Assistive Technology Classes and Services

Cabrillo College offers assistive technology classes and services. Any Cabrillo student is eligible to take AT courses. Students with disabilities are eligible to request services, and faculty and staff can request consultations.

Classes

What assistive technology classes are offered? Which class is right for me? Read the following to learn more about the Assistive Technology Classes, including:

• CABT 272, Assistive Technology Lab. This is the primary class for learning assistive technology, as this course teaches basic PC skills and common software as well as introduces ZoomText, Kurzweil 3000 and Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
• CABT 280, Kurzweil 3000 for Student Success. This class teaches how to use Kurzweil 3000 features, such as text-to-speech (reading text out loud), reading web pages with speech, scanning text, converting text files to MP3, test-taking and more. Offered in Spring semesters.
• CABT 285, Advanced Assistive Technology. This course moves beyond the basic skills to cover more advanced features of working with a PC using assistive technology software, as well as how to match yourself to technology and laws relating to assistive technology in a college environment. Offered in Fall semesters.

All courses are offered in Room 1402, which is part of the Computer Technology Center, nearest to Parking Lot M. Click for a map of the college.

Services

Services offered to students include the following: individualized assistance in selecting and using assistive technology, instruction in use of assistive technology in the place the student is using it (i.e. how to use Kurzweil 3000 in the library), informal ergonomic and AT assessments, and instruction in using electronic text materials, including test taking. Appointments are required for most services, and can be made by calling 477-5262.

Examples of requests include:

• How to use speech recognition software to write academic papers
  
• How to take a test using the computer and AT software
• Requesting an assistive technology accommodation
  
• Learning software in the AT lab with staff support
  
• Instruction in good ergonomic practices in computing
• Testing web pages for usability and legal accessibility
• Demonstrating how a person using JAWS might experience a given web page (in collaboration with John Govsky's Digital Media courses).

Services offered to staff and faculty include the following: individual consultations regarding Universal Design for Learning principles and creating accessible course material, conversion of existing course materials, usability testing of materials and web pages, and consultation on specific assistive technology issues.

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What Is Assistive Technology?

Assistive Technology can be described as hardware or software designed to make it possible for a person to access computer technology who otherwise would not be able to or who would be severely limited.  For example, a person with repetitive strain injury and wrist pain who finds a standard keyboard and mouse inaccessible would choose assistive technology--in this example, speech recognition software.

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What Technology Is Right for Me?

Matching a person to assistive technology software and hardware is a process of trial and error. Only you will know what works best for you, but we can make suggestions, show you possibilities, and give you ideas for what might be useful for you. To get a better idea of what assistive technology hardware and software is available at Cabrillo College, click on the AT Hardware and Software link.

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Lab Hours

The Assistive Technology Lab is located within the Computer Technology Center (CTC). The open hours can be found at  CTC Hours Page.

Supported Lab hours (where the Assistive Technology Specialist and/or the Teaching Assistant are present to assist students) change each semester: however, generally speaking, in Fall and Spring Semesters we staff both morning and afternoon hours; in Winter and Summer no AT instructional support is present.

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