“Three for Three”

 

Three ADA Compliant

Computer Workstations

To Serve Three Disabilities

 

MIT 512 Fall 2003

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

 

Introduction    Workspace Design   Diagram of Classroom    Implementation Plan

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Exceptional Children’s department, the Computer Resource Teacher, and the Administration of this school has designed three computer workstations that are ADA compliant and will target the needs of students with visual, auditory, and physical impairments.  It is known that in the past three years, twenty-eight students have had a visual or hearing impairment.  Another thirty-six students have had temporary and or permanent physical impairments.  Computer workstations with assistive technology will increase accessibility, enhance learning and increase motivation for students with these specific disabilities.

 

The school has computer workstations for students in exceptional children’s (EC) classroom. The computers are running the Windows 95 operating system and have limited access to only one local printer on one machine.  These computer stations do not have additional software and hardware that directly targets physical disabilities.  The technology of these machines is not up to date and is not ADA compliant.  Under the “No Child Left Behind” legislation, the present technology in the EC classroom is not adequate for these students.  The funding requested will establish three up to date computer workstations that have the necessary software and hardware needed to comply with the student disabilities.

 

This plan will target students with visual, hearing, and limb impairment.  The computer stations will run the Windows XP operating system and compatible software and hardware for visual, hearing, and physical impairments.

 

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WORKSPACE DESIGN

 

The New Hanover High School EC department is set up with adequate room to accommodate the workstation requirements.  Three workstations can be setup without difficulty.

 

The furniture requirements:

3 Bi-Level Computer Workstations with AADA Signage should be purchased to fulfill this need.  These workstations are wheelchair accessible and height adjustable, this computer workstation allows bi-level height adjustments to accommodate individuals of all abilities and statures. The keyboard height and computer monitor sections can be independently adjusted by hand crank from 24" - 34" (61 - 86 cm) high. In the school setting, the workplace or in any facility that has multiple users of varying abilities, the attached ADA signage will assist wheelchair users in locating an accessible computer workstation. 

 

The hardware requirements:

The computers to be used will be the Compaq Evo machines that are currently under contract with the New Hanover County School System.  They will be setup with the Windows XP operating system. These workstations will be complete with cd-rom and floppy drive.  The system components of this machine must be as up to date as possible.   Since many students with disabilities have very specific needs, additional components may need to be added to these stations per request. The workstations should have the capability to accommodate additional software and hardware installations. A Hewlett Packard LaserJet 2300 with a network card will be at each location.

 

The keyboards that will be used along with the standard keyboards are the Big Keys LX keyboards and the IntelliKeys with IntelliTools plugins for the visually impaired students and also for students with fine motor skills difficulty.  The “Biggie Cursor” software will need to be installed as an additional aid for the visually impaired students.

 

The software titles will include: 

Various software programs will be needed for each station in addition to Microsoft Office.  Others include  BrookesTalk, Talking Word Processor, Talking Calculator, Mavis Beacon Typing software, the Talking Dictionary for Talking Software, Talking Phonebook, Reading Power, Text Remover, and Kids Pix software.  Attainment software such as Basic Math and Spelling, Basic Coins and Dollars and Cents will be used also.  The EdMark Reading program and Survival Signs by PCI will also be purchased and used on these stations.

 

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Additional information about these items can be found online:

Visual

BrookesTalk

http://www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/cms/research/speech/aboutBrookesTalk.htm

 

Talking Word

http://www.premier-programming.com/talking_word_processor.htm

 

Talking Calc

http://65.200.22.182/training/TCalc/talking_calc.htm

 

Biggie Cursor

http://www.rjcooper.com/biggy-light/index.html

Hearing

Reading Power

http://www.rmlearning.com/DeafReading.htm

 

Text Remover

http://www.divx-digest.com/software/hearingtext_remover.html

 

Math Signs

http://www.sonidoinc.com/low/products/mathsigns/lrmathsigns.htm

 

Science Signs

http://www.sonidoinc.com/low/products/sciencesigns/lrsciencesigns.htm

 

Inspiration

http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/multimedia/software.html

 

Physical

IntelliTools

http://www.intellitools.com/

 

Big Keys LX

http://www.enablemart.com/products_detail.asp?id=179. 

 

 

Wheelchair Accessible Table

http://www.acessinc.com/wheelchair_computer_table.htm

Additional

Software for EC

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

http://www.broderbund.com/Product.asp?OID=4148829&SC=1105647&CID=249

 

Kid Pix

http://www.riverdeep.net/products/kid_pix/index.jhtml

 

EdMark Reading

http://www.enablemart.com/products_detail.asp?id=58

 

Basic

 

 

Survival Signs

http://www.sonidoinc.com/low/products/survsignslp/ssvmain2.htm

 

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The workstations should be setup on the side of the room close to the network accessible ports and the lead teacher’s desk.   These stations will be placed side by side to insure ease of access for all students. 

 

DIAGRAM OF EC CLASSROOM

 

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IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

 

The goal is to have these workstations designed and fully implemented by October 2004. 

 

 

Space Modification

Facilities and Furniture Modification

Purchasing

Installation

System Test

Policy Design

When

May 2004

May 2004

May 2004

August 2004

September 2004

October 2004

Who

1) Principal

2) Custodial staff

3) Contractors

4) CRT

5) EC staff

6) NHC Tech Dept.

1) Principal

2) Custodial Staff

3) Contractor

4) CRT

5) NHC Tech Dept.

6) EC staff

1) Principal

2) CRT

4) School Accountant

3) NHC Tech Dept.

4) EC staff

 

1) CRT

2) NHC Tech Dept.

1) CRT

2) NHC Tech Dept.

3) EC staff

1) CRT

2) EC staff

 

Space Modification and Facilities and Furniture Modification

The EC classroom may need modifications to accommodate the three workstations.  There will be a need for additional network ports and electrical outlets in the areas in which the workstations will be placed.  Existing furniture and Windows 95 workstations may need to be relocated depending on current needs and space limitations.

 

1) Principal - Approves any modifications

2) Custodial staff – Relocates anything any the area to be modified and prepares the site for modifications.

3) Contractor – Completes any construction, electrical work, and additional network port installation needed.

4) CRT – Completes all approval forms and plans the modifications.

5) EC staff – Consultant for planning the modifications

6) New Hanover County Technology Department – Consultant for planning modifications

 

Purchasing

New Hanover High School has set guidelines for purchasing equipment.  This process will take place in late spring in order to ensure that all equipment and software will be ready for installation in the beginning of the school year.

 

1) Principal – Approves any purchases

2) CRT Research and provide equipment ordering information

3) School Accountant – Completes purchase requisitions

3) New Hanover County Technology Department – Consultant for purchasing software and hardware

4) EC staff – Consultant for purchasing software and hardware

 

Installation                                              

The CRT and New Hanover County Technology Department has network privileges to complete workstation setup and software installation. 

1) CRT – Completes installation process

2) New Hanover County Technology Department – Assists with installation if needed

 

System Test

Once each workstation is properly installed, the system test will ensure that all programs and hardware are working and are compatible with the Novell Network System. 

1) CRT – Plans, and conducts test

2) New Hanover County Technology Department – Assists with planning and conducting tests

3) EC staff –Consultant for planning test.  May provide students for conducting test.

 

Policy Design

The workstations will be setup as follows:  The EC student logins will have a separate set of policies from the rest of the student population.  The EC students will have access to see the icons on the desktop.  They will be able to save work on the partition space on the hard drive as well as their individual network space if necessary.  They will not be able to see any of the networks drives other than their own space on the server.  Students who are not part of the EC department will only have access to the Novell Application Launcher.  The EC teachers will monitor the workstations to be sure EC students with special needs only access them.  These workstations are to be reserved for EC use only.

1) CRT – Designs policies of use

2) EC staff – Consultant

3) Principal - Consultant

 

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