The document provides an overview of assistive technologies and accessibility. It discusses the National Disability Coordination Officer Program which provides services to help people with disabilities access education and employment. It defines disability and assistive technology, and provides examples of assistive technologies like screen readers. It also discusses legislative responsibilities around accessibility and universal design. Contact information is provided for the National Disability Coordination Officer in the Northern Territory.

1. Liz Reid

2. Assistive Technologies & Accessibility
E-MAGINARIUM NT
Friday 9th December 2011

3. Program overview
The National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO)
Program uses an Australian –wide network of 31 officers
to provide information, coordination and referral
services for people with a disability who are looking for
(or enrolled in) post-school education and training, to
help them gain employment

4. NDCOs provide…
• Information, coordination and referral activities for
people with a disability
• Assist local education providers to provide better
services for people with a disability
• Link individuals and organisations to local support
services
• Raise awareness amongst education providers and the
general public of the issues facing people with a
disability

5. What does Accessibility really mean?

6. Definition of disability
• Physical (paraplegia, mobility impairment, back injury)
• Sensory (Sight, hearing)
• Chronic Medical Conditions (MS, Diabetes) & Chronic Pain (Juvenile
arthritis, back injury)
• Writing Impairments (RSI, Broken Arm)
• Intellectual ( Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome)
• Learning Disability (Dyslexia, Written expression,Mathematics disorder )
• Communication (verbal & non verbal)
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Foetal
Alcohol Syndrome)
• Psychiatric / Psychological
• Past, present & future disabilities

7. Disability is not so much an attribute of the individual as of
the social and physical environment in which he or she
lives. The nature of the disability experienced by the
individual can be moderated when environments and
practices are designed to be inclusive.

8. Assistive Technology
Developments in Assistive Technology have significantly
improved opportunities for access to information and
education for people with disability.

9. Assistive Technology
Definition
Assistive Technology (AT) is an umbrella term that includes
devices, tools, hardware & software.
AT promotes greater independence and enable people with
disability to perform functions that might otherwise be
difficult or impossible.

10. Assistive Technology

11. JAWS Screen Reader - Hear an Example
Experience how a JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen
reader works on the home page of the Handbook for
Museums and Educators.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK97XMibEws&feature=rel
ated

12. Universal Design

13. Our Legislative Responsibilities
Legislation Guidelines
Commonwealth Legislation Web content Accessibility Guidelines (W3R)
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Weblink:
– Disability Standards for http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/
Education 2005
Territory Legislation
• NT Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 Australian Flexible Learning Framework:
Universal Design
Weblink:
Http://pre2005.flexiblelearning.net.au/g
uides/universal.html

14. Looking at the J K Rowling website with the Jaws screen
reader
The J K Rowling website is created using Flash, and has a
standard and an accessible version. This video shows how the
two versions differ for blind users using the Jaws screen
reading software.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xxAgVat64&feature=relate
d

15. Assistive Freeware
There is an increasing availability of good quality free assistive
technology software available.
EduApps:- Http://www.eduapps.org/
- Free, portable programs
- Includes free Text to Speech program Balabolka
- Each receive a copy of AccessApps program (downloaded
from this website)today on USBs provided

16. Points to consider
• Each student’s needs are different and should be individually
evaluated to ensure successful outcomes.
• The merging of AT –features useful for a wider audience not
just people with disability
• There is no ‘wonder tool’ –rather a toolbox is needed

17. Contact
For Information
Contact: National Disability Coordination Officer - NT
Narelle Higginson
narelle.higginson@cdu.edu.au
Telephone: (08) 89466288