Facilities for Users with Disabilities

OUCS Lecture Rooms and Help Centre

Session Outline

Facilities at OUCS Talk Practical

Accessible Web sites Video “Web Sites that Work” Talk about accessible web sites Questions

OUCS

Initial project (2000/1) to improve access to IT, particularly training (lecture rooms and Learning and Resource Centre) for users with disabilities

Close liaison with University Disability Office

Funded jointly by OUCS and Central Disabilities fund (matched funding)

Current Situation

Equipment for a range of disabilities Help Centre has now replaced LaRC (new

location and managers) Most equipment is PC based as this is

main platform in lecture rooms and Help Centre.

Other platforms will be considered in due course

Hardware (Help Centre)

Large Monitor (21”) LCD Monitor Monitors can also be used in lecture

rooms Scanners

Standard Software

Windows has some built in accessibility features which allow various settings to be changed e.g. Keyboard Sound Display Mouse

Standard Software

Word - features such as the spell checker also useful

Touch Typing (Accutype) software available in the Help Centre

Assistive Software (Help Centre) Magic - magnifies screen in Windows

applications Jaws - reads Windows screen, Internet

access Kurzweill 3000 - scans texts and reads back Text Help - helps construct words and

sentences, real time spell checker and screen reader

Peripherals

Alternative Mice and other pointing devices

Alternative Keyboards

Furniture

Height Adjustable Desks Available in all lecture rooms and Help

Centre Adjustable Chairs

Available in all lecture rooms and Help Centre

Ergonomic Accessories

Wrist rests Foot rests Document holders

Induction Loop

Lecture Room A Device that helps a hearing aid user

to hear particular sounds more clearly. It does this by reducing or cutting out background noise

Consists of an amplifier connected to a microphone and a length of wire formed into a loop.

Using the equipment

For lecture rooms users are asked to let us know in advance by contacting: enable@oucs.ox.ac.uk 73206

Keyboards, mice, peripherals can be set up on demand

Booking system for scanners, monitors and software in Help Centre

Accessible Materials

Provide information and course notes in alternative formats e.g. large print, Braille, electronic versions

Information providers need to think about document types and formats

Need to be requested in advance

Braille Embosser Available to all University Currently free but may be charged

for in future Requires an electronic file e.g.

Word/RFT 1-2 week turnaround Specific requests rather than to

keep as stock items (reader preferences, document validity.)

Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 1 September 2002: the new legislation

comes into effect, affecting an institution's core business such as teaching and research

OUCS Website accessibility Working party for use of computers in

examinations Provision of equipment at OUCS

SENDA

1 September 2003: reasonable adjustments involving the provision of auxiliary aids and services must be made (such as interpreters and induction loops).

OUCS – improvements/adjustments to current provision e.g all lecture rooms to have induction loops.

SENDA

1 September 2005:  physical adjustments must be made (such as access to buildings)

Raising Awareness

OUCS Leaflet Posters Web pages –

www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/enable/ Disability Office and other University

projects Talks/Training

The next 12-18 Months

Make changes re: SENDA Monitor usage Feedback/Suggestions Evaluate Consider what else should we

provide? e.g. on other computer platforms