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In the fall of 2002, Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) and the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) teamed up to create the Library Technology Access (LTA) initiative. Through this program, six libraries in the United States were chosen to serve as a model of how to implement accessible computer technology in libraries. Each library was the recipient of two specially-configured Compaq Evo desktop computers from HP. These computers come configured with assistive technologies (AT), both hardware and software, which make the computers easy to use by people with various disabilities.
To ensure that “the right” assistive technologies were chosen for this initiative, HP selected California-based TransAccess as the systems integration partner for LTA. TransAccess is a non-profit organization that specializes in access technology training for individuals with disabilities or work related injuries, and in computer access technology assessments. Maria Nicolacoudis is the executive director of TransAccess. Her colleagues Jane Tong and John Cavano of TransAccess played a key role in selecting and testing the various hardware and software assistive technologies that would be part of the standard reference platform of the LTA workstations.
Before selecting any types of assistive technologies, TransAccess held a focus group meeting to get feedback from potential users on what equipment would work best. “We talked with our regular clients about what technologies they use and like, and why,” says Ms. Nicolacoudis. “In selecting the equipment, we wanted to choose technologies that would reach a broad range of disabilities,” she explained. “And, we figured out how to do it as inexpensively as possible.”
Ms. Tong says they also gave strong consideration to reliability and compatibility of the products, and how easy they are to support. “We picked software packages that are tested and tried and well supported by their respective manufacturers.” For example, TransAccess selected JAWS Professional Edition software by Freedom Scientific to assist persons who are blind or have very little functional vision. JAWS is widely seen as a market-leading product in this area, and Freedom Scientific is a well respected software developer that provides good product support.
TransAccess also gave special consideration to the compatibility of the assistive products, knowing that the libraries would not be able to devote a lot of resources to supporting the workstations after they were installed. “We didn’t want the assistive technologies to conflict with each other, or cause ongoing support issues,” says Mr. Cavano. “One type of software product that we omitted is voice recognition software. Although it’s popular with users, it’s also time-intensive to learn, and we had concerns about individual user profiles getting deleted from the workstations.” To address this concern, TransAccess looked at several alternatives that could produce the same outcome of accessing the computer for someone who would use voice recognition because they are not able to use their hands to type and use the mouse. Mr. Cavano says that they chose the Madentec Tracker 2000 head-mounted pointing device, to be used in conjunction with SofType On-screen keyboard and its dwelling feature, to achieve the same outcome of interfacing with the computer.
TransAccess developed two standard LTA platforms – one for people with vision or hearing disabilities, and the other for mobility or cognitive/learning disabilities. Each workstation uses multiple types of assistive technologies and peripherals to meet a range of needs.
Once the AT products were chosen, TransAccess worked closely with the desk surface manufacturer Steelcase to make sure the hardware products would work well on the work surfaces. Steelcase and TransAccess developed the motorized desk concept together, ensuring that a wide range of disabilities could be accommodated with the desk and workstations. “John and Jane hauled all kinds of equipment to our office,” says Ron Martere of Steelcase. “They wanted to be sure everything would work together just right.”
“We had to consider the size of the motorized desk, and whether it would fit into the prescribed space in the library,” says Mr. Cavano. “We tested the desk thoroughly, to make sure we could get a wheelchair underneath without the footplate hitting the back part of the table.” The comfort of the work surface is an essential part of the overall success of the LTA platform.
Next came the training program. “We had a fear of introducing a lot of new technology to the libraries, training their staff members, and then leaving them with nothing,” says Ms. Nicolacoudis. The solution was to develop a series of PowerPoint presentations that could be accessed at any time to learn how to use the various components of the assistive workstations. These presentations are also helpful “refresher courses” for library staffers who don’t use the workstations often enough to remember everything about them.
Ms. Tong and Mr. Cavano also visited each of the six libraries in the LTA program to oversee installation and provide on-site training for library staffers. “We gave them enough information about the workstations to help them help their patrons over the long haul,” says Mr. Cavano. After installation, TransAccess provided a 30-day support period for each of the libraries, courtesy of HP.
Kathleen Olsen is the director of the I CAN! Center at the San Diego Public Library, one of the libraries in the LTA program. She praises the approach that HP and TransAccess have in implementing the LTA workstations. “HP has a well-thought-out turn-key approach to implementing assistive technology. They really thought about what was needed, and gave us the flexibility to select the exact tools and software that would work well for us,” says Ms. Olsen. “Everything – from the electrically adjustable tables, to the joysticks and keyboards, to the training and support from TransAccess – is well done.”
If you’d like to learn more about TransAccess and its services, please visit the TransAccess Web site.
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