom instruction.