Information Technologies and Disabilities Table of Contents v2n02 (May 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/itd/itd-v2n02-contents (ITDV02N2 CONTENTS) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITIES ISSN 1073-5127 Volume II, No. 2 May, 1995 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 ITDV02N2 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 INTEGRATING HYPERMEDIA AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW OF POSSIBILITIES (ITDV02n2 Perkins) Dr. Bob Perkins University of Charleston, SC PerkinsR@CofC.edu Abstract One of the most useful technologies associated with microcomputers for teachers and caregivers for individuals with disabilities is hypermedia programs. Hypermedia programs allow individuals who do not know how to program a computer using a programming language to create computer software. With a minimum of training, hypermedia programs can be used to create very individualized software. This gives teachers and caregivers the capability to create computer programs such as Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) that will teach the specific objectives that are needed for their classroom. Hypermedia programs can also be used with assistive technologies to compensate for some disabilities. This paper will focus on the possible interaction between hypermedia and assistive input devices. Speech synthesis and hypermedia will also be explored. COMPUTER-ASSISTED LEARNING AND LANGUAGE-IMPAIRED CHILDREN (ITDV02N2 WARD) Dr Robert Ward University of Huddersfield Huddersfield HD1 3DH U.K. r.d.ward@hud.ac.uk ABSTRACT This paper first reviews research begun in the 1980s into computer-based remediation for language-impaired children who have difficulties with multiple-word language. The paper then goes on to consider how this work might progress in future. Software was developed to investigate the proposal that computer programs which hold written conversations with their users can be effective in language teaching and remediation. The software is described and studies of the software in use are summarised. Although the software attracted interest at the time and although the studies suggested that the technique could be useful in language remediation, the software never became widely used. Looking back from today's perspective we consider the reasons for this and relate the software to wider issues and trends in computer-based learning (CBL). It is suggested that the approach was never taken up because the software did not fit with how CBL came to be used in schools. This leads to a discussion of how software that simulates written conversation might now progress using today's technology. NEWS ICADD (INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR ACCESSIBLE DOCUMENT DESIGN): AN INTRODUCTION AND CALL FOR PARTICIPATION (ITDV02N2 ICADD) WHAT IS THE INTERNET PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? (ITDV02N2 IPL) Sara Ryan sryan@umich.edu DEPARTMENTS JOB ACCOMMODATIONS (ITDV02N2 JOBS) Editor: Joe Lazzaro lazzaro@world.std.com ONLINE INFORMATION AND NETWORKING (ITDV02N2 ONLINE) Editor: Steve Noble slnobl01@ulkyvm.louisville.edu CAMPUS COMPUTING (ITDV02N2 CAMPUS) Editor: Daniel Hilton-Chalfen, Ph.D., Danny@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 BOARD Melissa Anderson, University of Southern California 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 Yolanda L. Thompson, New Mexico Commission for the Blind 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. EASI affiliated with AAHE (the American Association for Higher Education) in 1994. 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 three discussion lists: EASI@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU (a general discussion on computer access), AXSLIB-L@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU (a discussion on library access issues) and ABLE-JOB (a discussion on disabilities and employment). To join any of these lists, 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. John's (New York) University 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, c/o American Association for Higher Education One Dupont Circle, Suite 360 Washington, D.C. 20036-1110 Phone: (714) 830-0301 (Pacific Time) E-Mail: EASI@EDUCOM.BITNET or Internet: EASI@EDUCOM.EDU EASI gratefully acknowledges receiving special and significant financial and/or institutional support from: the American Association of Higher Education (AAHE) Apple Computer, Inc. Arkenstone, Inc. The Bell-Atlantic Charitable Foundation EDUCOM The National Science Foundation The NEC Foundation of America Rochester Institute of Technology St. John's University University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of Michigan University of Washington