Assistive Equipment and Software

FM System assistive listening devices are for personal use by users that are hard of hearing or have a hard time hearing in noisy environments. FM Systems transmit superior sound quality directly into a user’s ear through a portable receiver and ear speaker which provides better sound clarity and can help reduce background noise. FM Systems are also beneficial for users with an auditory processing disorder who may struggle to process speech by isolating the sound of the speaker. Faculty will need to wear a portable transmitter and clip-on microphone to transmit their audible speech to a student user’s ear in the classroom.

Digital Voice Recorders are audio recording devices that can record lectures, thoughts, ideas, or key points and are beneficial for users who need assistance with note-taking, learning comprehension, and study habits. Digital Voice Recorders are particularly helpful for users with learning and physical disabilities, visual impairments, or users with dyslexia where traditional handwritten note-taking may be difficult. Users can record lectures and then review them at their own pace as well as re-listen and focus on specific recorded sections.

The Echo 2 Smartpen is used in conjunction with smart paper notebooks to take handwritten notes in class while simultaneously recording the lecture. The Smartpen audio recording quality settings can be changed to accommodate larger or smaller and quieter dictation settings where a higher or lower-level quality recording may be desired.

Fusion combines the JAWS screen reading and ZoomText magnification software into one powerful accessibility solution designed for users with low vision or blindness. A single installer license gives a user access to both the ZoomText and JAWS software individually or together as the Fusion software.

Dragon is a speech recognition software compatible with Windows devices that helps users accurately get things done using voice commands hands-free. Dragon is beneficial for users who have problems with hand typing due to severe physical barriers such as chronic nerve pain and chronic forms of arthritis.

Kurzweil 3000 is a comprehensive educational literacy software that offers reading, writing, studying, and test-taking tools for individuals with learning disabilities. Kurzweil supports all areas of reading, including fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension.

Glean is an audio recording note-taking software tool designed to help students improve their notetaking and studying abilities. Glean helps students maintain their ability to listen, focus, and participate in class.

Otter.ai is a live transcription and audio recording note-taking software tool. It can record audio sources using real-time captions as notes helping students facilitate note-taking and in-class participation.

The Optelec ClearView C Speech touch screen enabled screen magnifier is a useful tool for users with low vision. The Optelec ClearView C Speech offers various magnification and contrast display options, making reading and viewing photos and documents easier. The Optelec ClearView C Speech also features speech to text functionality, helpful for reading through larger documents. The Optelec ClearView C Speech has a sliding reading platform for helping users navigate around documents and an adjustable viewing monitor to set their preferred directional or tilt positions to optimize the distance between their eyes and the image.

The Optelec ClearView + Desktop Magnifier is an assistive technology device designed to enhance visual clarity with adjustable magnification for users with low vision. This desktop magnifier features a sliding reading platform that helps users navigate around documents and an ergonomic wrist pad that users can rest their hands on next to the controls while reading. Optelec ClearView + users can also adjust the viewing monitor to their preferred directional or tilt positions to optimize the distance between their eyes and the image.