Presenter: Stuart Lawler, NCBI

Training And technology: The Tools

For Success!

Introduction• About NCBI• About our Technology Service• What is Assistive Technology?• Matching Technology with People• Technology in the Workplace• Case Studies

About NCBI• Founded in 1931, provides services

and supports for over 16,000 people• Most registered blind have some

level of usable vision• One in every five people who can

work are currently in employment

About our Technology Service

• Technical assessment/demonstration• Reports issued to employers

detailing suitable technical solutions• Installation/configuration and

training• On-going technical support and

options for further training

What is Assistive technology?

• Definition: technology used by individuals with disabilities in order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible (University of Washington)

Technology for blind users

• Screen reading (Jaws, Window Eyes, Voiceover)

• Refreshable Braille Terminals• OCR output to synthetic speech or

refreshable Braille

Technology for low vision users

• Screen magnification (with or without synthetic speech)

• CCTV magnification systems, to allow for reading of printed text

• Mobile applications to allow for magnification of text, E.G. menus in restaurants

Matching Technology with People

• A thorough assessment of the individual’s needs is essential before Assistive Technology is introduced

• In a workplace setting, tasks being undertaken and accessibility of same need to be carefully considered

• Best solutions will be flexible enough to accommodate change, either in reduction of vision or change in job perspective

Demonstration• Time to see some of the technology

we’ve just discussed

Further Information• Stuart Lawler• Rehabilitation Centre Manager• NCBI• Telephone: 087 9926360• Email: stuart.lawler@ncbi.ie