Assistive technology provides options

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Municipal Library believes in having equal access to materials for all of its patrons, which is why there is assistive technology in place for those who need it.
The assistive technology includes software and hardware that enables the library staff to assist seniors, students and people with disabilities.
“There’s a large monitor, a large keyboard a special mouse with a three inch trackball and big buttons. The software is ‘Read to Write Gold,’ it’s a text to speech program and it assists people that having reading or writing dyslexia or learning disabilities,” said Courtney Gordon, CAP coordinator with the library.
There is also Word Q, which is designed to help people who are struggling with their writing; it uses word prediction to suggest words and help with spelling while the user is typing a document or e-mails.
“Assistive technology … really started big in libraries about 10 years ago and when I started at the Strathmore Library, because of my past experience of working with assistive technology in my previous job, I wanted to have a computer like this in our library,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services.
“Through a grant by the Community Access Program and by money donated by W. Brett Wilson and family we were able to purchase the computer and its software for our community members.”
Another program the library offers is Solaro. It covers Alberta curriculum for students in Grades 3-12, offering them a chance to take quizzes and practice tests, and track their progress.
Also available at the library is a DAISY e-reader that patrons with print disabilities can be able to borrow.
“Assisted technology … really helps break down those barriers that many individuals have when it comes to using technology and it opens up a whole new world to people that had those doors closed,” said Erison.
“It is convenient as well, this technology. Even if you don’t have a disability, you’re just a student looking to transfer your text book pages into an mp3, its convenient for that,” said Gordon.