The Disability Resource Office has a strong commitment to keeping at the forefront of developments in assistive technology. Our philosophy is that AT is a resource that benefits every student. It is a gateway to accessibility for everyone.
Mark Hopkins Computer Lab, Room 111
The Assistive Technology (AT) Center is a new support and important resource for MCLA students. It provides a stigma free, low sensory quiet space for students to work and study in ways that they find accessible.
The AT Center is staffed for support Monday - Friday from 8:30 - 4:30 pm and provides information and technical support to help students acquire and use assistive technology. During center hours, trained student workers/peer technology specialists provide information, training and technical assistance with any assistive equipment and software in the lab.
We welcome your visit!
"Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities." ~ATIA, 2021
MCLA TECH TALK VIDEOS
An easy to use, text-to-speech and study aid program that enhances reading and writing skills. MCLA currently has a site-wide license making this powerful software available to all current students, faculty and staff. This program is available on computers in the Freel Library and in the computer labs on campus.
Firefly can be accessed online and provides similar support as the desktop version.
A multi-functional self-contained ink-pen that records everything one hears, says and writes, while linking the audio recordings to one’s notes in a specially designed notebook exclusive to smart pen users. MCLA currently has a loaner program for these pens.
Wireless listening devices that amplify speech to make it clearer and minimize background noise. With an FM system, the instructor wears a clip-on wireless transmitter microphone. The mic transmits their voice directly to a student’s personal speaker or earpiece. MCLA currently has a loaner program for these systems.
Small, discreet devices that can be used to record lectures and listened back to at a later time. MCLA currently has a loaner program for these devices.
Alternative Format Textbooks are available to students with qualifying disabilities. These formats could be PDF, Word documents, or ePubs. The Accessibility Specialist will attempt to locate the required books from a variety of resources (Bookshare and AccessText). If copies of the books are not readily available, the Accessibility Specialist will need to request an accessible copy directly from the publisher. This request could take anywhere from 4-8 weeks, or even longer, depending on the format. Requests for books should be placed as soon as possible to allow the longest amount of accruement time as possible.
There are many free or low cost Assistive Technologies in the world today. All computers come with built-in accessibility features that are free to use. Windows computers utilize Ease of Access to provide accessibility features. Microsoft, Google, and Apple all have their own built-in features. Training on these features or any of the items listed below is available during open hours in the AT Center.
Features: Augmented communication app with over 50 essential words and the ability to upgrade to a premium version to customize phrases.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: iOS; iPad
Features: Offers a distraction free environment for speaking the words you would like typed. Work can be saved to Google Drive or a computer, emailed, and printed.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource
Features: Speak what you would like typed and it will be entered into the text field.
Cost: Included in some Microsoft programs
Compatibility: Any platform that has Microsoft programs installed
Features: Speak what you would like typed and it will be entered into the text field.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Built-in Chrome Browser Option
Features: Real-time closed captioning for what is being said around the user, up to 40 minutes at a time.
Cost: Free and Premium
Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS; Android
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Features: Brainstorm and create mind maps to organize projects or take notes visually.
Cost: Free or $5/mo or $8/mo
Compatibility: Online Resource
Features: Brainstorm and create mind maps to organize projects or take notes visually.
Cost: Free and in-app purchases
Compatibility: iOS: iPad and iPhone
Features: Create notebooks for each course, and organize each course into sections and pages within the notebook. Take all your notes by typing, writing with a touchscreen, importing pictures and PDFs, videos, web links, and other resources. You can also record your lecture while taking notes.
Cost: Free with MCLA Microsoft 365 account
Compatibility: Windows; Mac OS; iOS: iPad, iPhone; Android, Windows Phone
Features: A one-stop place to collect notes, files, web clippings, and images with the ability to access them on virtually any device.
Cost: Free or Premium
Compatibility: Mac; Windows; iOS: iPhone, iPad; iPod touch; Android; Windows Phone
Features: Take notes while watching videos and generate a PDF from those notes. Notes have timestamps, which will lead you right back to that spot in the video.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome Extension
Features: Organizational tool used to help manage to-do lists, collaborate on projects, take notes, write research papers, journal, plan and more!
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Windows; Mac; iOS; Android
Features: Organize your tasks with priorities, subtasks, due date, time estimated, tags, repeating tasks, and more.
Cost: Free and Pro
Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS; Android; Windows; Mac
Features: One-stop-shop for organizational planning to keep track of all of your daily tasks and schedules.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS; Android; Windows; Mac
Features: BeeLine Reader makes reading on-screen easier, faster, and more enjoyable. They use a simple cognitive trick — an eye-guiding color gradient — to pull your eyes through long blocks of text. This helps you read more effectively and maintain your focus better.
Cost: $4.99
Compatibility: Chrome Extension; Android; iOS; PDF; Safari; ePUB by ReadMe!
Features: Simplifies difficult English words, for faster comprehension.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource
Features: Listen to emails, messages, documents, articles, and social media. Saved documents carry over to all Speechify platforms.
Cost: Free Trial and then $12/month
Compatibility: Chrome extension; iPhone; iPad
Features: Removes ads and distractions, leaving only text and images for a clean and consistent reading view on every site.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome Extension
Features: Save articles, videos, webpages, photos or anything you find online in one space to read later.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS; Android
Features: Add files, web pages, photos and organize them according to project, assignment or collection.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome Extension; iOS; Android
Features: Add post-it notes to any of your web pages while researching. These notes are saved so the next time you open the page, they will still be there.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome Extension
Features: Forest is an app that helps you stay focused on the important things in life. Plant a tree and let it grow while you work. If you leave the app, the tree will die and you will need to start over. The more trees you plant the coins you get. Spend those coins to plant real trees on Earth.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: iOs; Android
Features: List your tasks and work on them for 25 minutes at a time. Take a 5 minute break and then back to work.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource
Features: Use this app to help identify everyday objects.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: iOS; Android
Features: NonVisual Desktop Access is a free screen reader built for Windows computers.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Windows
Features: Helps to eliminate writing mistakes and contextual errors, spelling errors, and poor vocabulary. Grammarly also helps you with synonym suggestions.
Cost: Free and Premium
Compatibility: Chrome Extension
Features: Encourages words typed by showing a picture of a kitten for every 100 words typed.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource
