Adaptive Technology provides equipment, software, and training to assist students and faculty with functional limitations (e.g., visual and auditory limitations).

  • Converting textbooks, and class handouts and exams to digital files that can be displayed in large font, refresh-able braille or embossed, or used with screen reading software.
  • Provide speech to text and text to speech software and training on using this software.
  • Large monitors available per request
  • Listen assist hardware available per request

To initiate services from Adaptive Technology:

  • Have a referral from Accessibility Resource Center.
  • Call or email – to set up a meeting
  • Bring required documentation to meeting to determine potential strategies.
  • Complete training for assistive technology equipment/software received.
  • Discuss needed accommodations for each course, each semester: face to face meeting, via phone, or once established email is fine.
  • Give your Accommodation letter to your Professors and set up time to discuss your needs in class with the Professor. It is important you have an open dialogue with your professor about what things are difficult for you to access. We can’t fix it, if we don’t know it is broken. We can assist with communication, but this will be something you will need to learn to do on your own.

Assistive TechnologyAlternative Text

Alternative text is available for:

Formats for Alternative Text

  • .doc – word documents can be read with screen reader or large print
  • .pdf – Adobe Reader/Microsoft Edge documents can be read with a reader or enlarged magnification
  • epub – an accessible text from the publisher, as image descriptions and can be read with a screen reader
  • braille – for students with no vision, not ideal for whole textbooks, unless student has refreshable braille. Students can send syllabus or notes to be converted and embossed to adapt@missouriwestern.edu

Bookshare.org. Provides low-cost and free accessible reading materials in various formats to qualified members. Alternative Text Approved students can contact Adaptive Technology for more information about Bookshare.org.

Please click here for more details on these products and to also access other adaptive technology resources.

Screen Reading Software

Read Write Gold (RWG) Software – Read & Write Gold is literacy software with tools designed for reading, writing, study, and research support. It has reader software that works with our library articles, websites, and alternate format textbooks.

RWG includes speech-to-text to assist with typing and OCR (optical character recognition) capabilities for scanned articles or inaccessible websites. There are a total of 20 tools included in Read & Write.

Features include:

  • Hear web pages and documents read aloud to improve reading comprehension, with choice of natural voices
  • Understand unfamiliar words with text and picture dictionaries
  • Develop writing skills with word prediction
  • Support independent student research with valuable study skills tools

Missouri Western State University has purchased an institutional license to Read & Write Gold (RWG). We can install this software anywhere on campus and on approved students/faculty personal devices.

Zoomtext – For low vision students, this software can magnify and read the screen. We can install this software anywhere on campus computers as requested.

JAWS – For students with no vision, this allows full access to computer controls, navigation and reads out loud. We can install this software anywhere on campus computers as requested.

Please  click here for more details on these products and to also access other adaptive technology resources.

Resources for Faculty

Accessible Exams (For screen reader use)

Professors are encouraged to assist with creating accessible documents.

All Exams that are to be taken in the testing center must be scheduled by the professor.

https://www.missouriwestern.edu/mwsu-testing-centers/accessible-exam/

Exams need to be provided in ether an electronic format (.doc/.pdf) or hard copy 48 hours prior to testing time.  Some exams could take longer than others to be converted. The final format will be a .doc or word document. Hardcopies will require more time.

It’s best to keep us informed of upcoming test dates and to get exams to us as soon as possible.

Exams can be emailed directly to Lindsey Smith at lsmith8@missouriwestern.edu Or

Exams can be uploaded to an electronic vault found on the N: drive by going to Common (N:), Groups, Adaptive Tech Dropbox, the folders will have either your course name or the student’s name.

Lindsey will let Michelle Traster know of exams and she will do any converting or adapting that may be needed.

We use 3 types of screen readers:

  • JAWS – For students that are blind.
  • Zoomtext – magnifier and reader
  • Read Write Gold– Students that have vision, but vision may be low or to help with comprehension and/or concentration.

All screen readers work best with (.doc) documents.  You can create these by saving a Microsoft Word as Rich Text Document.

  • PDF documents will need to be converted from the PDF to a word document.
  • Hard copies will need to be scanned in and recreated. This will require extra time.

Please click here for more details on these products and to also access other adaptive technology resources.