Students with limited motor functions or a Learning Disability can train the computer to recognize their voices. The OmniPage Pro is optical character recognition software that scans handouts, pictures or tests to translate onto a disk. Another piece of equipment we have is Duxbury, a Braille-translation software program. A text document is translated into Braille, then is formatted by the Braille embosser. The lab is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for students registered with Disability Resources and who need the assistive technology provided.
Plans are currently under way to provide other campus labs with accessible technology.
Besides Tex, the lab has two assistants. Both are seniors and have worked with the disabled for about three years. Getting to know the students personally and helping them with special needs is one reason Casey Eldred returns to the lab each semester. The senior lab technician makes sure all the technology is working, in addition to assisting the disabled students. He also assists each student as needed.