Assistive Technology
The Baker Center has cutting edge software and hardware which is designed to help students with various needs. Some of our assistive technology is available to all students and some is available only to students with specific disability access plans.
This page is designed to make you aware of what sort of programs we have that might help you with your particular learning need.
If you feel that a particular program or other assistive technology would help you, our staff will spend time helping you understand how to use it.
We are happy to help and hope you will take advantage of our services and our technology!
Available Technologies
ZoomText
ZoomText® is a program which was designed to help low vision and blind people use computers. The Baker Center's current version of ZoomText® is an advanced screen magnification program which makes all Windows applications, documents, Email, and the internet accessible to visually impaired students. In the Baker Center, whenever possible, we use ZoomText in combination with a large monitor screen. Whether typing a paper, reading an online course or filling out financial aid forms, this program will make things easier for the low vision or blind individual.
NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access)
NVDA is a free, open source Windows-based screen reader used by people who are blind. It is able to read Windows screens and apps including Firefox, Google Chrome, email clients, internet chat software, music players, and office programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel. It also works with refreshable Braille devices and screen including Windows logon.
If you'd like to learn more information, go directly to the NVDA website.
Live Scribe Smart Pen
The Livescribe Smart Pen is a both a digital recorder and writing tool in an all-in-one device. The Smart Pen allows you to record class lectures and take handwritten notes at the same time! The device will also sync your recordings to your notes, so you will not have to scroll through all of your recordings to find the one you want to listen to. The Smart Pen is especially useful for fast-paced classes as you are able to listen to the lecture and take additional notes after the class has ended!
If you have a need for this auxiliary aid, stop by the Baker Center to check out the LiveScribe Smart Pen and see if it works for you!
Read & Write
Read & Write is a reading, writing and productivity tool that is provided to students by TC3 for literacy help. This software is available on campus desktops and can be downloaded onto a personal computer. Students can use this program to read a PDF or website, turn readings into recordings, dictate ideas for a paper out loud, and turn thoughts into writing that can be read back to listen for errors. This is a great resource for students with writing or mobility disabilities. Students with academic adjustments may use the Baker Center scanning station to scan text books, lecture notes, and other class related materials and then may listen to the scanned materials with Read & Write.
Equatio
Equatio is an accessible math application and extension (of Read & Write) that allows you to insert, edit, and interact with digital math in Microsoft Word and Google Suite. To have equations read aloud, you will also need to have Read & Write software downloaded. This software can be used by taking an image of a typed or written worksheet, downloading a PDF, or writing the equation into the program itself.