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Text-to-speech options might be worth exploring for the online stuff (and contacting WebCT too; it can't be the first time this has come up). I have been getting some very good response to my 30-day demo of Quillsoft's WordQ, which reads text and has pretty intelligent word prediction for writing (the former being potentially useful for sight impaired students). Susan Jones Academic Development Specialist Academic Development Center Parkland College Champaign, IL 61821 [log in to unmask] Webmastress, http://www.resourceroom.net >>> [log in to unmask] 03/08/06 12:39 PM >>> Hi Phyllis, We too are just learning how to support students with vision impairments, so I am interested in this question. We use JAWS and Open Book (as well as Microsoft Active sync, which allows communication with a Braille Notetaker) with our blind student. For those who are legally blind, but have some vision, we have a Zoomtext magnifier. A full range of support software can be found at Abilityhub.com/org Be aware that while Word Documents are easily translated into Braille and/or read by JAWS, graphics (including charts, graphs, etc.) scan as images & tend to be unreadable. Pdf's can also be problematic, so forewarn student workers/ librarians who may be scanning closed reserve documents for visually impaired students (VIS)about this. Re-formatting is sometimes necessary. We're still trying to figure out the best way to navigate in WebCT (particularly the online class discussion feature.) We found it helpful to give instructors, advisor, & student a shared file for exchanging documents. Wright State (http://www.wright.edu/students/dis_services/) is known for providing excellent services to students with disabilities and would be a good resource. From your comment about books on tape, I'm assuming you know about Readings for the Blind & Dyslexic (http://www.rfbd.org/rdigest_book_list.htm). Publishers are also required to provide texts in alternative format, but this does take time, so you need to get the required text lists from instructors early on. Hope this helps! Amy Spencer Ohio Dominican University -----Original Message----- From: Open Forum for Learning Assistance Professionals [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Phyllis Kremen Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 12:34 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Sight Impaired Students in College Tutoring Centers Importance: High hello, I hope some of my colleagues have some suggestions for me. We want to provide the best services possible for a sight impaired student at our tutoring center. We are staffed by peer tutors. We have a sight impaired student who requires help completing her assignments - like documenting a psych paper w/APA documentation - English papers w/MLA documentation - & completing assignments in mathematics and spanish classes. The tutors seem to do okay reading the student her spanish homework - since no tapes of the books are available - but they are having a hard time helping her complete the other assignments. We could use some guidance? Does anyone know of any website for the sight impaired college students. Thank you again for any support you can offer. Phyllis Kremen, Academic Development Center Director Raymond Hall West Georgian Court University 900 Lakewood Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701-2697 732-987-2787 "Every day is another opportunity to better the accomplishments of the day before." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To access the LRNASST-L archives or User Guide, or to change your subscription options (including subscribe/unsubscribe), point your web browser to http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/lrnasst-l.html To contact the LRNASST-L owner, email [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To access the LRNASST-L archives or User Guide, or to change your subscription options (including subscribe/unsubscribe), point your web browser to http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/lrnasst-l.html To contact the LRNASST-L owner, email [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To access the LRNASST-L archives or User Guide, or to change your subscription options (including subscribe/unsubscribe), point your web browser to http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/lrnasst-l.html To contact the LRNASST-L owner, email [log in to unmask]