ATinNH Supports Assistive Technology Lab on Campus

September 06, 2011

DURHAM, N.H - Beginning during the Fall 2011 semester, University of New Hampshire students needing assistive technology (AT) accommodations will have access to a wide array of technologies and equipment in Disability Services for Students’ (DSS) newly-furnished AT lab located in Smith Hall on the Durham campus.

Among the equipment available to students will be two iPads loaned to DSS from Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH), the state’s AT program. These iPads will be loaded with numerous “apps” like text-to-speech and screenreading programs ideal for students who, without access to these types of accommodations, might not otherwise be able to complete their work. Additional apps will be added for text magnification, lecture recording, note-taking, graphing calculator, PDF editing, word processing, and math equation editing. There will also be apps offering access to e-books and e-textbooks.

“The AT lab on campus will not only benefit students with disabilities and faculty, but students across campus who are pursuing careers in disability related fields,” says Therese Willkomm, ATinNH Director. “These students and faculty will be able to visit the lab and learn state-of-the-art assistive technology solutions to achieve educational success.”

“I think it’s phenomenal that UNH is offering so much to help students access their programs and curricula,” says Diana Petschauer, AT specialist at DSS. “This fall will be all about getting students and faculty familiar with everything we have and offering the training and equipment to utilize the programs and technology.”

In addition to the accessible features on the ATinNH iPads, a $2,000 grant from CVS Caremark will help furnish the lab with fully-adjustable and accessible computer workstations. DSS is assembling a list of innovative applications that can be downloaded to the iPod, iPad, or Android devices, many of which are available for free or a nominal fee. Other software to be made available in the lab includes Read and Write Gold, MathType, MathTalk, Inspiration, Zoom Text Magnifier, Zoom Twix, Kurzweil 3000, and Dragon Naturally Speaking 11. The lab can also acquire Braille note-takers and refreshing Braille displays on loan, allowing blind students to use a computer as any other student would. Much of this technology previously has not been available at UNH.

The grand opening of the AT lab is scheduled for September 23, 2011; however, the lab will be open and available to students beginning August 29—the first day of classes for the fall semester.

For more information on ATinNH, visit www.atinnh.org.

The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. Its mission is to strengthen communities to ensure full access, equal opportunities, and participation for all persons.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.

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