Bibliography

We have no students with an ability impairment or blindness. The majority of our students are learning disabled. Our campus is closing next year.

We have no students on our campus who need mobility/orthopedic computer adaptations at this time (nor have we had any for some time).

We have a small population of students with disabilities and are just beginning to look at adaptive technology. Why didn't you include hearing disabilities?

We can't justify having equipment just in case someone might someday need it. The equipment would grow obsolete before it would get used.

We currently do not have any students enrolled who require adaptive equipment in order to enroll in computer courses.

We have several dyslexic students and one with a spatial vision problem, but none have had difficulty with computers.

We have very few, if any, disabled students on our campus.

We have had few (2-3) requests from disabled students over the last 7-8 years.

We have never had a blind student. We have had a few with orthopedic disabilities - but they have always been able to use regular workstations.

We are a private non-traditional institution of higher learning with very few disabled students. Our student population consists mostly of established working adults. There has thus far been very little need, or request, for assistance with acquiring equipment or software.

We have a very low population of DS, faculty, or staff. We would try to accommodate them if they wanted to use computers.

We only have 1 disabled student and his mobility impairment presents no problem since micros and terminals are accessible.

We have not had a disabled student requiring the use of computing services so we have, as of yet, done nothing.

We do not have anything in place for special computer use by disabled students. Several learning disabled students have their own personal programs, but we have no students with disabilities requiring adaptive equipment.

We have no campus, see attached.

Without a larger population of students with disabilities the University will not be compelled to move on adaptive computerization

You need to be aware that we have only seen 3 students with disabilities at our computing services in 6 years.

You may not want to use this. We have so few disabled students on our campus that we have very little in the way of adaptive equipment or special programs. For example, in the past five years, we have had one blind student and two wheelchair users - no totally deaf.

Financial/Staffing Concerns

*, like most universities and colleges, does not have the funds to provide computer equipment & services to disabled students.

Additional money is required to provide additional services. Who should pay? The disabled students normally can't.

As a small, private institution we don't have funds to provide special equipment or services to small numbers of students and we make that clear during the admission process. Disabled students who choose to attend here understand that apart from physical access to buildings, we can't provide for their special needs to any significant degree. So far that has not been a problem. The students employ assistants, note-takers, typists, etc. as needed.

As I said, $ is our major problem - we have the "know-how," do have a HTC

At public colleges, the states should provide adequate funding of education departments to purchase, provide, and maintain special computers for H.P.

Budget constraints always inhibit inclusion of very expensive computerized equipment. We are making efforts for grant $'s...

Computer literate personnel & students.

Critical - access to most appropriate hardware and software; funding

Economies of scale place a severe financial burden upon small, private institutions that do not receive state financial support for disabled student services.

Expense of purchase vs. level of use/FTE is a concern. Institution must see benefit for itself, too.

Financial support is the major obstacle to attaining computing equipment for students with disabilities. VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities), a * State sponsored service for students with handicapping conditions, provides most of the equipment you highlight in this survey for students who require it. Hence the college doesn't purchase it.

For the most part, our blind students are not Braille-users & do not relate to speech-synthesis alone. There is a real need for a voice recognition system, such as Dragon Dictate, which is affordable.

Funding is a problem. We have no students at the present time who do not have access to computers.

Funding seems to be the 'major' problem. Our school is very high on a High Tech Center for the disabled and we are in the process of developing same.

Funding is a major issue for * to remain state of the art in their HTC's

Funding continues to be a difficult problem.

I am dismayed at the lack of funding/awareness/concern in this area.

I believe that providing computing services to disabled students could be a vital help to them, but the cost of the equipment is high and few people would know how to operate such equipment. The necessary training cost would be too high, too.

I know what we can do and want to do it, but we have no funds. Frustrating!

Inadequate funding to maintain equipment, and update to current tech. (hardware/software)

Lack of facilities is due to inadequate funding and few (if only) disabled students expressing an interest in such services.

Lack of funding for disabled programs & high cost of equipment/products.

Large "barrier" is that many, if not most, support staff have little computer experience, i.e. are less receptive to adaptive tech. than if they know first hand what technology could do. Another is that other than L.D., disability #'s are fairly low in areas of sightedness, etc., and expenditures are harder to justify.

Many students have personal equipment (adaptive) purchased through various resources; therefore, it is often difficult to justify (to administrators, etc.) the purchase of such adaptive equipment.

More funding is needed to provide services listed above which are not provided.

My only reason for expressing less than "very desirable" status for placement of computers in the residence is that we do not have anything even remotely approaching adequate funding for this. Our funding is not adequate even for on-campus services.

Need more financial and institutional support!!

Need funds to hire personnel to train students prior to enrollment in college classes. Students come with little computer skill & do not have time to develop skills because of other course commitments.

On this campus, services for students with disabilities, in theory, is to provide everything for students with disabilities. However, no money is provided for computer access and the computer center has not addressed the issues thinking it's this offices' responsibility. One of the "Catch 22's" to resolve. Very frustrating

Our school's policy has been to respond to needs of individuals as they arise. Our funding, in a small school, does not allow us to provide services on any other basis.

Primary barriers to this are access to information as to what's available, and funding to purchase.

Provision of support staff to answer questions is critical. without it, students in initial phases give up & equipment goes unused. See info attached on 3 special programs - Customer Support, Micro-Academic Strategies Class for learning disabled & IAT.

Problems? Money from administration and commitment from students.

Questions a & c above - "desirable" is a factor controlled by budget and concerns in providing best access for the most at any given time with limited equip and space!

Send me money and space.

There is a dire need for additional funding.

There's wonderful technology available but no funds!!!

The field is changing so quickly that it is impossible to keep up with funding at a level so as to remain current.

The biggest barriers are money & availability of space. Students benefit greatly from the use of computers & adaptive modes but many don't know how to use what is available. It takes time, students. & staff are always too pressured to make it a priority even though in the long run the benefits will be worth it.

The most difficult issue is space to house and effectively make available to disabled students. Then too, on-going funding after major purchase expenditure for additional software & peripheral equip.

Until institutions of higher learning can consider the disabled/handicapped student population as a viable "recruiting" factor, funds will not be allocated for services. Unfortunately, *'s still cater to the "Have's" not the "Have Nots" (strictly a personal reflection).

We could do better if we had more money and more space.

We had provided a computer specialist who worked with disabled students; however due to lack of funding and the small number of students who worked with her we were unable to continue this position.

We're talking to students about what they might need, but so far the *'s budgetary problems have prevented any new acquisitions.

We are a very new program (Sept 91) and have many needs. Money is short for expensive computer adaptive devices/software, but knowledge of the "computer age" is also slow to come to both handicapped students and their professors here in lower *.

We are a two-year regional campus and do not have resources for computing services for disabled students. Most students with special needs attend the * Campus.

We would like to provide more services to our students with special needs but our funds are limited. We receive no federal/state money except for PEL student loans.

We often provide these accommodations as students with needs arrive - mostly due to cost; we've had little luck finding useful software for learning disabled, and adaptive keyboards are a new concept for us.

We are just getting into this - funding is a problem, but we are making some progress (brochure enclosed).

We will continue to ask for funds to provide computing skills!!!

We need more funding to purchase the equipment. We need more training on its use and adequate staff to provide training to the students on appropriate use of the equipment and programs.

We do not have a budget for disabled student services.
Future Plans

* would very much like to have computer equipment to help the disabled students and their learning process. We have just begun a disabled student support group and are trying to provide the best possible to our students with our limited funds.

An ADA Task Force is in the progress of being formed. The issues on this survey will be dealt with and hopefully implemented soon.

Currently in process of establishing center which will include adaptive computer equipment

Grant monies will be purchasing Print Enlarger - Braille printer & voice synthesizer to be placed in the Learning Assistance Center.

Have applied to the state for monies to provide these services starting in 93-94.

I have presently moved to Chair our Section 504 Committee & one area in serious need of improvement in tech access for disabled students. Our responses will be a lot more favorable a year from now.

If a need is called to our attention, we attempt to make appropriate accommodations. This survey has called attention to an area we may be able to make improvements in.

Our information will probably not assist you very much. We are still working on enhancing our computer services to all of our students.

Planning workshop for Apple software for special needs students - April 1992 & Computer Fair to include Adaptive hardware, March 1992.

These responses are based on equipment purchased several years ago, before the institution had a DSS office. We are in the process of implementing a more strategic, efficient plan for funding, & services related to computer access for students with disabilities.

The DSS office at our University is currently in the process of providing our Central Computing Services Office with a list of computer needs & their costs as the University is interested in developing a centralized computer lab that is accessible to all students.

This is an area of serious concern & planning at the present. Would love to hear of your results.

This is an area that our office is currently researching. We hope to have an improved computing service for students with disabilities.

We are in the process of getting more computer access for our L.D. students. I would like to know your results.

We are working on a grant project with an area college to purchase, install and train adaptive computing.

We are currently forming a committee to address most of these issues.

We are in the process (Technology Committee) of raising awareness of the needs of the disabled student population. We are trying to get the funding to build a computer center equipped for evaluation for adaptive needs. This is very exciting!

We will be applying for a grant for computer software/adaptive computer equipment. We have just begun to purchase adaptive equipment. If you have information about colleges that have an adaptive computer lab/center - please share it with *.

We are currently in the process of purchasing a Kurzweil Personal Reader for our students.

We filled out this survey in the process of setting up hardware and installing software. As this process is not completed, some of the items are not available at this time such as electronic bulletin boards, etc. It is our intent to develop greater support for the existing facility and continue to encourage the admin. and Computing Center to expand their efforts in order to allow disabled students the same access as non-disabled individuals.

We have started a cooperative effort with * Department of Education to have one computer available for disabled students but they have not completed their part of the agreement - it's been 5 months. We are looking at other options, too.

We are now starting to provide accessibility to our student computer lab.

We have two computer access labs planned for Fall '92. Survey completed based on our projections.

We plan to build required computer time into students' tutoring time to try to encourage them to learn to integrate use of computers into their work.

We are currently assessing needs of our students and anticipate purchasing adaptive equipment for computers very soon. At the present, we have none. I would like to receive the results of your study.

We have obtained several grants and are in the process of writing for more funding to obtain adaptive computer hardware and software

We are just in the process of evaluating where & how we can make computer access more available to students with disabilities so they can access the same facilities as non-disabled students. We are working with our campus committee that coordinates all computer services for students.

We are applying for grants to help us purchase more equipment and software so we can better serve our students.

We are just beginning to set up 2 adaptive workstations. I'm excited about the possibilities. I'd like more $ to buy more things, though!

While adaptive devices are now available only through the Adaptive Computer Lab, we look forward to making them available in other areas of the college - Also, services to students with learning disabilities is handled primarily through Learning Resource Center.

With a relatively new administrative team, we are just beginning to address this issue. I see major advancements on the horizon for us in *.

Requests for Information

2 - Please send a copy of the results.

A listing of organizations willing to entertain requests for funding computer services for students with disabilities would be very helpful.

I am coordinator of hearing impaired support services. I believe we are one of a handful of colleges that has computers especially for working with the deaf. I would be interested in the results of your survey. I am the developer of the * dictionary for the deaf.

I am School of Education faculty who has a special interest in one blind student so she received a computer for her room. There is a lack of organized ways to provide for these students & lack of vision. Few people know what can be done - what is available.

I have position to research and train in this area - I was hired because of background as a service provider - my computer skills are limited. I would appreciate results of this survey.

I have difficulty judging worth of equipment. We have purchased over $30,000 worth of "adaptive" equipment that is not "User Friendly" and is not used by disabled students.

I would like more information on adaptive equipment and funding in order to purchase.

I would appreciate a copy of this study, if possible.

I would like a copy of your results.

Lack of knowledge - need centralized information service.

Please note I am a new professional, so I have not had an opportunity to experience or learn about everything on this survey. I answered the best I could.

Please inform me of how to obtain results when available, card enclosed.

Please send copy of results of your survey.

The institution & computer services management. have not attended to these issues or needs. DSS has advocated for and located funding to support these areas. I would like a copy of the results

Updated information as to adaptations is always needed.

We welcome information on adaptive equipment software.

We are currently preparing a "wish list" of adaptive computer equipment needed with hopes of making purchases before fall quarter begins.

We encourage our students to utilize VR services as much as possible for their individual needs. So far we have not had to make extensive purchases of adaptive equipment, but foresee this will be a reality soon. I have a real concern about purchasing expensive equipment for use by one or two students, especially with the tech changing so rapidly! I need help in this area.

We appreciate your time and effort and do hope to get the results. Thanks.

Other

* Commission for the Blind and * Services are way too slow to react to school and student needs--lack of funds, afraid to agree to buy any equipment for the school. They foot drag and stall till students drop out due to frustration. All state agencies do is talk, no action.

* has a High Tech Center for the Disabled at * in the *district *. It is grant funded by the state & acts as a resource for all the high tech centers. in *. Colleges. * of * is also very impressive in its tech center & hosts a conference every March or April - This won't be much help this as its over by March 21st. However it is an annual event & quite good. Thanks for your survey. We need to get students. with disabilities involved in our services as more than clients. A suggestion for future mailings. I'd much prefer your form be printed on both sides of same paper and with larger print - it was hard to read and answer.

* has several agencies that provide & train the use of assistive devices/technology. In addition the Department of Education has an office dedicated to assistive tech. Secondary system has rehabilitation engineers, occupational engineers to assess need + provide adaptive devices. Our post-secondary campus provides basic computer, adaptations come from agencies. The individualized need & the rapidly changing tech field make it too unrealistic to provide competent staff to serve low incidence needs. We adopt our curriculum + provide support services to make sure that students with disabilities have access to our classes & programs and can complete requirements. See the attached Programs & Services. There are broad definitions of support, but is is within these programs that individualized and/of direct services in major area programs. Many agencies are unwilling to fund assistive technology until it can be proved that a student is committed and able to master the curriculum and that the devices provided will make the student more employable.

* has three agencies that give very good support to the handicapped student: the * Commission for the Blind, the * Commission for the Deaf, and the * Rehabilitation Commission.

* is an "open door" institution which means and/or is interpreted as "Everyone Being Treated the Same". We have "NO" Disabled Student Services Program. We do provide interpreters, notetakers, readers, tutors, computer assistants, peer mentors, peer assistants, special orientations and teacher strategies to assist our disabled students...

* is an assessment institution, therefore we do not offer instruction.

* was very responsive in support of a hearing impaired law student. We were able to support him with the Rapidtext captioning system. There were not adequate numbers of trained (local) notetakers on system, however. In my consulting on a system for a quadriplegic, I found * helpful for technical information.

A hidden need! Good questions.

A local organization "Elks Help" provides a lending closet of computer equipment. Some students utilize that service. We do not have many students utilizing specialized equipment.

A small private college can not hope to meet all the needs of the disabled.

Administration and student services provide NO support to such students. I do because I am the Literacy Director and also have expertise.

Adaptive Computer equipment has been traditionally provided to students with disabilities on an as needed and individual basis.

All of our students have access to tutors to help with computer skills. We do not have adaptive machines.

All disabled students are mainstreamed in regular classes, including computer classes. In addition to computer classes which are taught through the Business Department, several other departments teach through the use of computers.

As Director of Support Services for Students with Learning Disabilities we are beginning to get our feet wet here. On an individual basis students are served but not as on institution funding.

At this time we do not have any special services for students with disabilities. Our students are all provided similar services. Our Center for Academic Development assists students with academic deficiencies.

At this time, we do not have any special computer facilities for disabled.

Boy - this survey certainly shows how far we have to go!

Caution needed in investing in technology - due to changes in availability & student need & determination to use.

Computer specialists in facility available for needed expertise

Computers are very beneficial to many individuals with disabilities - permits them to operate independently.

Computing Services, Library Services, and the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities try to respond and meet the individual needs of students. Once a service is identified as being needed, efforts are made to obtain it for the student or students with the specific needs.

Computers are used at this school to write papers and mostly for graphic design purposes. The school doesn't use computers as tools for academic support. We will provide adaptive devices on a per student basis (based on individual student need). As a Fine Arts school, all our students, including those with disabilities, work in Fine Arts areas.

Computing services are not generally available to any students on campus, except by taking specific computer related courses. Our major computer system for disabled students is one unit which serves as a reading system using speech synthesizer. This unit is kept under lock & key since our previous system (housed in the library for maximum usage & availability) was stolen. Students aren't consulted much because it soon becomes apparent (after talking with them) that they aren't knowledgeable or preferred only the system that they had or had heard of. Few (no) students seemed knowledgeable & willing (able) to see things from a larger (multi-disability, trans-personal) point of view. In addition, we wished to provide access with state-of-the-art hardware & software which few of them could afford or were familiar.. with the thought of providing the best & that which would be available in the work world. We soon learned to call other universities that had years of experience with many disabilities. Why try to reinvent the wheel? University staff & departments were consulted in order to insure & work out the "fit" of the incoming system with current equipment & classroom needs. Students have been very pleased with our equipment choices & systems. We continue to ask students for ideas & preferences...but their responses are often not usable directly. For example, a student may describe a preference for her magnification system. We may be able to buy a system that incorporates the features that she wants, plus other features for students with other disabilities or preferences.