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Wanda Harris
Oakland Community College
Southfield, MI
Phone: (248)552-2681
Fax: (248)552-2649
E-MAIL: WXPERNEL@OCC.CC.MI.US
As a service provider for students with disabilities for the
largest community college in the State of Michigan, making
computing information accessible to a diverse student population
is challenging. We have a multi-campus system. There is a service
provider on all five campuses. Together, we serve over 2000
students, of which more than 500 have a documented
disability.
In my presentation, I would like to discuss the assistive
technology implementation plan. It was developed for the purpose
of providing students with disabilities equal access to
information technology throughout the college. This plan will
foster an independent learning environment and will allow the
student with a disability to participate in teaching and learning
activities as well as to perform their assignments
independently.
The institutional climate was idealistic for this type of
commitment for the following reasons:
The college is going to a uniform operating system (Windows NT)
and there is assistive technology available that works well with
Windows NT. The college is replacing all computers that are below
a Pentium II and most assistive technology needs the higher
system requirements. There is funding available for technology
projects. There is a committee established and guidelines to
determine which projects will be funded. However, the assistive
technology plan will not be limited to the same guidelines as
other projects. The assistive technology plan will fall under the
direction of the Vice Chancellor’s office as an ADA
compliance issue.
There is a Teaching Learning Technology Roundtable (TLTR) that
meets monthly for the purpose of coordinating and stimulating the
use of information technology to improve teaching and learning.
There are action teams developed to address specific area of
technology. There is an action team called Assistive Technology.
This action team was very instrumental in obtaining the
information needed to develop the plan. The college implemented a
new e-mail and Accounting system. In the near future there will
be a new student information system that is easily accessible.
There is a new training center call Professional Development
Training Center (PDTC) that provides training to all staff on
technology. This will include assistive technology.
The plan focused on the following benefits the college would
achieve by using assistive technology to accommodate students
with disabilities:
Gives equal access to computer technology used in teaching and
learning in accordance with ADA laws.
Promotes academic success by making college resources
accessible.
Fosters an independent learning environment.
Meets technology and educational needs simultaneously
Creates more career options
Access to Distance Learning, i.e. Internet and On-Line
Instruction
Provides skills and resources to compete in the job market.
In order to provide an effective assistive technology plan, the
following is needed:
Assessment of the needs for assistive technology. Conducted a
college- wide survey with the assistant of the Assistive
technology action team. SEE EXHIBIT A (below): ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY NEEDS SURVEY
Obtain product and vendor information to meet the assistive
technology need of the college.
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