New Assistive Technology Lab Opens at Caldwell College
Caldwell College student Jessica Calvo (accompanied by her service dog) using JAWS for windows, a screen reading software for the blind and visually impaired. The new Assistive Technology Lab in Caldwell College’s Academic Support Center features several new assistive software programs. |
Caldwell College held a celebration on Nov. 12 for the opening of its new Assistive Technology Lab in the College's Academic Support Center. Students are reaping the benefits of the new assistive software, which includes screen reading software, screen magnifier software, software that assists with reading, writing and overall learning and voice recognition software. The College also purchased 12 new computers and set up the lab in Room 3106 on campus. "It's a great opportunity for our students. It is a big step forward," said Abbe Benowitz, Caldwell's Coordinator of Disability Services.
One of the programs purchased is JAWS for windows, which is a screen reading software for the blind and visually impaired. Jessica Calvo, a freshman from Clifton, New Jersey is blind. She has been using JAWS at home from the time she was in 5th grade. "I'm very happy the college put the JAWS software in. It gives me a chance to start my work while I'm in school, instead of waiting until I get home." Calvo can write papers, browse the web, check emails and communicate with her professors with JAWS. "The Academic Support center is very helpful. I spend a lot of my time here between classes. It gives me peace and quiet so I can do my work. Abbe is also here in case I have a question about anything. I also take my tests there."
The other purchases include ZOOM Text, which is screen magnifier software; Kurzweil 3000, a comprehensive reading, writing and learning software; INSPIRATION, a graphic organizer software; WordQ, a word prediction software that provides help in reading words, links and phrases on web pages and SpeakQ, a voice recognition software.
Benowitz says that in addition to adding the new assistive technology, she is very happy about having the new quiet space for the students to study and for her office, where she often meets one on one with students. She points out that even though a student might not need to use the new software, he or she will benefit from the quiet environment to do school work and take tests. Rebecca Naylor, a senior and psychology major, is one of those students. " I was able to get a lot of work done on a recent paper, which helped me out a lot. I commute, work 4 days a week off campus, and I am the president of a club, so any free quiet time I have to get work done is very beneficial to me."
Benowitz believes that over time the new lab is going to be a great campus resource. "It is going to be widely used by students and by faculty. I think faculty will advise students to come here, just as they advise them to go to the writing lab, so I think it is definitely a good opportunity."
The Assistive Technology Lab is being made possible by a grant the college received from Alden Trust. Another part of the grant will be used to fund Technology Enhanced Classrooms in other places on campus. The selection process for the grant was rigorous and Caldwell College worked very hard to attract Alden Trust to its campus.
The Caldwell College Academic Support Center helps students of all abilities address their learning needs in a supportive and relaxed environment. Among the Center's many programs, students can take advantage of individual or group tutoring and get help with writing or revising papers in the writing center.