Disability Services

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Consistent with Baruch College's mission of access and excellence in post-secondary education, the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities strives to help students who rely on assistive technology achieve their educational, professional, and personal goals.

Objectives:

  1. Enhance compliance with the requirements of federal, state, and local laws and policies regarding the use of adaptive technology to achieve equal access for students with disabilities.

  2. Distribute resources and provide support for the delivery of consistent and efficient assistive technology throughout the Baruch community.

  3. Assess students' assistive technology needs.

  4. Train students with disabilities in the use of assistive technology.

Assistive technology available through the Office of Disabled students (OSSD) includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Cassette Players/Recorders and Transcription Machines: Both standard (2-track) and Library of Congress (4-track) models are available for use within our office or for loan.

  • Closed Circuit TVs (CCTVs): Devices that magnify printed materials onto a monitor for viewing. Stand-alone models and a PC split screen model are available for use within our testing/reading rooms.

  • Communication Devices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Devices include TDDs for electronic communication via telephone, as well as FM amplification systems used to amplify a speaker’s voice. Our office is equipped with a SuperPrint TTY with printer, phones with amplified handsets, and William Sound Personal FM systems.

  • Computer Screen Enlargement Software: A computer adaptation that magnifies and speaks text being displayed on the computer screen. ZoomText Xtra Level 2 is available for use within our assistive technology lab.

  • Computer Screen Reading Software: A computer adaptation that speaks the contents of the computer screen and identifies graphic attributes found within Graphic User Interfaces. Jaws For Windows (JFW) is available for use within our assistive technology lab.

  • Braille Writers / Braille Embossing: Devices used to produce Braille materials. Manual Perkins Braillers, a Braille'N Speak electronic notetaker, and a Juliet Interpoint embosser are available.

  • Reading Systems: Computer-based and stand-alone systems that read aloud scanned materials. PCs installed with Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 software, as well as a ReadingEdge are available within our assistive technology lab.

  • Speech Recognition Systems: Computer-based systems used to operate a computer via spoken commands in place of a keyboard. A PC installed with Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional is available.

  • Tactile Image Enhancing: A device used to produce raised-line images from photocopied sources. Upon request our office will reproduce course materials, such as charts and graphs into raised-line images.