Mobility Impairments

Mobility impairments may make it difficult or impossible for people to walk or sit for long periods of time or use their fingers, hands, or arms.

Assistive Technologies

Individuals with mobility impairments may use a combination of assistive technologies to control a computer.

Speech-recognition software allows students to type and navigate without using a keyboard or mouse; they use their voices instead.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice-recognition software allows students to talk, or dictate, into any Windows-based application.

Assistive keyboards and switches allow students to access keyboard commands.

Web Access Challenges

A person with a mobility impairment may:

• be unable to access content that requires the movement of a mouse,
• lack the fine motor skills required to select small buttons on the screen, or
  
• be unable to participate effectively in real-time "chat" communications.
  
  

The How-To section of this Web site describes how to overcome many of these access challenges.

Ask a Student UMUC student David Beard answers common questions about voice-recognition software and taking courses online. How do you navigate the Web? What do you like or dislike about online courses? What recommendations would you give to faculty?

Scenario

The Situation: Jon became a quadriplegic as a result of an automobile accident last year. Since he is unable to continue his work as an auto mechanic, he decided to return to college. He would like to start by signing up for one course. He enrolled in your Web-based course because it allows schedule flexibility. He must work around his many doctor and therapy appointments. He does not have a computer in his home, but the institution allows registered students to use the computer lab on campus, which is not far from Jon's home.

The Challenge: Before the beginning of the course, Jon visited the computer lab on campus. There were plenty of computers, but Jon could not operate any of them. Jon knows he can access a computer through speech input technology because he tried such a system in the hospital. Jon calls you to ask that the institution purchase and install the equipment and software he needs.

One Solution: Talk to Jon about his equipment and software needs, then contact your university's disability services office to discuss and verify the situation. Because your institution allows other students in your distance learning course to use the computers on campus, it must provide the same service to Jon. You and Jon can work with the computer lab staff and the disabled student services office (or the equivalent on your campus) to assure that appropriate assistive technology is purchased and installed.

This scenario illustrates why it is important for all university offices and staff to be aware of disability issues. In this case, several people—faculty, disability services, instructional technology, and computer lab staff—must cooperate to solve a basic accessibility issue.