New Book on Adaptive Technology for Persons with Disabilities "Adaptive Technologies For Learning And Work Environments" Joseph J. Lazzaro The American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312/280-5108 ISBN: 0-8389-0615-X Pages: 251 Price: $35.00 US Ordering Instructions Toll Free Order Line: 800/545-2433 Press #7 from the voice menu for the ordering dept. "Adaptive Technologies for Learning and Work Environments" by Joseph J. Lazzaro is a 250 page guide on how to adapt personal computers for persons with disabilities. The book concentrates on using computers to access information, which is critical to top performance in the office or the classroom. The book is intended for individuals with visual, hearing, motor, and speech impairments. The text can instruct individuals, as well as office administrators, rehabilitation professionals, librarians, managers, teachers, human resource professionals, computer consultants, network administrators, and anyone else who relates to persons with disabilities. Managers and supervisors who need to provide adaptive technology to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will find much useful information within the text. For organizations concerned about inexpensively complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the guide will inform and instruct you about the myriad adaptive technologies that are difficult to locate, technologies that are being employed today at home, school, office, and public facilities. The book spotlights and explains devices that verbalize and magnify the computer screen, printers that print hard-copy braille, paperless braille displays that read the computer screen, computers that read printed books aloud or talk on the telephone, even devices that command computers through the spoken word or Morse Code. The text also discusses how to turn an adapted personal computer into a virtual library of information by linking with local area networks, accessing online databanks, or using compact disk reference systems. Included are lists of bulletin boards, online services, CDROM providers, as well as public access Internet sites. The book also describes how to analyze the needs of disabled users to provide the appropriate assistive technology, as well as how to furnish training and technical support. Sources of financial aid are also presented. Throughout the book, more than 120 specific adaptive products are described as examples of the innumerable devices available. Practical, how-to-do-it sections explain installation procedures and provide examples of how to use different technologies. Extensive end-of-chapter lists of adaptive technology vendors together with extensive appendixes provide names and addresses of useful resources. These include organizations, vendors, conferences, journals and newsletters, and programs that can further assist in finding out more about adaptive technology and its applications. A subject and product index provides quick access to the many topics within. The book will be available in alternative accessible formats. The text is written in clear language, without resorting to jargon and technical terms. Table Of Contents 1 Breaking Barriers with Adaptive Technology Blindness and Visual Impairment[K Barriers for Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Overview of Adaptive Technologies for Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Deafness and Hearing Impairment Barriers for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hearing Impaired Overview of Adaptive Technologies for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hearing Impaired Motor and/or Speech Impairment Barriers for Persons Who Are Motor and/or Speech Impaired Overview of Adaptive Technologies for Persons Who Are Motor and/or Speech Impaired The Americans with Disabilities Act On-the-Job Discrimination Public Accommodations and Transportation ADA Technical Assistance Centers Conclusion 2 The Personal Computer From Abacus to Apple Computer Hardware The Central Processing Unit Input Devices Output Devices Input/Output Ports Modems Computer Memory Storage Devices Expansion Slots and Circuit Cards Software The Disk Operating System Applications Programs Personal Computer Manufacturers The Apple IIGS The Apple Macintosh IBM Pc and Compatibles Laptops and Notebooks Selecting a Personal Computer 3 Technology for Persons with Vision Impairments Speech Synthesis Internal Speech Synthesis Hardware External Speech Synthesis Hardware Speech Synthesis Software Screen Readers for Graphics Other Adaptive Speech Applications Magnification Systems Optical Aids Large Monitors Closed Circuit Television Systems Software-Based Magnification Programs Hardware-Based Magnification Systems Braille Systems From Early Braille to Computer Technology Braille Translation Software Braille Printers Refreshable Braille Displays Pocket Braille Computers Optical Character Recognition Systems From the Kurzweil Reading Machine to Today's OCR Devices Scanning Text into a Word Processor Products for Persons with Vision Impairments Speech Synthesis Providers Magnification System Providers Braille Printer and Display Providers Optical Character Recognition System Providers 4 Technology for Persons with Hearing Impairments Text Telephones Talking on a Text Telephone Text Telephones and the ADA Braille Text Telephones Relay Services Facsimile Communication Computer-Assisted Access Baudot/ASCII Modems Text Telephone Software Talking on a Baudot/ASCII Modem Visual Beep Indicator Software Computer-Aided Transcription Computerized Sign Language Training Signaling Systems Captioning Systems Making Captioned Videotapes Electronic Amplification Systems Hearing Aids Assistive Listening Devices Telephone Amplification Systems Products for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hearing Impaired Text Telephone Providers Computer-Based Access Product Providers Sign Language Training Software Providers Signaling System Providers Captioning System Providers Electronic Amplification System Providers Deaf-Blind Product Providers 5 Technology for Persons with Motor and/or Speech Impairments Adapted Keyboards Keyboard Keyguards Keyboard Modification Software Macro Software Sticky Key and Key Modifier Software Alternative Input Systems Adapted Switches and Scanning Keyboards Morse Code Systems Word-Prediction Software Voice Recognition Systems Voice Recognition Hardware Installing and Training Voice Recognition Software Alternative Communications Devices Environmental Control Systems Products for Persons with Motor and/or Speech Impairments Adapted Keyboard Providers Keyboard Modification Software Providers Alternative Input Hardware and Software Providers Voice Recognition System Providers Alternative Communication System Providers Environmental Control System Providers 6 Applications for Adaptive Technology Local Area Networks Network Hardware Network Software Installing Adaptive Technologies on a Local Area Network The Online World Online Services Bulletin boards Electronic Mail Fax Live Chatting Online Electronic Conferencing Calling an Online Service The Internet Interfacing Adaptive Technology for Online Services Compact Disks CD-ROM Hardware and Software Interfacing Adaptive Technology with a CD-ROM Telecommunications Services and CD-ROM Products Online Service Providers Disability-Related Bulletin Board Providers Public Access Internet Sites CD-ROM Providers 7 Rehabilitation Engineering and Training Rehabilitation Engineering Job-Site Analysis Coordinating the Adaptation of the Workplace Training Classroom Training On-the-Job Training Continuing Training Training Materials Technical Support Vendor Technical Support Third-Party Technical Support Users' Groups and Special Interest Groups Help Screens 8 Funding Adaptive Technology Cost-Savings Ideas Personal Funding Sources Family and Friends Lending Institutions and Credit Unions Credit Cards Government-Sponsored Funding Sources Private-Sector Funding Sources Financial Aid Resources Address of Funding Sources Books on Funding Sources Appendixes A Organizational Resources for Persons with Disabilities B Assistive Technology Conferences C Journals and Newsletters on Assistive Technology D Technology Assistance States Index Figures 1 Personal Computer Checklist 2 Rehabilitation Engineering Checklist