Auditory Access Device

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com

Auditory devices are another means for a student who is blind or visually impaired to access print and information. These devices can help a student access information easily, but be aware that listening to books on tape is not the same as literacy.  Keep in mind that auditory skills should be used in conjunction with print or braille instruction as listening is not a form of literacy. 

Every student deserves the opportunity to be as literate as they are capable and it should not be limited to the access of personnel who are able to properly instruct the student. Auditory devices should be used in tandem with print or braille as it is essential for a student be as literate as their cognitive skills allow.

​For younger students, or those with cognitive delays, they must be taught to move to sound sources to get what they want (ex. walk to the water fountain to get water, walk to the running water to wash their hands, or go to the lunch table when they enter the cafeteria).  Encourage the student to turn their head, turn their body, and point to isolated sounds. Talk about the positions of sounds: in front, behind, beside, left, right, above.

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Accessible Auditory Access Materials

The Library of congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (talking Book program), Recording for the blind, and other organizations provide free library services to visually handicapped persons.  They offer a wide variety of texts and leisure-reading materials for download, on disk, or cassettes. 
Some machines, specifically designed for use with audio books, include variable speed components because the speeds at which special disks and cassettes are played differ from the speeds of commercially manufactured recordings.  The National Library Service lends special Talking book and cassette-playback/record machines to eligible persons for this reason.  More portable playback/record cassette equipment can be purchased from the American Printing House for the blind and various other companies, such as Humanware, throughout the United States. In recent years, downloads or pdf's are the most common means of accessing electronic text. Registering your student for a Bookshare.org or a Reading Ally account is an excellent way to access recorded books.

A recording device allows a student to record an instructional lesson for studying, write assignments and for notetaking purposes. Some of the same devices that students use to listen to recorded texts such as tape recorders, CD players, MP3 players, iPads and iPhones. It is important to gain permission from the school prior to implementing this as many schools have strict policies against recording classroom instruction.

An electronic dictionary with speech may be used by a student who cannot access a print dictionary. This dictionary, which may also include a thesaurus, is hand-held and battery operated. It uses a standard (QWERTY) keyboard on which the words are entered. Information is produced in both a spoken and large print format.

Speech recognition software turns your talk into text and can make virtually any computer task easier and faster. It lets you interact with your PC and control your digital world with your voice. Create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, send email, and search the Web just by talking. 

Beeper balls, balls with bells, goal locators with sound, and other adapted gym equipment can make gym time more accessible to students with visual impairments.

This beeper box, emits a series of beeps and can be used to create your own beeper balls (or attach to any other object)! You can go hide the beeper somewhere, and have the student locate it - much like a game of Hide and Seek. And when kids get older and you're teaching them mobility skills, this beeper is very useful for audibly marking landmarks, street corners, etc. 

Screen Reading Software​. With this hardware and software, students who are blind are able to access print material on a computer screen. Students can use the internet, word processing programs, calculators and access other printed material without having to see the screen. The best option for students who are blind who will be required to take computer tests or complete other projects on the computer, is for the school to purchase a screen reading software program. Screen reading software, like JAWS, reads the information on the computer screen.

Talking or large print calculators are essential for students with visual impairments, particularly those in academic classes. Talking hand-held calculators are available from several manufacturers. They perform the function of speaking each entry and result and are capable of performing all the computations of a non-adapted electronic calculator.  Earphones are available for many models.

Talking watches are important for students who are blind or visually impaired who are learning time management skills.

VI Assistive Technology

Basic Use

• Properly cares for AT tools​
• Stores and retrieves device when needed
• Use appropriate tool for the task
• Reports how to acquire, repair, maintain tool

Problem solve

• Check cable connections
• Reboot
• Call tech support
• Recharge device
• Know when to ask adult for help
• Change batteries (if applicable)

Braille Notetaker

• Turn device on/off
• Orient to braille keypad/QWERTY
• Locate keys (previous, back, forward, next, etc.)
• Locate braille display
• Locate ports: serial, parallel, and power
• Connect device to printer, embosser, power
• Use navigational commands
• Use reading commands
• Use general commands

iOS/Tablet

• Use of accessibility features
• Access digital print
• Downloading e-books
• Communicating with device
• Pairing with braille notetaker

Audio

• Adjust speed
• Adjust volume
• Go to specific page
• Move throughout the document
• Set heading level navigation
• Place a bookmark
• Move between bookmarks

Video Magnifier

• Bring various size print “in focus”
• Change image size for various tasks
• Move x-y tray horizontally to scan row
• Move x-y tray vertically to scan rows
• Locate requested items on a page.
• Self-initiate preferred features
• Use line markers to maintain place
• Draw lines to connect pictures in 2 columns
• Use video magnifier to complete reading tasks
• Use video magnifier to complete writing tasks

Basic Computer Use

• Basic computer use (ie shutting down, etc.)
• Touch type all letters
• Use shift key for capitalization
• Touch type numbers and symbols
• Type with increased accuracy
• Type with increased speed
• Use of standard printer
• Use of braille embosser + translation software
• Use of scanner

Access

• Built in Accessibility Features
• Use Screen Magnification Program
• Navigate the windows to locate desired information
• Use Screen Reader Program
• Activate/deactivate and minimize program

Windows Keystrokes

• Move between start button, desktop, taskbar (F6 or tab)
• Open start menu (Windows key or CTRL+ESC)
• Use start menu/desktop icon to open programs
• Display contents of drop-down list (Alt + â)
• Select choice on an icon or drop down list (enter)
• Mark or clear radio buttons (spacebar)
• Close a dialog box or drop down menu (Escape)
• Activate an application menu bar (F10 or Alt)
• Close applications (Alt + F4)
• Maximize a window (shift + windows + M)
• Minimize a window (Windows + M)
• Switch between applications (Alt + tab)
• Get help (F1)
• Use additional keystrokes

Word Processing

• Create a new document
• Move to menu and select from drop-down boxes
• Name and save a document
• Print a document
• Open and close a document
• Move to beginning of line or document
• Move to end of line or document
• Select text
• Cut, copy and paste text
• Undo a previous action
• Use spell check
• Proofread and edit document
• Change character format: font, size, typeface
• Change paragraph alignment
• Format bullets and numbering
• Create a table

Productivity

• Word Processing
• Spreadsheets
• PowerPoint
• Produce assignments in variety of formats
• Microsoft Keystroke commands

Online

• Email
• Open a web browser
• Read a web page
• Activate a link
• Utilize the search command in search engine
• Type in an internet address
• Move forward and back
• Locate a page in the favorites
• Social Media Access
• Download eBooks