Our Technology for Equal Access: Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities talk about the assistive technology they use in educational settings. Students share information about technology for writing assignments, organizing material, specialized software, and more. Also available with audio description: https://youtu.be/dNbVs5i-QlA

>> 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.

Subtitles created on the Amara.org platform.