Dear Susan
Here at the Cambridge campus of APU we've already explored the
possibility of networking an absolute ton of specialist software and it
is available for folks to use in the Learning Support Centre, where the
IT people in the Learning Support Team will advise folks on how it
works and what to do. Sorry if this sounds a little embittered, but it
is what we do here and we have been doing it for some time. In fact, I
thought that we have an arrangement with the library here that students
who want to use assistive technology should be directed to us because
we have it and we have a lot of experience of teaching people to use it.
The cost/benefit review we conducted of the situation last year (i.e.,
my chat with Roddy) confirmed that there was no great advantage to
anyone in doubling up resources. At the same time, there are a number
of reasons why C&ITS do not want to take this on. If you like, we can
discuss them off list.
Regards, Bernard
On Thu, 1 Nov 2001 15:52:28 +0000 Susan Butler <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> I'd be very interested to see responses to this!
>
> Here at APU we've been exploring the possibility of networking
> specialist software. We're advised by our IT people that we can't do
> this; apparently the standard image we use is based on Windows NT,
> which acts as an interface between software and hardware and is hostile
> to software with sound manipulation etc (which needs to interact with
> the hardware direct).
>
> We have specialist software for sight impaired students on a pc in our
> "Adaptive Technology Room" in the library. We also have a freestanding
> (not networked) pc in the Learning Support Zone, reserved for students
> who wish to work on study skills, on which we are going to
> have installed a range of study skills software, including some aimed
> at dyslexic students - Inspiration and textHelp. However, we won't be
> able to have IT support for the software.
>
> On Thu, 1 Nov 2001 13:10:58 GMT0BST Hugo COSH <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Hello all
> >
> > How do other HEIs provide on-site specialist software (e.g. textHELP,
> > inspiration, Dragon, Kurzweil, Jaws, ZoomText) for disabled students?
> > Do you have, for example:
> > aseparate ‘support services’ room (open only to disabled students)
> > housing a small number of PCs which have specialist software
> > installed on their hard drives?
> > specialistsoftware networked throughout the institution and
> > therefore no separate space for disabled students?
> > specialistsoftware networked with quieter areas built into larger
> > computer labs?
> > networkedsoftware and a separate room for those who prefer the
> > latter?
> >
> > Particularly interested to hear from those who have moved in recent
> > times to networking software across the campus. Was the networking
> > process a nightmare? Did you keep separate quiet areas for users of
> > voice recognition software and for those who prefer to work in a
> > secluded room?
> >
> > Any responses on or off-list ([log in to unmask]) would be great.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Hugo Cosh
> > Student Learning Support Services
> > University of Wales College of Medicine
>
> ----------------------
> Susan Butler
> [log in to unmask]
----------------------
Bernard Doherty
Senior Student Adviser
Anglia Polytechnic University
Tel: 01223 363271 x2434
Fax: 01223 363369
Minicom: 01223 576155
[log in to unmask]
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