There are a wide array of technical aids and assistive technologies that might be needed as part of an accommodation solution for your employee. These include standalone devices and hardware and software that integrate with your corporate information technology infrastructure.
| Category | Function | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Large Print and Print Enhancement | This software magnifies print on the screen up to 16 times. It allows users to select high contrast colours and read print more efficiently and often includes text-to-speech. A visually impaired employee might choose to have their emails magnified and read aloud to them with this technology. |
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| Alternative Keyboards and Pointing Devices | The standard PC keyboard and mouse does not necessarily suit each person. There are alternative techniques for entering data and controlling the mouse. These alternatives can help reduce RSI or make reaching every key on the keyboard a possibility. |
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| CCTV's | CCTV's (Close Circuit TV's) are devices that magnify and display paper based materials. They can be standalone or portable. | |
| Screen Readers and Braille | An employee that is blind is able to access computers and information technology using software that reads the information displayed on the screen and provides navigation tools to manipulate standard office software. Some employees might benefit from Braille input and output as well. |
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| Reading and Writing Tools | Employee's with learning disabilities or literacy difficulties can access a range of tools to assist with reading and writing. Software that can read text aloud as it highlights each word combined with scanners make both electronic and paper-based text accessible. Writing and spelling can be facilitated either using word prediction or voice recognition. Organizing thoughts, ideas and schedules is made easier using PDA's. |
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| Voice Recognition | With voice recognition software it is possible to dictate text and to control a computer hands-free. Employees that find using a keyboard difficult can still work in computer based jobs. |
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| Assistive Listening Devices, TTY's, PDA's | An employee with a hearing impairment may require a device to assist with using the telephone. Instant messaging and PDA's like the Blackberry can be effective tools for communicating with coworkers. | Contact the Canadian Hearing Society for more information. |
| Universal Design | Designing and procuring universally accessible software is something that your organization can do to enhance the accessibility of your information technology environment. This will result in less compatibility problems with assistive devices and increased employee productivity. For more information see resources at right. |
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Dragon Naturally Speaking - Preferred -Dragon Naturally Speaking 8 is the most accurate speech recognition product Nuance has ever developed - delivering up to 99% accuracy!
Kurzweil 3000 for Windows- Kurzweil 3000 for Windows was first introduced in 1996. It has since become the leading reading, writing and learning solution for individuals of all ages with learning difficulties like dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and other literacy difficulties.
Inspiration-The premier visual thinking and visual learning tool to design and develop ideas and organize thinking in business, professional and learning milieus.
The Reading Pen-The Reading Pen II is a fully portable, self-contained assistive reading device that is designed to provide people with reading difficulties, learning disabilities or dyslexia with immediate word support while they are reading printed text and help them read and understand independently. The American ReadingpenII contains over 480,000 words from the American Heritage College Dictionary, 3rd Edition.
WYNN is software that helps you read, study, and comprehend text more easily and effectively.
ZoomText Magnifier/Reader-Integrated magnification and screen reading for vision impaired computer users. With new 'xFont' and NeoSpeech technology, ZoomText Magnifier/Reader allows you to see and hear your computer with perfect clarity.
For Product Listings refer to the link below:
JAN receives thousands of accommodation-related inquiries per year. The SOAR system allows users to obtain accommodation ideas. JAN consultants compile these accommodation ideas and post them to SOAR