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Published in The Spectator, the student newspaper of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire;
Monday, November 19, 2001
Library gets new technology
Access to information improved for disabled
By Bill Olson
When Gary Traynor learned he was losing his
eyesight, the biggest adjustment was leaving a 17-year career in the Air
Force and starting over again from scratch.
Now the retired aircraft maintenance supervisor is a sophomore studying
social work at UW-Eau Claire, thanks to technology that can help him see
text better.
The McIntyre Library has created an Adaptive Technology Center to
further improve accessibility for students and staff with visual
impairments and other disabilities. The center is located in the
reference area on first floor.
New equipment includes the Very Easy Reading Appliance, which scans
documents and reads the text back with a synthesized voice, said Bob
Rose, library director. VERA has an adjustable reading speed and
external audio jacks so users can record the spoken text to their own
tape recorder.
Users also can check out earphones from the library's circulation desk
for use with VERA.
The technology is not always perfect. During a demonstration, Rose and
Mimi King, head of the reference section at the library, were unable to
get VERA to work. When it works, it does not always scan or read text
perfectly, but still works very well, Rose said.
Similar to VERA is JAWS screen reader software, which reads back e-mail
or other electronic documents. JAWS is available in the Adaptive
Technology Center and four of the general access labs, including OL1108,
he said.
But one downfall is that the school is only licensed for five students
on campus to use JAWS at one time, Rose said.
The center also has a computer workstation that can be raised or lowered
to accommodate a variety of wheelchair sizes, he said.
Similar adjustable tables have been installed in the general access
computer labs and the Center for Reserve and Instructional Media.
The final new device is the Aladdin Pro Reader, a closed circuit
television that enlarges text, images and objects, Rose said.
The Aladdin can vary the magnification and reverse the background and
text colors, which Traynor said is necessary for some vision
impairments.
Traynor is enthusiastic about the new equipment and also understands the
difficulty in facing a new disability. He has volunteered to talk with
people about vision disabilities or about equipment for the vision
impaired. He can be reached at 832-9448.
"When you can't see the people across the street or the people in
front of you, it can be very challenging to take on new things that can
better your life," he said. "But the first thing that one has
to do before they can utilize the help and advice they need is to accept
their disability."
Funding for the new equipment came from student technology fees and
Provost Funds, Rose said.
For more general information about services available to students with
disabilities, contact the office of Services for Students with
Disabilities at 836-4542.
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