Welcome to the DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center's quarterly Accessible Technology Bulletin
Technology Trainings & Events
Barrier Free E-Learning
July 2 - August 2, 2007
On-line Course
The information in Barrier-free E-learning is useful for administrators, instructional technology staff, or faculty who post content for their courses whether those are distance learning courses or merely online components of traditional campus classes.
For more information:
Universal Design Workshop
July 10 - 11, 2007
A 2-day hands-on workshop designed for web content developers to learn about access issues faced by people with disabilities in using the web and how web resources can be designed to improve accessibility.
For more information:
Office (Word and PPT) to the Web: Hands-On Session
July 13, 2007
Participants will learn best practices to make it easier for authors using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to manage the styling and layout of their documents and presentations to improve the quality and accessibility of the published HTML. For more information contact:Christy Blew
International Conference on Technology-based Learning with Disability
July 19 - 20, 2007
Wright State University is hosting researchers, educators, technology developers and practitioners to examine current issues and future directions in the development of methods and technologies to enhance formal education and lifelong learning for persons with all types of disabilities. For more information:
Assistive Technology Reuse and Recycling Conference
July 24, 2007
There will be national reuse experts, Minnesota assistive technology organization, and individuals to network, collaborate and increase AT reuse. The conference is free. To register:
Accessible HTML for Developers 3 Day Course
July 24 - 26, 2007
August 15 - 17, 2007
This is an introductory class designed to acquaint new and existing Web developers with the fundamentals of creating an accessible Web application. For more information contact Susie Saputo:
Abilities Expo
September 7 - 9, 2007
Abilities Expo is a show for independent and assisted living products and services. Abilities Expo also offers a full line up of free workshop sessions. For more information:
Indiana Assistive Technology Conference
September 18, 2007
A forum for learning and accessing assistive technology for home, work, education facilities and within the community to individuals with disabilities. There is a fee for the conference. For more information:
Assistive Technology in High School and Postsecondary Transition
September 25, 2007
The all day training session will discuss testing and workplace accommodations, work experience, and the latest in digital technology. The workshop will include participation of local students who will share their successful transition stories.
For more information e-mail Ralph Pelkey at
Assistive Technology Expo
September 27, 2007
This conference was formerly called the Rehabilitation Technology Expo. The event is an opportunity to interact with exhibitors, try various types of Assistive Technology, and attend presentations.
For more information e-mail Ralph Pelkey at
Getting Access To Assistive Technology
The goal of the reauthorized Assistive Technology Act in 2004 is to provide assistive technology to persons with disabilities, so they can more fully participate in education, employment, and daily activities on a level playing field with other members of their communities.
Under the law, each U.S. state and territory receives a grant to fund an Assistive Technology Act Project (ATAP). These projects provide services to persons with disabilities for their entire life span, as well as to their families or guardians, service providers, and agencies and other entities that are involved in providing services such as education or employment to persons with disabilities.
Services
Each state's ATAP program, created under the law, has information about assistive technology products for individuals with disabilities, alternative financing for the purchase or lease of equipment, training and technical support for equipment, short-term loans of equipment, referrals for repairs and servicing of equipment, and referrals for evaluation and assessment related to the selection and integration of appropriate assistive technology.
In the Great Lakes Region, several states also offer a specialized telework program that provides loans for equipment to support home based employment.
Loans can be used to purchase any mechanical or electronic devices or apparatus, software or telecommunications systems necessary to perform "home-based" work. Loan proceeds can also be used to cover the cost of training needed to use the equipment properly, maintenance agreements, extended warranties, and repair expenses for the equipment.
Examples of items that can be purchased with a telework loan are: computers, printers, software and related peripherals, fax machines, scanners, office machines, tools, telecommunication devices, office furniture, appliances, home modifications for accessibility or to create an accessible home office. Assistive technology can also be purchased if it is needed to work from home.
The ATAP programs also provide legal assistance to consumers with disabilities on issues related to services provided by state. Although various states were providing some of these services already, under the reauthorized legislation all states need to provide legal services in some manner.
In addition, there is a provision for discretionary funding for research and development projects, such as establishing standards for the interoperability of information technology and assistive technology and researching technical solutions to known problems or barriers.
For More Information
State Programs
Illinois
Illinois Assistive Technology Project (Alternative Finance Loans and Telework Loans)
Phone: 800-852-5110
TTY: 217-522-9966
www.iltech.org
Indiana
Assistive Technology Through Action In Indiana
Phone: 800-528-8246 (In State)
TTY: 800-743-3333
www.attaininc.org
Michigan
Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund (Alternative Finance Loans and Telework Loans)
Phone: 517-203-1200
michiganloanfunds.org
Minnesota
Assistive Technology of Minnesota (Alternative Finance Loans and Telework Loans)
Phone: 763-479-8239
TTY: 800-627-3529
www.atmn.org
Ohio
Assistive Technology of Ohio
Phone: 800-784-3425 (In State)
TTY: 614-293-9132
www.atohio.org
Wisconsin
National Programs
Taking Control of Your Web Surfing Experience
There are many tools available to help users with disabilities address browser shortcomings, inaccessible and poorly designed websites. The Great Lakes ADA Center advocates for adherence to web accessibility standards for content developers, but these tools may still prove useful for users with disabilities to have a better web surfing experience now.
IBM Easy Web Browsing
IBM Easy Web Browsinghttp://www-03.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/EasyWebBrowsing.html is a solution that helps novice users, seniors, and people with limited vision or eye fatigue to access Web site information. It allows users to enlarge text and characters and change background color, which can help improve Web page readability for people with low vision. Using IBM text-to-speech technology, Easy Web Browsing can also read text aloud with adjustable speed and volume control and sound effects can be assigned to events such as download completion. A free demo of the product is available for download.
Bookmarklets
Bookmarkletshttps://www.squarefree.com/bookmarklets/zap.html,created by Jesse Ruderman, are free tools to help with repetitive or otherwise difficult tasks in your web browser. It's not specifically designed for accessibility, but some of the features may be useful to individuals with disabilities.
For example, you can download bookmarklets to remove unreadable color combinations, Flash, and blind links, zoom on images and enlarge text, implement pause, rewind, or fast-forward control of Flash movies, or control color, such as changing all colors on a page at once.
Web Browser Extension Toolbars
Web browser extensions and toolbars are often created for web developers to check individual web pages for accessibility issues. Because they isolate features such as alt tags or disable java-script easily, they can also be useful to individuals looking for more control of their web experience. The following are free downloadable extensions for specific web browsers.
Mozilla / Firefox
Created by the Illinois Center for Instructional Technology Accessibility, Mozilla/Firefox Accessibility Extensionhttp://firefox.cita.uiuc.edu/index.php makes it easier for people with disabilities to view and navigate web content, with features covering navigation, text equivalents, styling, scripting, and more.
The Web Developer Extensionhttp://chrispederick.com/work/web-developer/, created by Chris Pederick, adds a menu and a toolbar to the browser with various web developer tools that may be useful. It is designed for Firefox, Flock, Mozilla and Seamonkey.
Internet Explorer
The Web Accessibility Toolbar for Internet Explorerwww.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=614 is provided by the Accessible Information Solutions (AIS) team of Vision Australia. Examples of features include adjustable font size, alt-tag display, or remove flash or background music.
Opera
The Web Accessibility Toolbarwww.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-about.html (for Opera) is provided by the Web Accessibility Tools Consortium. Examples of features include adjustable font size, alt-tag display, or remove flash or background music.
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