COMP 190/290-039
Class #8 - 02/06/2003

Assistive Technology

Our guest speaker on February 6th, 2003 was A. Lynne Deese, a South Central Regional Consultant for the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program (NCATP).  Ms. Deese obtained a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and a Master of Arts in Special/Correctional Education as well as a Disability Education certificate.  She has an extensive background in education and technology.

NCATP is a division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.  It is a state and federally funded program created to increase statewide access to assistive technology.  Assistive technology, as defined on the NCATP website, is "any piece of equipment or device that is used to increase the independence of individuals with disabilities.  These items can be commercially available, modified or customized for the user.  They are 'tools' which individuals with disabilities use for living, learning, working and playing."

Ms. Deese spoke to us about the assistive technology (AT) services provided by NCATP and showed us many examples of the kinds of AT her office encourages the use of.  Examples of these technologies include alternative keyboards and mice, joysticks, binary switches and customizable software for assisting with computer use.

Her presentation began with a reminder that assistive technology is important for everyone to think about, even if you don't currently have a disability.  It is likely that at some point in our lives all of us will come to depend on assistive technology of some form.  To drive this point home for our group, Ms. Deese reminded us of the prevalence of Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) in today's computer professionals and how assistive technology, in the form of alternative input devices like voice dictation software, is used to help those with RSI continue working in their careers.  She also encouraged us to contact NCATP if we need assistance in dealing with RSI.

Much of the technology she discussed could be described as alternative forms of giving input to and getting output from computers and other devices.  Also, some of the technology discussed was specifically designed for augmented communication.  We review the technologies she discussed on two separate pages.  The first is for the various physical, mechanical devices she showed like keyboards and switches, and the second is for the software she discussed.

Assistive Keyboards, Mice, Switches, and other Mechanical Devices

Assistive Software

Other Information and Links

• Before starting her presentation, Ms. Deese passed out two fliers.  One flier is a general overview of the services NCATP provides and the second flier is for the 13th Annual Assistive Technology Expo.  The Expo is November 6-7, 2003 at the North Raleigh Hilton, in Raleigh, NC.  She encouraged us all to attend and let us know that registration costs should be minimal for students.  Gary also said students interested in attending will have the registration expenses covered by the Computer Science department.  More information is available at www.pat.org
• One interesting NCATP program Ms. Deese mentioned allows anyone to check out NCATP's assistive technology devices for two weeks for evaluation.  This might be of interest to students in the class who are looking for certain devices that may be relevant for their projects.  There is also a website, www.check-it-out.org, which contains a statewide directory of assistive equipment that can be checked out from local agencies.
• AbilityHub -- From their web page: "Assistive Technology for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible.  This web site will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers."
• www.office-ergo.com/12things2.htm -- Types of alternative keyboards.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Assistive Technology Center at MSU -- Lots of interesting info, including detailed descriptions of different assistive technologies.