A DIY Accessible Hardware Solution
for Students with Disabilities

Ryan Vernon

BC College and Institute Library Services (CILS)

Falling through the cracks?

Raise the floor...

Raising the Floor: Enabling everyone, regardless of extenuating circumstances, to obtain access...

DIY: do it yourself

Recipe:

• Cheap hardware
• Free or cheep software
• Combine

Hardware

• Desktop PC
• The computer you have now
• The library's computer
• Any old computer!
• Netbook / Ultra-portable laptop
• Asus Eee PC (windows version)
• Acer Aspire One (windows version)
• Other netbooks or subnotebooks
• Any old notebook!

Hardware, continued

• Things you might need
• Windows 2000 or newer
• Onboard sound
• Speakers
• Custom input device
• An Internet connection

Software

• Thunder (screen reader)
• WebbIE (Accessible browser)
• Accessible RSS news reader
• Accessible podcatcher
• ReadPlease (text to speech engine)
• TextAloud (text to speech engine)
• AMIS (DAISY book player)
• WinAMP (media player) and the PaceMaker plugin (which allows users to adjust playback speed)
• Iconico magnifier (screen magnifier)

Software: Thunder

Screen reader: A screen reader is a software program that uses a synthetic voice to read a computer screen out loud.*

Software: Thunder

From the Thunder website:

• "Free of charge to EVERYONE and any organisation."
• "A quick and easy download on a modern computer."
• "For everyone who needs it."

Software: Webbie

An accessible browser

• When combined with Thunder users may listen to and navigate webpages
• Keyboard controlable
• Plain text output
• Includes magnification function
• Free download

WebbIE "webpage" view

WebbIE "text" view

WebbIE also includes...

...an accessible RSS reader

WebbIE also includes...

...an accessible pod catcher

WebbIE also includes...

...Accessible Project Gutenberg

WebbIE also includes...

...Accessible Directory
(providing access to the ODP)

ReadPlease

• Text-to-speech software: Converts computer readable text into spoken language
• Free and paid versions
• Available to download
• Tutorial available at CILS

ReadPlease

TextAloud

• Text-to-speech software: Converts computer readable text into spoken language
• Free trial available
• ~$30 to buy
• Available to download

TextAloud

AMIS

DAISY book format

• DAISY: Digital Audio Information System
• A highly navigable digital audiobook format: navigable by chapter, section, heading or page number
• May be human voice or synthesised voice
• May have full-text or just heading information

AMIS

DAISY book player

• Open Source
• Freely available
• Available for download
• Tutorial available at CILS

AMIS

AMIS

WinAMP

• A media player, like Windows Media or VLC
• Freely available
• Allows plugins
• Tutorial available at CILS

WinAMP with PaceMaker

Pacemaker: a WinAMP plugin

• Freely available
• Changes tempo (play back speed)
• Changes pitch

WinAMP with PaceMaker

Allows you to speed up your MP3 without making it sound like a chipmunk:

Magnifier

• Enlarges a portion of a computer screen
• Freely available

Conclusion

Don't be afraid...

• ...to get your hands dirty
• ...to try
• ...to ask

You can do it!

Questions?

Thank you

• This presentation is available at
  http://www.langara.bc.ca/cils/
  Tel: 604-323-5685
  Fax: 604-323-5577
  E-Mail: cils@langara.bc.ca

Photo Credits

• All photos were generously made available by their creators under a Creative Commons license.
• Stick Figure Loses Foot In Crack!
• Sunrise - Project City Center
• Computer Cooking
• Master in Computer Architecture, Network and Systems
• Lightening 16x9 03
• Chipmunk Checking Email
• Three magnified morons
• Don't Stop Questioning