1. Role of Assistive Technologies in
Higher Education and Work places
Srinivasu Chakravarthula
Sr. Manager, Inclusive Design, Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inclusive Design

2. Introduction to AT
• Assistive Technologies help people with
disabilities to have access to
computers, mobile and other electronic
devices
• Type of Assistive Technologies are vary for one
disability to another
• Some of them are software and some are
hardware.
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3. Needs of a student
• Access to text books
• Taking down the notes
Completing the assignments
• Research
• Appearing Examinations
• Attending to the Lab sessions
Communicating with network colleges or students
• Mathematics
• Access to geographic maps
• Understanding concept
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4. Issues and Solutions
• In-availability of text books, maps etc in alternate formats
– Scanner with OCR
– Tactile maps and graphs
– Student to have a net book / laptop
• Inadequate library material in accessible formats
– Digital Talking books with DAISY
• Lack of Assistive aids in labs
– Aids like liquid level indicators, talking measuring tools
• Lack of accessible gaming platform and awareness for outdoor games
– Tactile chess boards and awareness among students and teachers how to
include people with disabilities in games and other entertainment activities
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5. Issues and Solutions (Contd.,)
• Access to the internet
• Access to wide range of mailing lists and
forums
– Access India
– Bookshare.org
– DAISY Forum of India
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6. Needs at work place
• Attending meetings
• Making presentations
• Generating reports
• Use of Intranet
• Communication
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7. Issues and solutions
• For a person with low vision – Telescope
• For person who is completely blind – obtain PPT
in advance
• Scanner and OCR
• Orientation for work place
• Tactile labels at food counters, meeting rooms
• Awareness among the other employees
• Ensuring accessibility standards for Intranet
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8. Resources
• WebAnyWhere –
http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu
• NVDA – Free and Open Source Screen reader –
http://nvda-project.org
• DAISY: http://daisy.org
• BookShare: http://bookshare.org
• XRCVC – http://xrcvc.org
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9. Questions and Thank you!
Srinivasu Chakravarthula
srinivu@yahoo-inc.com
http://accessibility.yahoo.com
Twitter: @vasutweets @yahooaccess
Yahoo! Inclusive Design