The document summarizes the Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program (PRATP) Information Center located at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus. It provides reference services, loans assistive technology resources, and offers training and assistance to users, particularly visually impaired students. The center houses specialized software, hardware, and information resources on assistive technologies and aims to increase awareness and use of these technologies among students and the community.

1. Assistive Technologies for Spanish Speakers with Disabilities: The PRATP Information Center ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C. GSIST-UPR RP Student Delegation Yumarys Polanco Elizabeth Rivera Wilhem Echevarría Cindy Jiménez

2. Origins of PRATP Information Center Puerto Rico Assistive Technologies Program Library services for persons with disabilities unit, UPRRP Library System ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C. PRATP Information Center

3. Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program The project began in 1993 as a federal law project. Its goal is to increase the access of people with disabilities to assistive technology in the public and private sector. It offers professional and user training, consulting, evaluation, technical support, and information about AT. ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

4. Library services for persons with disabilities unit, UPRRP Library System Provides services and meets the information needs of the population with disabilities at UPRRP. Allied with the PRATP in 1996 to house the Information Center. ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

5. PRATP Information Center Mission: to increase levels of awareness, knowledge and use of assistive technology of people with disabilities at the University and the general community. Located within the José M. Lázaro (main library) in the Río Piedras Campus. ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

6. Users Most of the Center’s users come from the student body and by referral from the Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. Visually impaired users make up the bulk of the patrons. Users are required to register to receive services from both the library unit and the information center. ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

7. Resources Journals, books, catalogs, bulletins, newsletters, videos, directories of assistive technology providers Access to the UPRRP databases: EBSCO Host, Wilson Web, etc. ( http://biblioteca.uprrp.edu ). ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

8. Resources Documents and journal articles about AT available through the PRATP website ( www.pratp.upr.edu ). Access to audio book collections through virtual libraries. ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

9. Resources Virtual Libraries Tiflolibros: primera biblioteca digital para ciegos de habla hispana. (registration required) http:// www.tiflolibros.com.ar / Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes . Sections : Sign language Library http:// www.cervantesvirtual.com Elaleph.com (registration required) http:// www.elaleph.com ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

10. Services Reference Information resources lending Referral to AT specialists Instruction about available AT services Assistance using the center’s resources ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

11. Specialized software Readers (JAWS; Outspoken) Screen magnifiers (Zoom Text; Magic) ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

12. Specialized software Screen magnifiers Reading (Open Book; Kurzweil 3000) Braille translators (Mega Dots; Duxbury) Voice recognition (Dragon Naturally Speaking) ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

13. Hardware and equipment The following hardware is also available at the Information Center: Four-channel cassette recorder Talking calculator Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) Braille typewriter ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

14. Hardware and equipment Alternative computer keyboards (Wivick) Readers (Reading Edge; Galileo) Headphones Braille printer Intelligent keyboards Joystick mouse Text and image digital scanners PC’s ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

15. Other AT equipment 1. Braille ruler 2. Magnifier 3. Pointer 4. Ruler and stylus 5. Electronic talking dictionary 6. Sticker sets Braille and uppercase letters 7. Krammer abacus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

16. The PRATP Information Center is a pioneer project in Puerto Rico whose operating model has since been replicated and improved upon by other libraries within the University of Puerto Rico system. ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.

17. Links PRATP http://www.pratp.upr.edu UPR-RP Library System http://biblioteca.uprrp.edu UPR-RP Graduate School of Information Sciences and Technologies http://egcti.upr.edu CreativeInnova Blog http://creativeinnova.blogspot.com/ Infogestión : administración de servicios de información http://infogestion-administracion.blogspot.com/ ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 2007, Washington, D.C.