IMPLEMENTATION OF ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY FOR CONSUMERS WHO ARE SPANISH-SPEAKING
Presenter(s)
Adriana
Carpio
Assistive
Learning Consulting, LLC
Direct
line: 203-667-1063
Email:
I.
Summary
A
review of existing Assistive Technology (AT) products for Spanish-speaking
consumers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and disabilities, strategies
for implementation, and development of AT product.
II.
Introduction
This
presentation will be relevant for Spanish-speaking consumers of Assistive
Technology (AT), families of students, Special Education (Sped) teachers, speech
and language clinicians, AT practitioners and suppliers. We will explore the
existence of AT products geared towards the Spanish-speaking consumer,
reviewing the capabilities and limitations of commercial AT products with
Spanish language components and if they can apply themselves adequately to meet
the needs of the consumer. We will present a check list for assessing the
adaptability of AT products and explain necessary implementation plans for
training programs. We will put forth and discuss advocacy strategies for
reaching the suppliers of AT to instigate the changes necessary to make AT
accessible for the Spanish-speaking consumer.
III.
Goals of This Session
-
Review capabilities and limitations of commercial AT with Spanish product
components
-
Present check list for assessing and choosing AT products
-
Discuss development of appropriate training programs
-
Outline advocacy strategies for improving products for Spanish-speaking
consumers
IV.
Review of Capabilities and Limitations of AT Products
Most
AT manufacturers adapt their products for foreign language through the
incorporation of Spanish modes or texts within an English-based program.
However, to a consumer whose learning comprehension is in Spanish, these
products add a layer of inaccessibility. If AT products are to meet the needs
of Spanish-speaking consumers with LEP they need more functional components in
the users primary language.
The
most common approach or use of AT is in a scenario where the consumer is
provided with a computer based in English and an AT program with an
English-based interface that can read Spanish text. The existing AT only allows
for users to change to a Spanish Speech Synthesizer which reads Spanish
language documents adequately, the menus however provide less useful
information to a Spanish speaker because they synthesize the English rather
than true translation into Spanish. The Help menu uses a similar synthesized
version of English in the menu system, which provides an inadequate tool for
learning the product for the consumer to solve problems independently. The
consumer must rely on tutoring and support with a bi-lingual instructor. At
best technology solutions must use products with limitations.
V.
Check List for Assessing AT Products with Spanish Language Components
1. How does AT software program lend itself to
the consumer?
-
Is the visual interface of the program in Spanish?
-
Are the menus in Spanish?
-
Are the manual and help systems in Spanish?
-
Are the Synthesizers appropriate? Word choice? Accentuation? Dialect?
-
How accurate are the translations of the menu interface?
2. What are some of the approaches we can take
to make existing programs more accessible?
-
Customization
-
Additional tutor messages to enhance instructional information in Spanish
VI.
Development of Appropriate Training Programs
AT
strategies need to consider how training programs play a role in the success or
failure of implementation of products. Appropriate AT strategies need to
consider the following:
1. Are
the manuals and help systems provided in the language of the consumer so that
the student can then access the material independently?
Manufacturer
rarely provide manuals in the native language of the learner making it
impossible for the consumer to have access to information to answer questions.
2.
Is the translation accurate and able to be understood?
Manuals
and help systems even those which are voiced in the native language may be
clear or translated correctly. Translations can often use inappropriate
language for the consumer (i.e. Castillian/Spain Spanish terms would not read
the same as Mexican Spanish) or it may not be a true Spanish translation at
all.
3.
Are there any barriers to gaining access to instructional material or resource
information created by third party sources?
Third
party may create additional resources in Spanish and place them on
English-based web-sites, making them inaccessible to the consumer. In addition, some sites provide materials in
English without registration, yet ask for registration information from the
client who seeks materials in Spanish. This can become a privacy issue for the
consumer who may not want to “register” for a product due to legal status and
past experience with government monitoring in their homelands.
VII.
The Approach to Families of Spanish-Speaking Consumers
A
successful AT training strategy with a Spanish-speaking consumer would need to
include the family/community using the following methods:
-
Introduction of the AT to families in a group environment
-
Basic Computer/Internet training for the family
-
Providing third party resources or help centers in Spanish
VIII.
Advocacy Strategies for Creating and Developing Relevant AT Products
Through
advocacy we can change the environment that we work and live in for consumers
who are Spanish-speaking and have a disability. Manufacturers need education to
better to serve the non-English market of consumers with disabilities.
Attendees will receive the contact information for major manufacturers and sample
templates for letters and emails. This session will also invite an open
discussion of successful advocacy strategies used by participants.
IX.
Conclusion
This
presentation will serve to educate the attendees on the capabilities and
limitations of commercial AT with Spanish speaking components, how to assess
appropriate AT products and give methods for implementing AT and developing
training programs. In addition, it will lead the attendees to advocate to the
manufacturers for having their needs and desires met with AT products.
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