>> Shelby: My name is Shelby.
This is my senior year at the University of Washington.
I have dyslexia/dysgraphia
and I was diagnosed at the age of seven so
I've always had a challenge with it but I've learned to overcome it,
I think every year.
I think one of the main challenges is when
there is a lot of reading involved.
Right now, for my Econ class
I already have a pretty thick textbook along with some other side readings so
having to get through the material in, say like,
you know, in a day or two when it's more than 100 chapters
is a huge challenge for me.
So that's also where I would definitely use some of my
text to speech capabilities.
[Computer reads something in another language]
There’s accessibility software so it allows me to highlight text
and then it will read it out loud.
And then I also use another program called NaturalReader.
And that also pretty much serves the same function.
But the cool thing about NaturalReader
is it actually shows you like where it's reading.
>>> NaturalReader: ...through technology and education.
It promotes awareness and accessibility in both the classroom and the workplace…
It definitely allows it to sink in.
Sometimes when I'm reading it alone,
I just need to hear it the first time then I can go back
and then I actually hear, “Oh this is the concept,
this is something important that we're talking about.”
Because when I'm just reading it myself it takes me a lot longer, I get lost in the text
I have trouble paying attention.
So it really does help and it makes it so that I can complete the task at hand.
It makes me feel good because at the end of the day I'm still able to complete the task
versus staying up all night.
There's been nights when I've stayed up till five in the morning just trying to grasp
what the reading
so that I would be prepared to be able to talk about it
or at least say, "I read this but I didn't understand this,"
and then create a discussion out of that.
>> Matthew: Hello I'm Matthew. I have ADD.
I have mild ASD and I've been diagnosed with mild Aspberger’s.
I use Co:Writer.
It's a word prediction program.
There's six words you can choose from
by hitting the number key it's the word you select out.
I would use it mostly in my classes for like very important papers
where I definitely would need to get the grammar correctly.
Or the words correctly as well depending because
I struggle with spelling at times.
>> Jayda: I am Jayda.
My disability is ADD and dyslexia
so with ADD I have a hard time sitting still for a long period of time.
I use a document scanner.
The scanner helps me
by actually reading the content that is on a book
instead of having, read it by yourself.
So with the scanner you set it up and then
you launch the program that is in the computer
and then you can highlight or have it read to you.
Even though I'll study them and study them and study
I tend to forget.
This will help me by making it easier so that
I can have the digital copy of it on the computer
and have it read to me and then I can start writing notes
along with it as it's reading it to me.
Just depending on your disability it really like depends on how you learn.
I'm still definitely trying to learn about my disability a little bit more too.
>> Damon: My name is Damon.
I am currently a senior here at the University of Washington.
I'm studying American Indian Studies and Anthropology.
And I have ADD and dyslexia.
For me for example, since I have ADD and dyslexia,
I need more time to do either read
the texts that were assigned or take more time writing out the essays that we’re given.
Being able to use computers as well,
having that accessibility is really helpful whether it's in class
or whether it's during a test or a quiz that we're having.
Especially if the test is an essay based test it's really
difficult to write it down and not have a spell checker.
>> Sheryl: My name is Sheryl Burgstahler
and I direct Accessible Technology Services
at the University of Washington in Seattle.
As you can see, it’s really important
that people with disabilities have access to the technology that they need
including assistive technology
so they can be successful in education, in careers,
and all the activities that they wish to pursue.
It’s also important that IT developers
including those that create websites, documents, software and other IT
make those products accessible to people
who are using assistive technology and to everyone else.