New Online EASI Course: Low End Assistive Technology

 From May 2 to May 27 2005 or this course can be taken any time as
independent study.


This course will also count towards the Certificate in Accessible
Information Technology




What do we mean by "Low End Assistive Technology"?



Many of today's assistive technologies are complex, sophisticated and
frequently expensive. While they are powerful, versatile and can readily be
modified to meet individual needs, there are some other assistive
technologies that are less expensive and still fill an important gap in the
array of tools to support users with disabilities. These less expensive
alternatives will in no way replace the more professional applications.
However, for someone with a less severe disability, for an aging senior or
a person with a temporary disability or for someone wanting experience with
assistive technology before making a significant purchase, they are
important tools to explore. For a small institution with tight budgets,
(college, school, library, non-profit or small business), these
technologies can be kept available to provide support for a wide range of
people with disabilities until a more appropriate application has been
purchased.



Course Description:



The course will cover topics such as operating systems all of which have
some limited accessibility features built into them. It will include
explanations and demonstrations of other applications with useful but
limited accessibility features which are available at no cost. Finally,
there are several assistive applications with limited features that are
available as demonstrations or at a moderate price. All of these
accessibility tools can fill the needs of people with less severe
disabilities or someone with a temporary disability. They are also
excellent tools to let someone with a disability have experience using
assistive technologies before committing themselves to more expensive and
more professional solutions.





Course Lessons


Lesson One: The Operating System and Accessibility
Definition list of 6 items
Part one: Operating system accessibility overview
Part two: Users with low vision and learning disabilities
Part three: Users with mobility impairments
Part four: Other populations of users with disabilities
Part five: The Microsoft Accessibility Wizard
Part six: Situational considerations
Part seven: Assignment
list end


Lesson Two: Tech Assistive Technologies for Persons with Low Vision and
Learning Disabilities
Part one: Built-in Software Configurations (Microsoft Word example)
Part two: Screen Magnification
Part three: Document Readers
Part four: Alternative Web Tools
Part five: Other Software Tools
Part sic: Assignment



Lesson 3: Low Tech Assistive Technologies for Persons with Motor Impairments

Part one: Alternative Keyboarding
Part two: Using Macros
Part three: Speech Recognition
Part four: Word Prediction
part five: Assignment



Lesson 4: Downloading and Testing Several Low End Assistive Technologies

Part one: Working with BigShot
part two: Working with ReadPlease
Part three: Working with Macro Express
Part four: Working with Microsoft Speech Recognition

You can read more and register online at:
<http://easi.cc/workshops/ltech.htm>http://easi.cc/workshops/ltech.htm


** Note There are 2 other EASI online courses starting May 2:
Beginner Barrier-free Web Design
<http://easi.cc/workshops/easiweb.htm>http://easi.cc/workshops/easiweb.htm
Barrier-free E-learning
<http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm>http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm

View the entire list of courses at:
<http://easi.cc/workshop.htm>http://easi.cc/workshop.htm




----------------------------------------
EASI online courses for May:
Barrier-free E-learning
http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm
Beginner Barrier-free Web Design
http://easi.cc/workshops/easiweb.htm
Low End Assistive Technology
http://easi.cc/workshops/ltech.htm
Completing 5 courses earns the Certificate in Accessible Technology

Norman Coombs, Ph.D.
CEO EASI
22196 Caminito Tasquillo
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 855-4852