Learn how adaptive technology helps make computers accessible for every user.
Guests
David Fuecker
David Fuecker
Dave Fuecker has been the associate director of the University of Minnesota Disability Services Department for eight years. He has worked in the area of vocational rehabilitation most of his professional life and has a degree in rehabilitation counseling.
Phil Kragnes
Phil Kragnes
Philip M. Kragnes has served as the adaptive technology specialist for the University of Minnesota since October 1998. He directs the Computer Accommodations Program (CAP) through which University community members with disabilities can get help accessing computers and information using adaptive technology. While pursuing a B.A. degree in cognitive psychology at Carnegie-Mellon University, Kragnes developed and served as the director of the institution's first disability services program. He also received a M.S. degree in experimental psychology from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, in 1995. See his resumé for further information.
For Your Files
David Fuecker from the University's Disability Services Department said using adaptive technology to keep a disabled employee makes good financial sense: "The cost of providing an accommodation or an adjustment (an ergonomic adjustment or an adjustment to how the job gets done) is .... significantly less than the direct and indirect costs of losing that employee, [such as the cost of] benefit insurance and the indirect cost [of] replacement and training [and] loss of efficiencies."
And the University's Computer Accommodations Program Director Phil Kragnes said adaptive technology has interesting roots: "Many times it starts out simply as a business productivity tool. So speech recognition [technology], for instance, was never developed for persons with disabilities; it was originally developed to prevent the need for transcribers. The track ball was developed because people didn't have enough room on their desks to move their [mice[ around."
And Phil said computers, in the past decade, have been a boon for the visually impaired: "Speech synthesis, that is the ability of electronics and software to generate speech, really was a great boon to persons with visual impairments and their ability to independently access information."
Links
More information about issues related to assistive technology can be found on the Minnesota Star Program: A System of Technology to Achieve Results site.
Adaptive Technology
Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. This includes a range of devices from low technology to high technology items, as well as software.
Screen Reader
A computer software program that uses synthesized speech technology to speak the information being displayed on a computer monitor. Key combinations provide access to reading, navigational, and system controls for individuals with visual, learning, and other impairments.
Speech Recognition
Software that enables a user to control a computer and enter data without touching the keyboard or the mouse. A person who is unable to, or must limit the use of, his or her hands can move cursors and pointers, perform keystrokes, carry-out system functions, and create documents using only his or her voice.