Technology Lab

Alternate Text Accommodation Policy:

If a student's Comprehensive Advisor recommends an alternate text format, the following options are available:

• The student may use the Kurzweil 3000 software in the Assistive Technology Lab or the Library as an alternate text format
  
  
• The student may use recorded textbooks through WVWC’s Institutional membership with RFB&D; however, these CDs must be used within the Test Lab or the Technology Lab, Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  
  
• The student may pay the personal individual membership fee to RFB&D* ($100 1st year, $35 annually for renewing membership). The Technology Coordinator will assist the student in the ordering process each semester. If a student chooses this option, he or she will be able to use the tapes or CDs at any location, including his or her dorm room.
  
  *Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic is a non-profit service organization that provides recorded educational materials to persons with visual perception disabilities. Students interested in registering with RFB&D for an individual membership should see the Technology Coordinator, in room 215A of Haymond Hall.
  
  Special note:
  • RFB&D's tapes are recorded on special 4-track cassettes. Since this is a different format from 2-track cassettes sold in stores, the RFB&D tapes cannot be used with standard tape players. A specially adapted, 4-track tape player is needed to use recorded textbooks.
    
    
  • RFB&D's CDs require special software or hardware to be played. Please visit www.rfbd.org for more information.

  *To have the Kurzweil 3000 or other software installed on student laptops requires a one-time technology fee of $50.00. It also requires that the student sign a software agreement form that requires the student to return the software upon transferring to another college, or any other circumstance where the student leaves the college.

Software to Assist with Reading

CAST eReader software reads web pages and other documents. Screen readers such as eReader help students who have reading and/or attention problems, and those who have visual disabilities.

Kurzweil 3000™ is a state of the art text-to-voice software program. Kurzweil 3000 converts written text into a synthesized speech. This software is especially helpful for students who are dyslexic, for students who are visually impaired, and for students who are slow readers. The program helps students increase reading speed and comprehension. It uses a multisensory approach that allows students to both hear and see the text as they read. Kurzweil 3000 will even let students type text and hear the text as they type it. Kurzweil 3000 is user-friendly and requires very little training time. Students may choose from a variety of voices and may adjust reading rate, font size, and the color as well as the amount of text highlighted.*

Read & Write Gold Version 7 is a “one-stop solution” for reading and writing. It includes reading software with RealSpeak ™ voices and voice recognition software that allows students to dictate papers. This software program also has a scientific calculator and a pronunciation tutor.

Victor Reader Soft software is used in conjunction with CDs recorded by the Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D). This software allows students to listen to recorded texts with the convenience of a digital format. This is most helpful to students who are visually impaired, or to those who have difficulty visually processing written text.

Zoomtext is a magnification program (2X to 16X) and screen reader for everything the computer can access including email, web pages, and software. This program is most helpful for students who are visually impaired.

 

Software to Assist with Writing

Draftbuilder is a software program designed to assist students in the steps necessary for writing research papers. The program gives support in planning, organizing, and writing a first draft.

Dragon Naturally Speaking Software is a voice-to-text software program. Students speak what they want typed into a microphone, and the software converts the speech into written text. It does require a student to establish a voice recognition file through continuous training. Student Assistants are available to help students establish an individual voice recognition file. The Dragon software is very helpful to students who have a difficult time expressing their thoughts on paper, for students who have difficulty with spelling, and for students who have difficulty with the physical act of writing. This program is most useful for students whose oral language skills are stronger than their written language skills.

Inspiration is a software program that offers a tool for developing ideas and organizing thoughts. The program integrates visual mapping and outlining to assist in comprehension of concepts and information. This is helpful to visual learners who need to use mind maps to organize information for writing papers.

 

Hardware to Assist with Spelling & Reading

Franklin® Computers: Hardware that helps students who have difficulty with spelling, including homonyms. These hand-held devices give definitions of the word so the student can find the correct word that they are looking for, and some have a speaking function.

Quicktionary II Reading Pen™: Portable reading tool that displays and speaks dictionary definitions of words that are scanned on printed text. It also displays syllables and spells words out loud.

Victor Reader Wave Portable CD player allows students to play digitally recorded RFB&D CDs (Audioplus books).

 

Procedures and Policies of the Assistive Technology Lab

Students entering the lab must sign the logbook noting the date of use, equipment and software used, and the time in and out. Students may be asked to exchange their college identification card for any portable equipment they use.

A student worker who is trained in the use of hardware, software, and any other equipment in the lab will supervise the Assistive Technology Lab. If the student worker is not available, please contact the Supervisor or Coordinator for the Testing Lab.

The following actions may lead to removal from the lab and/or loss of lab privileges:

• Eating or drinking in the lab

• Cell phone use in the lab

• Disruptive behavior and/or the harassment of others

• Use or installation of instant messenger

• Theft or attempted theft of lab materials or hardware

• Use of inappropriate and/or non-educational materials

• Tampering with hardware or hardware setups

• Failure to follow instructions of the Assistive Technology Lab Worker

Please note: Refer to the Wesleyan Student Handbook online for policies governing computer use on campus. Lab use will be academic in nature and be restricted to Wesleyan students and those possessing junior identification cards.