Assistive Technology Vetting Process

Software

Purple - Purple Communications Inc. is a leading U.S. provider of video relay services (VRS), video remote interpreting (VRI), and on-site interpreting services.

Hardware

1. FM systems - COMTEK Communications Technology, Inc / AT-216 Personal FM System A personal FM system that helps people with hearing difficulties hear better in noisy places. It works by transmitting the speaker's voice directly to the listener's hearing aids or headphones, reducing background noise and distance interference.
2. Wireless Microphone System
   1. Revolabs HD dual-channel wireless microphone system kit with omnidirectional tabletop microphone
   2. Revolabs xTAG single-channel wireless microphone system
3. IR Systems - ListenIR - transmits sound over infrared directly to the listener without amplifying ambient noise for unsurpassed speech intelligibility and a superior listening experience.

Software

1. ABBYY FineReader PDF - ABBYY FineReader PDF, an optical character recognition application developed by ABBYY, with support for PDF file editing
2. Dragon Professional - Dragon Naturally Speaking speech recognition software lets you control your computer with your voice and turns speech into text.

Hardware

1. Ergonomic devices - Ergonomic designs are meant to place the hands in a more natural way than traditional devices.
   1. Roller Mouse Pro
   2. Levkey ergonomic mouse
2. Adjustable Height Podiums - help you create custom adjustable height podiums and lecterns everyday use in the classroom. Only available in some classrooms.

Software

1. Otter.ai - Auto-joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams meetings to automatically take notes, allowing everyone to participate freely.
2. Read&Write - a literacy support tool that offers help with everyday tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments and proofing written work.
3. ColorVeil - Reduce eye strain, help with Dyslexia and Visual Stress.

Hardware

Livescribe Symphony Smartpen - The high-speed IR camera in the smartpen helps to capture everything it writes on Livescribe dot-pattern printed paper and stores it in its internal memory. It also records and synchronizes spoken words.

Software

1. Fusion - Fusion is the ultimate accessibility tool for schools, agencies, training centers, and businesses where individuals with vision loss are served. Fusion provides the best of both worlds – ZoomText® , with its screen magnification and visual enhancements for screen viewing ease, coupled with the power and speed of JAWS® for screen reading functionality.
   1. ZoomText – ZoomText Magnifier/Reader is a fully integrated magnification and reading program tailored for low-vision users. Magnifier/Reader enlarges and enhances everything on your computer screen, echoes your typing and essential program activity, and automatically reads documents, web pages, email.
   2. JAWS – JAWS, Job Access With Speech, is the world’s most popular screen reader, developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse. JAWS provides speech and Braille output for the most popular computer applications on your PC. You will be able to navigate the Internet, write a document, read an email and create presentations from your office, remote desktop, or from home.

Hardware

1. Talking Calculators - For people with vision problems, a talking calculator can be a big help. These calculators announce each number, symbol, and button you press, and they also read the answer out loud. This voice feedback lets you confirm that you're pressing the right buttons and double-check the answer before writing it down.
   1. No vendor listed / Taksun 12-digit multifunction voice calculator
   2. No vendor listed / Platon talking scientific calculator
2. Braille Displays - Braille display translate digital text into refreshable braille characters by electronically raising and lowering different combinations of pins in braille cells.
   1. Brailliant BI 20X
   2. Brailliant BI 40X
3. Braille Embosser - A braille embosser is an impact printer that renders text as tactile braille cells. Using braille translation software, a document or digital text can be embossed with relative ease. Viewplus / Elite
4. Magnification
   1. Magnification overlays - Allow students to use magnifying or color-changing overlay sheets in order to accommodate low vision or visual processing differences.
   2. CCTV - A video magnifier, or closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, uses a stand-mounted or handheld video camera to project a magnified image onto a video monitor, a television (TV) screen, or a computer monitor.

Software

Adobe Reader, Read Out Loud - Read Out Loud is a Text-to-Speech (TTS) tool that is built in Acrobat Reader. The Read Out Loud feature reads aloud the text in a PDF, including the text in comments and alternate text descriptions for images and fillable fields.

Employees should reach out to the Office of Talent, Culture, and Engagement to start the accommodation process. The information here can help you consider what tools you may need to ask for as part of your accommodation, but it is important to start the process with TCE.

Students should contact the Student Access and Resource Center to start the process. The information here can help you consider what tools you may need to ask for as part of your accommodation.

This process applies to any hardware device specifically designed to help people with disabilities.

Submit a formal request through the OIT Service Desk ServiceNow ticket system. The ticket will have prompts to gather details about the device and its intended use.

The form asks for basic information like the device name, who will be using it (you, a student, etc.), and what you plan to use it for. If you're unsure about specifics, the OIT Service Desk can guide you.

The initial assessment is usually quick. However, the overall timeframe can vary depending on testing complexity and potential security concerns. You will be informed of your request's progress until this is completed.

The OIT team will review your request to determine if the assistive technology seems compatible with the university's network and security policies.

The OIT team will explain why the denial is given. Common reasons for denial include security vulnerabilities, incompatibility with essential software, or lack of resources to support the device.

The OIT support teams will conduct the testing in a controlled environment. Depending on the device, user involvement from the disability community might be sought for usability feedback.

The university will add it to their list of supported assistive technology devices which at that point you can continue with the procurement process.

While the primary focus is on functionality, security, and compatibility, potential costs associated with licensing or ongoing maintenance may be considered during discussions.

If your request is for a software product only, please proceed with submitting a TAPREQ.

If you are a student, please reach out the Student Access and Resource Center, if you are an employee, please contact the Office of Talent, Culture, and Engagement.