Technology for Visually Impaired Students

Background

• Sept 2010 – I suddenly developed Double vision (unfixable by prescription)

• I learned that the less work my eyes have to do, the less likely I am to get a headache

• I learned Grade 1 Braille and I’mworking on Grade 2

Problem

• How can I prepare and teach my classes without getting a headache?

Solution

• Learn technologies for the visually impaired!• CCTV• Braille Embosser• Braille Display• Screen reader: JAWS• ABBYY Fine Reader• Audio books

BYU Accessibility Lab

CCTV: Makes images bigger

• An enlarger for books, crafts, manicures

Braille Embosser: Prints Braille

http://classic.lds.org/braille/0,18908,5388-1,00.html

Tiger Pro Embosser Generator: Can print images for sighted people on same pageVRSA Point Duo: Can print double sided pages

Braille Display Machine: Read your screen in braille.

• This displays what you see on the screen in BRL, line by line. There are 8 cells instead of 6; the bottom two are for navigation.• I toyed with this machine a little; the installation software was missing at the lab• I’m taking lessons in how to use it next week.

JAWS: hear your screen

• A program that reads your computer screen to you• Extremely difficult to use without your eyes

because it does not read the buttons you hover over; just the menus you click on

• Works best when you highlight the text you want read to you; basically you’d need a friend to help you.

• I went through the JAWS traininghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK97XMibEws&feature=relatedyoutube.com/watch?v=IK97XMibEws&feature=related

Having Scans Read to You

1. Scan the page to word, using ABBYY Fine Reader 9.0

2. Highlight the paragraph and have JAWS read it to you

This is a page from a book that I scanned. I had JAWS read it to me.

Having Books Read to You

• You can go to learnoutloud.com for free audio books

Problems still unsolved

• How to watch movies in class without getting a headache?

• Field trips: keeping track of my group of students from a distance