Hi!

Here is a response from Cecile Hastie of Teachers' College,  Columbia
University to Rose Nelson's request for information:

 -----Original Message-----
From:  cecile hastie
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 3:29 PM
To: cecile hastie
Subject: ..how your library is using assistive technology

RE:  Rose Nelson's request

Dear All,

Teachers College is a graduate education library.  We have three
computer
workstations in an enclosed room on the third floor.  The first system
for
patrons with physical disabilities includes Dragon Naturally Speaking
software, speakers, Video-60P 3D/Eye Perspectives, and Microsoft
Windows.  We
have one moveable table.

The second system of visual disabilities software includes Vocal-Eyes,
Window-Eyes, OmniPage Pro, and Zoom Text screen magnification software,
along
with Arkenstone's "An Open Book Unbound, Version 5.0"  The keyboard has
large
keys with large print as well as "sequins" on essential keys.

The third system, for blind patrons, includes Vocal Eyes, Window Eyes,
the
Braille Translator, and Vision Fonts.  The translator translates from
English
to Braille and from Braille to English.    We have a Basic S Braille
printer
50CP single side Braille print device, together with a Papenmeier 2 D 2-

dimensional 102 cell Braille Display and Pepenmeier Windows software for

Braille Display.  A knowledge of Braille is required to make use of the
system.

There are three Hewlett Packard ScanJet Scanners and LasJet 61 printers,
one
next to each computer.

Challenges include:  Publicizing the equipment and software so that
faculty
and students know that it exists.  Although we teach Nemeth code here,
we
have very few blind students who know braille.  We will have Jaws
software
available in the fall for an incoming student who requested it.
Keeping up with new technology!

Our OSSD Director, Richard Keller, was instrumental in procuring the
equipment and software about four years ago.  Planning for it was a
cooperative project between Richard's staff and the library staff
(myself and
a library
assistant.

On the first floor of the library we have Zoom Text software installed
on one
terminal.  At the Reference desk we have a fastpoint light pen, an
alternative mouse device.

The equipment has been funded throught grants through the OSSD office.
If
you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me. I'm most
interested in anything related to "integrating the technology."

Regards,

Cecile A. Hastie
Librarian for Services for Students with Disabilities/Reference
Librarian
Milbank Memorial Library
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, NY  10027
212-678-3020 (voice)
212-678-3092 (fax)
e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

**********
forwarded by Anna Ercoli Schnitzer, Taubman Medical Library, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI [log in to unmask]