Information Technologies and Disabilities Table of Contents v1n02 (April 1994) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/itd/itd-v1n02-contents ITDV01N@ CONTENTS 310 lines INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITIES ISSN 1073-5127 Volume I, No. 2 April, 1994 ********************************************* Individual _ITD_ articles and departments are archived on the St. John's University gopher. To access the journal via gopher, locate the St. John's University (New York) gopher. Select "Disability and Rehabilitation Resources" and from the next menu, select "EASI: Equal Access to Software and Information." _Information Technology and Disabilities_ is an item on the EASI menu. To retrieve individual articles and departments by e-mail from the listserv: address an e-mail message to: listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu leave subject line blank The message text should include the word "get" followed by the two word file name; for example: get ITDV01N2 contents Each article and department has a unique filename; that name is listed below the article or department in parentheses. Do NOT include the parentheses with the filename when sending the "get" command to listserv. NOTE: ONLY ONE ITEM MAY BE RETRIEVED PER MESSAGE; DO NOT SEND MULTIPLE GET COMMANDS IN A SINGLE E-MAIL MESSAGE TO LISTSERV. To receive the journal regularly, send e-mail to listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu with no subject and either of the following lines for text: subscribe ITD-TOC "Firstname Lastname" subscribe ITD-JNL "Firstname Lastname" (ITD-JNL is the entire journal in one or more e-mail messages while ITD-TOC sends the contents with information on how to obtain specific articles.) ********************************************* ARTICLES ********************************************* ITD TECHNOTES: SPEECH SYNTHESIS (ITDV01N2 Edwards) Alistair D. N. Edwards alistair@minster.york.ac.uk ABSTRACT: This is the first in a series of ITD articles on the basics of adaptive technologies. In simple, non-technical language, the author provides a brief introduction to synthetic speech technology which is currently used by individuals with speech and/or visual impairments. ********************************************* PROJECT LINK: CONSUMER INFORMATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (ITDV01N2 MANN) William C. Mann, OTR, PhD ABSTRACT: Project LINK, established in 1993 at the Center for Assistive Technology at the University of Buffalo in New York, is a free information service to help people learn about assistive devices. Assistive devices are essentially tools--they make it easier to do various tasks. Many people with disabilities are not aware of the wide variety of available assistive devices, or they lack information on where to obtain them. At the same time, companies marketing assistive devices have difficulty reaching people who most need their products, as listings of people with disabilities are confidential. Project LINK bridges the information gap between the people who purchase assistive devices and the companies which make and/or sell them. ********************************************* C-NOTE: A COMPUTERIZED NOTETAKING SYSTEM FOR HEARING-IMPAIRED STUDENTS IN MAINSTREAM POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION (ITDV01N2 CUDDIHY) Andrew Cuddihy Brian Fisher Rick Gordon Elizabeth Schumaker For Further Information About C-Note, contact: Elizabeth Schumaker Learning Support Counsellor Queen's Counselling Service St. Lawrence Bldg. Ground Floor Queen's University Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Telephone: 613-545-2893 E-Mail: Schumakr@QUCDN.QueensU.CA ABSTRACT: Computerized notetaking is an effective tool being used by hearing-impaired students at lectures and seminars in mainstream classes in colleges and universities. This article describes C-Note, a program that provides significant benefit over existing computerized notetaking. C-Note -- developed by a computer programmer who is a student with a hearing impairment and a learning specialist -- allows communication between the student and the notetaker, independent use of linked computers, and production of hard copy notes from each. The C-Note system architecture is described in detail. Advantages of the system for the student with a hearing impairment are discussed. Educational implications of using C-Note, and other computerized notetaking systems for hearing-impaired students in the mainstream classroom, are noted. Potential modifications to C-Note are suggested. The need to develop additional learning strategies to help students make effective use of the enhanced quantity and quality of lecture material is identified. ********************************************* JOB EVALUATION (ITDV01N2 DIPALERM) Frank DiPalermo Internet 72274.2272@compuserve.com ABSTRACT: The task of evaluating the job site for a disabled employee can be a complex one, but breaking down the job into its individual components can simplify the evaluation procedure. This article describes the requirements and process used to evaluate, design and implement workplace strategies and technology for a new employee who has a disability. ********************************************* ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FUNDING IN THE WORKPLACE (ITDV01N2 MENDELSO) Steven B. Mendelsohn ABSTRACT: Many employers are unaware of the funding sources available for adaptive technology in the workplace. In this article, Steven B. Mendelsohn discusses some of the potential sources of funding. ********************************************* AN INNOVATIVE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM: REHABILITATION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY (ITDV01N2 MILLER) Darlene Miller, Associate Professor Rehabilitation Engineering Technology Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, VT ********************************************* ABSTRACT: The United States currently faces a shortage of rehabilitation professionals with expertise in engineering technology. The need for rehabilitation engineering technicians, in particular, has been recognized in the wake of new legislation that ensures the civil rights of persons with disabilities and highlights a need for their improved access to rehabilitation services and assistive devices. Responding to this national need, Vermont Technical College (VTC) was the first educational institution in the country to offer an associate's degree program in Rehabilitation Engineering Technology. The curriculum, which focuses on applied science, production, problem-solving and assistive technology modification, promises to produce skilled technicians who can offer a range of specialized products and services to persons with disabilities. As an innovative program, VTC's new Rehabilitation Engineering Technology (RET) program has gained national notice and sparked considerable interest. Other institutions interested in establishing similar programs are eager for information about program content and curriculum. ********************************************* DEPARTMENTS JOB ACCOMMODATIONS (ITDV01N2 JOBS) Editor: Joe Lazzaro lazzaro@bix.com K - 12 EDUCATION (ITDV01N2 K12) Editor: Bob Zenhausern zenhausern@sjuvm.stjohns.edu LIBRARIES (ITDV01N2 LIBRARY) Editor: Ann Neville neville@emx.cc.utexas.edu ONLINE INFORMATION AND NETWORKING (ITDV01N2 ONLINE) Editor: Steve Noble slnobl01@ulkyvm.louisville.edu CAMPUS COMPUTING (ITDV01N2 CAMPUS) Editor: Daniel Hilton-Chalfen, Ph.D., hilton-chalfen@mic.ucla.edu ********************************************* Copyright (c 1994) by (_ITD_) _Information Technology and Disabilities_. Authors of individual articles retain all copyrights to said articles, and their permission is needed to reproduce any individual article. The rights to the journal as a collection belong to (_ITD_) _Information Technology and Disabilities_. _ITD_ encourages any and all electronic distribution of the journal and permission for such copying is expressly permitted here so long as it bears no charge beyond possible handling fees. To reproduce the journal in non-electronic format requires permission of its board of directors. To do this, contact the editor. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tom McNulty, New York University (mcnulty@acfcluster.nyu.edu) EDITORS Dick Banks, University of Wisconsin, Stout Carmela Castorina, UCLA Daniel Hilton-Chalfen, PhD, UCLA Norman Coombs, PhD, Rochester Institute of Technology Lois Elman Michael Holtzman, St. John's University Joe Lazzaro, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Mohamad Neilforoshan, Wentworth Institute of Technology Ann Neville, University of Texas, Austin Steve Noble, Recording for the Blind Anne L. Pemberton, Nottoway High School, Nottoway, VA Sheila Rosenberg Linda Scott Bob Zenhausern, PhD, St. John's University EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Melissa Anderson Brenda McPhail EDITORIAL BOARD Dick Banks, University of Wisconsin, Stout Carmela Castorina, UCLA Danny Hilton-Chalfen, PhD, UCLA Norman Coombs, PhD, Rochester Institute of Technology Alistair D. N. Edwards, PhD, University of York, UK Joe Lazzaro, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Mohamad Neilforoshan, Wentworth Institute of Technology Ann Neville, University of Texas, Austin Steve Noble, Recording for the Blind Anne L. Pemberton, Nottoway High School, Nottoway, VA Lawrence A. Scadden, PhD, National Science Foundation Bob Zenhausern, PhD, St. John's University ********************************************* ABOUT EASI (EQUAL ACCESS TO SOFTWARE AND INFORMATION) Since its founding in 1988 under the EDUCOM umbrella, EASI has worked to increase access to information technology by persons with disabilities. Volunteers from EASI have been instrumental in the establishment of _Information Technology and Disabilities_ as still another step in this process. Our mission has been to serve as a resource primarily to the education community by providing information and guidance in the area of access to information technologies. We seek to spread this information to schools, colleges, universities and into the workplace. EASI makes extensive use of the internet to disseminate this information, including two discussion lists: EASI@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU (a general discussion on computer access) and AXSLIB-L@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU (a discussion on library access issues). To join either list, send a "subscribe" command to LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU including the name of the discussion you want to join plus your own first and last name. EASI also maintains several items on the St. Johns gopher under the menu heading "Disability and Rehabilitation Resources". For further information, contact the EASI Chair: Norman Coombs, Ph.D. NRCGSH@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU or the EASI office: EASI's phone: (310) 640-3193 EASI's email: EASI@EDUCOM.EDU *********************************************