[ Music ]
Narrator: A generation ago, personal computers
began to make their mark on the world.
It was the beginning of an incredible change
in the way we do things.
For people with disabilities, that change
was even more profound.
Dan: For the first time, people with disabilities,
particularly people who are blind,
had a chance to compete successfully,
using the computer.
Stephanie: I found that computers opened up
a whole new world, and I could get a lot of stuff in Braille.
What I can do is I can use my screen reader
to get into a different program; I can type something up
just regularly on the computer, hit three buttons,
and it will be in Braille right in front of me
on a piece of paper.
Israel: The program I use for speech
helps me read everything like email,
and if I look for information about something,
it will tell me the results.
Narrator: They're talking about adaptive technology:
software and hardware systems that assist computer
and Internet access for people with disabilities.
Dan Comden: The technology that we have available
is appropriate for people with a wide range
of sensory impairments.
Everything for somebody with a minor hearing impairment,
where we might do some captioning or special blinking
on the screen, to somebody who's blind, who needs speech output,
or maybe wants to incorporate speech output with speech input.
Narrator: People with sensory impairment
are affected in the way they use vision, hearing, or touch.
They may have a slight loss of ability,
or they may be completely unable to use one or more
of their senses.
Michael Richardson: Sensory impairments affect people
in a variety of ways, depending on how well they've adjusted
to their disability, how significant it is.
For me personally, with a significant, profound hearing loss,
I have issues with communication.
Hearing and talking on a regular phone
is nearly impossible for me.
However, the use of computers lately
has really enhanced my communication abilities,
especially with the use of email.
With email, I'm able to communicate with anybody anywhere, anytime.
Narrator: Some people with sensory impairments
may not need adaptive technology for computer access.
Others will require significant enhancements.
To decide what works best for you,
start by determining what you want to be
able to do with the computer.
Then choose accommodations that help you do those things.
Dan: It's absolutely vital that somebody with a disability be
involved in the decision-making process when it comes
to selecting their adaptive technology.
They're the experts who know what they need,
so it's imperative that they be part of evaluating what's going
to be a successful solution.
Justin: Adaptive technology has helped me out a great deal.
I can get on the Internet and access anything I want to with
voice output on the computer, and it, you know,
it's just really helped me out a lot.
Narrator: We'll show you some of the computing tools that
people with sensory impairments have used successfully.
These are just some of the options;
there are always other approaches to try,
and new hardware and software are
being developed all the time.
Narrator: We'll start with visual impairments.
First, a definition.
Low vision is a loss of visual acuity
while retaining some vision.
People may have uniform low vision,
or they may have variations such as tunnel vision or alternating
areas of vision and total blindness.
There may be light sensitivity, or an inability to see colors.
People who are blind have very little or no vision at all.
Ryan: Now I'm going to Internet Explorer right now.
Screen reader: http...
Narrator: Speech output is the most popular form of access
for people who are blind.
This software allows the computer
to read aloud text, email, or Web pages.
Screen reader: Page has 31 links.
Narrator: Ryan, a high school student who is blind,
uses this type of software.
Ryan: It can tell you all the stuff on the screen,
and it speaks through your sound card.
It's good for surfing the Web, doing email,
or doing your reports.
I can go into a Word document, I can start typing,
it will speak the character as I'm typing it.
Screen reader: W..I..N..D..O..W..S period.
Ryan: I can also have it read to me exactly what I've typed,
so I can know if I made any spelling mistakes.
Screen reader: I like Jaws for Windows.
Narrator: People who are blind use a standard keyboard for input.
That standard keyboard also controls the screen reader.
Screen reader: Link reference tools.
Enter.
Narrator: Braille output systems
are also available for those who need
more detailed information than speech output provides.
Refreshable Braille displays echo information
from the screen to a panel with Braille cells
with moveable pins.
To print materials for later reference,
a Braille embosser gives a permanent record.
Teacher: You have about eight minutes...
Narrator: Portable notetakers, using speech or Braille,
can be invaluable for people on the go.
Student: I'm writing this down.
Narrator: Many people with low vision use screen enlargement software.
This enlarges text and graphics displayed on the monitor.
You can also use closed circuit TVs,
or video magnifiers, to enlarge printed materials
or photographs.
This camera has auto focus and can be
used with a computer monitor.
Nate: You slide your paper under and then just
fool with the knobs a bit and you
can get it as big or as small as you like.
Narrator: For those who are sensitive to light,
the enlargement systems can also reverse the screen
from black on white to white on black.
And large print keytop labels may
be helpful for people with low vision
who are learning to type.
Buffy: I have a question about this word.
What does it mean?
Narrator: People with hearing impairments
may have partial or complete hearing loss.
And for general computer use, there's very little need
for adaptive technology.
Built-in operating features offer visual alternatives
to audio signals.
Buffy: For example, when you get a signal from the computer
like a beep or a honk that says you've done something wrong,
then they can make it do something else to show me that
something's wrong.
Narrator: Streaming multimedia is a concern for people who can't hear.
Captioning for videos, or audio transcribed into text,
are ideal.
However, most content developers don't include this.
Some do.
Jeffrey: When I use my computer at home,
some of the games and so forth, and the Internet,
has closed captioning.
Narrator: For immediate conversation,
people who are deaf or hard of hearing
have some electronic options.
One choice is instant messaging software.
Another is to use a TTY or TDD device, which
sends typed messages over telephone lines.
The newer TTY or TDD versions allow conversation
between someone with a computer and someone
using the TTY or TDD.
User: Final fourth-quarter projections?
Computer: Final fourth dash quarter projections?
Narrator: People with limited sensitivity in their hands or fingers
may not be able to use a standard keyboard and mouse.
Speech input software allows them to control a computer
and enter text.
If the loss of sensitivity is peripheral neuropathy
due to diabetes, there may be vision loss as well.
In that case, speech output can be combined with speech input,
using middleware to connect the two programs.
Computer: Pay close attention to the recognition accuracy
of the system.
Dan: Middleware allows the speech output software
to work with the speech input software;
it brings the two together so that the person who
is speaking and listening to the computer
can have a successful experience.
Narrator: Selecting adaptive technology
should be based on individual needs.
For education, employment, and everything else,
it's all about success.
Michael: The advancement of technology
and the use of computers in the last 10 or 15 years
has just been phenomenal, especially
for people with disabilities.
And to see my peers, other people with disabilities,
succeed well in school and careers
is just a wonderful sight,
and who knows what the future holds.