ROUGH EDITED COPY
JAN
HARNESSING THE ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES OF MOBILE DEVICES FOR USE
AS REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
DECEMBER 11, 2012
1:30 P.M. ET
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This is being provided in a rough-draft format. Communication Access Realtime
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>> Well, hello, everyone and welcome to the Job Accommodation Network audio
web training series we are here today for another edition. I'm Beth and I'll be your
moderator for today's program and it has an awfully long title called "Harnessing the
Accessibility Features of Mobile Devices for Use as Reasonable Accommodations" so
let's go ahead and get started. We just want to go over a few housekeeping items.
First if you experience any technical difficulties during the webcast please call us at
800-526-7234 for voice and hit button 5 or for TTY call 877-781-9403. Second towards
the end of the webcast we'll spend some time answering any questions that you have.
You can send in your questions at any time to our e-mail account at
question@askJAN.org are use our question and answer pod located in the bottom
center of your screen to use the pod put your cursor on the line next to the word
question type your question and click on the arrow to submit to the question queue very
easy to do.
Also want to remind you at the end of the webcast you'll have an evaluation form that
will automatically pop up on your screen we do appreciate your feedback. And now,
let's meet today's featured speakers. Let me start by saying they are all very nice
looking. So just wanted to get that out of the way. As for their qualifications Lisa,
Elisabeth and Teresa are exceptional consultants and have a variety of backgrounds
they bring with them today I have viewed this presentation as a part of our rehearsal for
today and I feel it has a lot of great information in it so we would like to cut to the chase
and go ahead and get started if you would like to know more about our consultants you
can always log onto our Web site and take a peek at our staff page and with that we'll
go ahead and get started so Lisa go ahead and take it a l over.
>> LISA DORINZI: Thank you first we'll start off by talking about mobile devices
and give a run down of what mobile technology means and recent trends within the
technology and touch on sales numbers user to see how popular the products are we'll
take a look at what's currently going on with mobile development. Then we'll get
straight into limitations and solution examples we're going to have our limitations divided
up among the three of us similar to how we run things at JAN we have Teresa with
sensory impairments then I'll talk about motor impairments and cool products then
Elisabeth will provide info about cognitive and psychiatric impairment. Mobile
technology offers something different for each area sensory has more in-depth
information of built-in feature and accessibility whereas motor impairments may be best
suited so while we're all talking about accessibility and mobile technology the three
areas can be very different after we discuss the current features and options of mobile
devices we'll get into what the area is moving towards and what we can expect in the
future lastly we'll allow some time for questions from the audience like you mentioned so
jumping right into it.
The mobile device is essentially just a handheld computer. Which could be a
SmartPhone or a computer tablet. Or just a tablet since we'll be talking about mobile
devices we thought it would be good to show just how prominent these devices are in
the market these are the 2011 numbers and since then they've been on the rise
throughout this year the top one didn't hit the market until 2010 so I feel it's made a
pretty large impact in its short life thus far the number of mobile platforms is actually
growing there's the popular Apple iOS Google Android and Microsoft Windows is
making a comeback these are the more popular ones but there are definitely more
competitors out there an app is a software in which device will run each platform is
coming out with more and more apps every day virtually as of October there were over
700,000 apps in both the Google Play and the Apple store.
Granted a lot of these are -- apps are available in both platforms but that's still a lot of
apps. Thankfully we've come a long way from the initial SmartPhone and it's limited
accessibilities and now see app developers taking time to ensure their app is accessible
to include people with disabilities. Not only are apps -- developers making on making
them a more even playing field but device manufacturers are having more built-in
features so accessibility doesn't have to be additional cost or add-on product any longer
most of us probably know an accommodation is an adjustment that enables a person
with a disability to do their job. As we strive to implement accommodations in the
workplace we see that some of the modifications can possibly entail the use of a mobile
device or application. We don't necessarily feel any mobile technologies are
completely replacing other traditional forms of accommodation we feel these
technologies could possibly supplement or accompany some commands for example
the we doubt the greatest navigational app will be replacing a good service dog any
time soon all in all we wanted to give you a glimpse of what was available as far as
accessibility goes and give you key features to look for there's no way we can explore
every avenue of mobile accessibility and fit it into a short presentation so with that we'll
go to Teresa to talk about approaches to accommodation.
>> TERESA GOODARD: Thanks, Lisa first I would like to talk briefly about three
different ways to approach on accommodation using mobile technology the first
approach I would like to talk about is using a built-in accessibility feature to make a
mobile device accessible. This might help when an employee needs to use a mobile
device such as a SmartPhone or tablet for work but has difficulty using the device
effectively depending on the device and operating system being used various
accessibility features will be built into the operating system of the device. For example,
mobile devices from Apple such as iPhones and iPads usually have a feature called
VoiceOver it's a screenreader designed specifically for iOS devices using this
accessibility feature one can navigate using the device's touch screen even if no usable
vision this feature can be used to do tasks such as reading e-mail and using apps.
Not all apps are VoiceOver accessible but the number of accessible apps is growing.
An interesting development or switch users is that while the number of natively
switchable apps is relatively small assistive technology specialists have developed ways
to use VoiceOver as a work-around to enable switch accessibility Lisa will tell you more
about that in the motor section of our webcast today. Some other examples of built-in
features include zoom and text-to-speech options other than VoiceOver employees may
benefit from training on how to use accessibility features and may need help setting
them up. Another way to use a mobile device is to substitute an app or accessory for a
stand-alone product here is an example. There are a number of free and low-cost
caller identification apps to use them you point the camera of the device at a surface
and the app identifies the color.
There are also stand-alone color identifiers that work very well but the person might not
be carrying them all the time. I once suggested a color identification app as an option
as an engineer that needed to work with documents that were color coded according to
projects. Finally the device itself might actually serve as the accommodation. For
example, SmartPhones and tablets could be used to help support someone who is
working remotely as you explore the world of mobile devices I'm sure you'll come up
with many ways to incorporate them into accommodation plans next all comes the part
you've been waiting for we will discuss ways to resolve various accommodations
solutions using mobile technology I'll start off by telling you a little bit about the types of
conditions that my team handles. JAN's sensory team takes calls on a variety of
sensory impairments including hearing impairments which might include calls about
deafness or about employees who are hard of hearing we also take calls about vision
impairment for example employees who have low vision or no vision or who have
difficulty identifying colors.
JAN's sensory team also takes calls about employees with both a hearing impairment
and a visual impairment. This is sometimes called being deaf-blind we also take calls
about communication disorders such as speech impairments. The sensory team also
takes calls on a variety of conditions that might be described as chronic impairment
some examples handled by the sensory team include infectious disease, blood
disorders, endocrine conditions such as diabetes and hypoglycemia and respiratory
impairment such Arizona ma, allergies and multiple chemical sensitivities. Next let's
talk about some of the limitations that a person who are deaf or hard-of-hearing might
experience when using mobile technology or that might be helped using mobile
technology first let's talk about communication. Individuals who are deaf or
hard-of-hearing may experience difficulties communicating by phone or in the field.
Also some but not all individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may use sign
language as their preferred method of communication. Another area of concern is
respond to go sounds. For example, it may be difficult for an individual who is deaf or
hard-of-hearing to respond to a standard ring tone or to an alerting sound or a page.
Emergency preparedness is another topic that JAN consultants take questions on
all the time. Next let's talk about some ways mobile technology can be used as an
accommodation solution. Most individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing will have
difficulty using a SmartPhone telephone's functions unless certain steps are taken.
Over the past few years there have been a number of exciting improvements in hearing
aid technology. One example is the use of Bluetooth in hearing -- Bluetooth in hearing
instruments it's now possible to use a Bluetooth connection to send audio directly into
someone's hearing aid. While it may be possible to pair a Bluetooth hearing aid
directly to a sound source for communication it's probably -- it probably makes more
sense to use something called a streaming device. Different hearing aid companies
make streaming devices that are designed specifically to be compatible with their
company's hearing aids.
These devices usually have a microphone that can pick up the sound of the user's voice
and send it to a mobile phone it is also possible to use a streaming device with an office
phone but additional equipment is needed you may also want to look at the HAC rating
of any phone that you are considering. HAC stands for hearing aid compatibility. HAC
ratings are on a scale of 1 to 4 and 4 is the best rating.
If someone's hearing aid contains a telecoil, they may already know how to connect
their phone most effectively. And may be able to tell you about any special equipment
that they need. It may also be helpful to consult a qualified audiologist.
SmartPhones and tablets can also be used to access Video Relay Services two
examples of that allows -- two apps are Z4 mobile and purple VRS.
These apps are free and they are available on multiple platforms. However, you
may want to check the terms of any data plan that will be used with the apps. Recently
I spoke with an employer about an individual who wanted to use a video phone and
Video Relay Service to make and receive calls. Unfortunately it was not possible to
install the type of high speed Internet connection needed to use a video phone at the
employee's workstation. I suggested explore whether the employees needs to be met
using a video relay app and a tablet with a front facing camera. The employer was
excited to hear about this option since they already had tablets on hand. Next let's talk
for a moment about responding to sounds. I recently spoke to an engineer who needs
to be available to answer a company cell phone at night. With his hearing aids in he
could use the phone well enough but he couldn't hear it ring with his hearing aids out.
He often took his hearing aids out in the evening. One of the options that we discussed
was a vibrating Bluetooth bracelet. Instead of ringing, the phone would send a signal
to a bracelet that would vibrate. There are many other ways to use vibrating alerts or
alerts that give a visual signal. With regard to emergency preparedness, emergency
evacuation plans can be stored on a device for he's of review. But the device itself
could potentially be used as a communication tool during an emergency. For example,
texting might be used as a backup form of emergency notification in addition to other
types of accommodations like emergency alarms with strobe lights and a buddy system.
Next let's talk about vision. One common concern is access to information an
individual with low vision or no vision may need to use a built-in accessibility feature
and/or some type of assistive technology to access text, access images, respond to
alerts and perceive color.
Since the on-screen keyboard be and device controls may be difficult to access, they
may also experience difficulty entering text and controlling the device. A mobile device
may be helpful for employees who telework due to difficulty with driving. Also the size
and shape of tablets and the variety of mounting options which Lisa will be discussing in
a moment may make it possible to use a tablet to access e-mails and stay in touch with
the office. When a desktop or computer -- or a -- when a desktop computer or laptop
wouldn't be practical for example following retinal surgery it's frequently necessary to
maintain a facedown posture Missouri employees need leave while recovering however
in some situations it may be possible to position a tablet in such a way to allow
employees to do tasks such as checking e-mail while complying with their restrictions.
Next let's talk about some other visual solutions. Different mobile devices offer
different ways to improve access to information for individuals with visual impairment
some common options include green magnification features such as zoom and voice
output or iOS devices this might include VoiceOver as we discussed earlier for Android
devices depending on the version of the operating system, you may use a built-in
feature such as talk back which is a text-to-speech feature. It is used along with a
feature called navigate by touch talkback and navigate by touch are built in but there are
also apps based screen reading options for Android. One solution is a Braille display
with a keyboard. I'm including a picture of this in today's slides because Braille
displays can work with the text-to-speech features on some devices so that individuals
can access text on the Braille display and enter text with the Braille keyboard.
Most of the people I've talked to who use a Braille display with a mobile device are
using Apple products but the accessibility of other platforms seems to be improving. I
haven't talked much about Windows 8 yet. I haven't heard from many people who are
using screenreaders with Windows 8 devices but I have heard the dynamic tiles within
Windows 8 have caused some issues. Next I want to talk briefly about how a mobile
device itself can be used as an assistive technology tool. Since cameras have become
more common on SmartPhones and tablets the line between mobile technology and
assistive technology has began to blur. I have actually seen people using the camera
on an iPad2 as a video magnifier. There are also apps that can let you turn your
SmartPhone into a magnifier. These apps tend to be relatively low in cost but it's also
important to remember that they usually don't have all the same features as stand-alone
magnifiers.
One of the most practical uses of mobile technology as part of a reasonable
accommodation is when the app is used to enhance and coordinate with another
product that the person is already using. An example is IA square zoom reader app for
iOS which is relatively inexpensive at $19.99 we have a screen shot on this slide it
allows one to take a picture of a document and have it read outloud zoom reader in no
way replaces ZoomText but it can be a very useful tool for recording documents when
away from the desk next let's talk about a potential solution for individuals who have
both a hearing impairment and environment recently HumanWare came out with a app
based communicator app. It is designed to be used with an iOS device such as an
iPhone and a Braille display with a keyboard the app costs $99 and intended to support
face-to-face communication.
Let's talk more about communication. Depending on the nature and severity of the
individual communication disorder communication via text or e-mail face-to-face and by
telephone may be impacted. It may also be difficult for the individual to follow
directions correctly if speaking clarification about directions is a challenge. I want to tell
you about the image that you see on this slide it's a screen shot of an AAC app. This
particular one is called my talk tool. A mobile device loaded with appropriate apps may
be a helpful part of the accommodation solution for an individual with a speech
impairment but it is rarely the entire solution. If the individual is proficient in written
English they may prefer to use texting as a way to support communication it may also
be possible to use pictures to support communication. One technique would be to use
a series of pictures or a slide show as a queuing strategy to remind individuals of -- this
could allow an individual to work independently or when seeing a job coach short videos
could be used in a similar way to model a task.
Finally let's talk a bit more about AAC apps. If you didn't know AAC stands for
augmentive and alternative communication. AAC devices can also be called speech
generating devices. On this slide we have a screen shot of one of the more well-known
AAC apps. It's called proloquo to go the last time I checked it was $180 from iTunes
some individuals with speech impairments use an AAC along with a small device like an
iPod as their communication method but many use it as a backup communication
method instead on the slide you'll see URLs for a couple of sites where you can get
more information on AAC apps but the first is www.appsforaac.net and the second is
www.aactechconnect.com. Since AAC devices are often personal use items used at
home and at work employers may need to consider allowing them but are less likely to
have to purchase one unless it is needed or designed for a particular workplace task
finally I would like to briefly mention that we have heard from some individuals who find
they are able to communicate more effectively by video chatting rather than a phone call
FaceTime for iOS devices and Skype are example of ways to access video chatting.
Next let's talk about chronic conditions. One accommodation idea that comes up a lot
is telework that is working from home or from another location. Telework can be
helpful in managing conditions where a person needs to avoid an allergen germs or
toxins this can also help manage if a teak since people can take self regulated breaks
and customize their work environment for their needs this can also be helpful for people
with driving limitations whether one is working in the office or from the home mobile
devices such as SmartPhones and tablets can also be used to stay organized keep
track of deadlines and prioritize tasks they can also help with concentration by serving
as source of white noise or music.
It's often important for individuals with chronic health conditions such as diabetes to find
ways to manage their condition while staying on task and getting things done.
Depending on the nature and nature and severity of their condition employees may also
have concerns about working alone or having help in an emergency. Let's talk next
about how a mobile device can be used to support someone who is working remotely.
First, mobile devices with cameras can be used as teleconferencing tools. The camera
can be used to video chat with co-workers and supervisors. These devices can also be
used to send and receive work-related e-mail. Is being away from the desk and the
desktop computer itself, if that's a concern, there are apps such as remote desktops
which is free from the iTunes store and pocket cloud remote which is for Android
devices and costs 14.9 9 it can give people access to their computer at work even while
they're away from the office be sure to check with the I.T. team see if they are okay with
using a tool like this when used appropriately mobile devices can help one stay
organized and productive I often use myself to give myself important reminder during
the day there are also a number of apps that can be used to stay on top of one's
calendar and to do list one example is Evernote which has a free version and available
multiple platforms Elisabeth will get into details about apps to support organizations in
the cognitive portion of our webcast today. Finally, let's talk about using a mobile
device as a tool to manage one's health condition there are a number of apps that can
be used to track diet and fitness goals one example is my fitness pal which is free and
can be used on multiple platforms including iOS, Android and Windows.
There are also tools for specific conditions for example track 3 diabetes planner for
Android which costs 2.99 and provides tracking tools specifically for diabetes
medications as well as diet and fitness regimen. Finally, a person may feel more
comfortable while working if they know that they have ways to get help in case of a
medical emergency. If you have an employee who might benefit from having a plan of
action in place to deal with a potential medical situation at work, you may also want to
consider how a SmartPhone or tablet can fit into the plan as a communication tool and a
way to get help. Some conditions where this might be useful include diabetes, asthma
and allergies. Next Lisa is going to talk to you about motor impairment.
>> LISA DORINZI: Thank you, Teresa in this section we will be discussing motor
impairments motor impairments can include but not limited to many conditions such as
different types of arthritis, back impairments various cumulative trauma disorders MS
and paraplegia these continues are a large portion of the calls here at JAN that the
Motor Team receives. So we have the broad umbrella term motor impairment but
under that we have specific types of limitations and restrictions fine motor will be
referring to the limited use of hands specifically writing, typing and grasping there are
lots of gross motor limitations but today we'll just be focusing on lifting lastly another
limitation we will be discussing is fatigue and/or weakness. So jump into it. Many of
the mobile devices available are accessible straight from the box. Like Teresa
mentioned these are features or options you simply have to turn on.
Typically these functions should work regardless of which app you have open and
running. As far as Apple products go the iPad has a split keyboard you just drag the
keyboard away from one another this enables the user to strike keeps with only their
thumbs while gripping the device and serves as a mini keyboard with the keys closely
spaced it allows less of a reach for any keystroke Apple also has Siri a voice acted
assistance basically Siri can command your phone verbally taking away the need to
specifically type in your web searches text or notes someone with a fine motor
impairment maybe with osteoarthritis who can't type as fast as need be can use Siri
speak into their tablet or phone and Siri will dictate the memo voice-to-text I've worked
with it and it works pretty well she picks it up pretty accurately developments have been
made to make this more compatible with third party apps so we'll have to wait and see
where that goes while we're speaking with the built-in voice-to-text feature Android has
the voice recognizer that does the same thing for those devices.
Many of the Motor Team calls involve mousing limitations when an individual has
problems with hand controls to physically move the mouse and it's cursor. This app is
converting the entire iPad into a surface you can touch with your finger or stylus it that
movement to your computer. You can navigate through multiple menus there's also a
mouse feature that restricts the cursor from scrolling. This also serves as the option as
a minimal pad this may be beneficial to someone with carpal tunnel or repetitive motion
injury not trying to scroll across large areas all the time as Teresa mentioned this can
serve as a substitute for a stand alone product this also offers many more features you
would get with a stand alone track pad next up we have the switchamajig this serves as
a switch for those who aren't familiar with switch access this gives people with mobility
or motor impairments access to products that normally wouldn't have been accessible
possibly because of the buttons or keys are too small or the individual can't physically
touch the device itself.
The control allows you to use the iPad to control up to 6 widget activated device hook
the device you want to control up to the controller and open the app on your iPad which
will send a Bluetooth command to the controller which will then activate the appliance I
think this could be a good option if someone is having trouble accessing their
workstation or can't physically get to certain office equipment say they can't reach the
light switches or thermostat to adjust the heat with this wrap they can remotely control
their environment to make it more comfortable, comfortable workers are productive.
>> I need that to control the temperature in this office I can tell you that.
>> Tecla access is another form of Alt input it allows you to control your device by
using your favorite switch or wheelchair joystick you can customize for either fast or
slow scanning speeds they are available on both major platforms and similar to what I
just explained as you have to buy a piece of hardware that will ultimately control the
mobile device the hardware itself the price ran around $290. Dynamic controls have
come out within an i-portal. But this is solely for Apple products and unfortunately only
works with a hand powered chairs the promise is to access this using joystick to enable
users to use calls all by the switch interface this does have a piece of hardware that
needs to be installed but wirelessly sends commands to your Apple device to things
that may not have been truly accessible before i-portal is compatible with the VoiceOver
feature so this could benefit someone with multiple disabilities such as a blind individual
who uses a wheelchair to wrap up the alternative input device I wasn't to mention a few
general notes I talked a lot about very specific apps designed for Apple and Android but
there are definitely other things out Windows 8 was just released the past October it
features a layout similar to how we picture tablets the rows of icons which this is a lot
more compatible for scanning and switch access.
One drawback we have seen is Windows RT a separate version of Windows 8 is not
compatible with most switches there's definitely been negative feedback that RT isn't
compatible with dictation mic track pads or other USB devices one accessory I find for
the kindle was this pagebot that enables someone to use a switch to turn a page also
the -- some kindles are such screen like the fire so the page bot scans through the
options on the screen then you select using the external page bot the last thing on the
slide the general idea of stand alone switches to engage the mobile device there are so
many switch options out there from the large gold one to fuzzy switches to pillow
switches. When dealing with tablets and SmartPhones we can mostly assume you're
talking about a touch screen of some sort sometimes people have motor impairments
that make it hard to make direct contact or trouble pointing at the precise location you
need to get going with these issues a stylus may be a good thing to implement.
With the various sizes ands a stylus can develop something straight to their hand or
paraplegic is use a mouse stylus to navigate a device also with a stylus that has an
adjustable length someone with a shoulder impairment can access their device more
comfortably without reaching their shoulders too far. As I mentioned fine motor
limitations can very often hinders someone's typing if someone is missing fingers or has
limited use of one hand traditional keyboard on a device with speech recognition takes
away the fine motor manipulation. I mentioned earlier there are built-in voice
recognition features such as Siri and also third party apps that serve the same purpose
Dragon Dictation has the same idea of speech-to-text nuance is their most popular
product Dragon dictation isn't as good as a computer program but definitely still
functional you can edit copy and paste into your desired outputs it's perfect for company
e-mails aside from speech recognition if someone has a typing restriction big launcher
is an inexpensive way to convert your device into a larger face-to-face makes icons
three times the size so you can easily see and touch the icon you need.
When poses challenges we could recommend implementing handwritten notes there
are several devices that can serve that purpose such as the Samsung Galaxy note with
this tablet you can write your e-mail text or memos with a stylus then you have the
option to convert the writing into text format that can be sent out that pretty much
eliminates the keyboard use sometimes people still have the capability to type they just
can't do it quickly so allowing a user to write their reports convert the document to a
format to send out could be a form of a new age work command you can see there's a
Livescribe pen it can meet someone's needs with typing restrictions it's a digital pen that
can record audio and pair it with handwritten notes many times this is suggested for
cognitive impairments such as memory loss but this could also serve as a motor
accommodation there is an app called my script used to convert notes written with
Livescribe has an App Store but don't expect the thousands of apps like we have in
other stores the last time I checked there were only about 90 apps.
One handed keyboards are available to assist individuals who must enter data into a
computer but have limited use of one hand sometimes we see a lot of cumulative
trauma such as carpal tunnel someone has restrictions with their dominant hand with a
one handed keyboard they can use their other hand and still have access to all keys
and numbers. One handed keyboard usually has a different key placement so it may
take some time to learn and break habits so a little time and practice this could ensure
you're not strange your injured hands these are just a few option but I know there are
more out there as you can see these are free so it's worth a download to see if you even
like it this takes us back to the accommodation approach Teresa explained sometimes
we might see an app that would be a stand alone here we are substituting this for a one
handed keyboard.
Now that we have given you some possible fine motor solutions let's move on to gross
motor impairments I have so many back condition calls and lifting is almost always a
restriction that needs to get accommodated one option would be to digitize all
documents that have to be toted around day in and out this can be done by scanning
papers and storing them electronically there are a few apps I find such as -- some as
cheap as 99 cents with these types of apps you take a photo of the document you can
easily it from the device if you want a couple of names there's turbo scan I found a few
social workers that call and must travel away from a their offices to schools and having
to lug around stacks of documents so making these digital and carrying around a
something tar let can do wonders with a back or shoulder impairments with i-form
creating copies of electronic documents with many variations of e-readers you can
download and reference many reference books and textbooks you may need on the job
you can see a list of popular e-readers.
To make another suggestion I think it's important to look at how much these tablets
weigh themselves these tablets are mostly what I saw on the market and they are by no
means the best tablets available I have them organized from lightest way going to
heaviest. I feel it's probably not that surprising because the surface has to cover that
also doubles as a keyboard so we have come a long way from the days of huge
computers to bulky laptops to now many options for lightweight tablets moving on.
Sometimes with heart continues or MS people become tired more easily. Throughout
the workplace working ten hour shifts may pose a problem for some especially after
lunch when the office is very quiet it would be easy to doze off unfortunately most of us
can't do quite that and we need some help staying away there are inexpensive apps it
will adjust settings that will send audible signals or vibration to your phone the stay
awake app has auto sensing feature if the phone is on you and doesn't sense any
movement for so long it will send ago to make sure you're still kicking it I'll be mapping
up my portion that may -- these are -- these things are really just products you can
purchase to create a better experience is.
There are all types of mounts for phones in the larger tablets as well which can be
mounted to an office desk, table or a wheelchair arm like you can see in the image the
iPad does have a compatible key guard that restricts the ability to unwanted keys this
could be a good option for someone who has tremor like symptoms sometimes a touch
screen just doesn't serve it's purpose for some users you can always implement a
Bluetooth keyboard a separate wireless physical keyboard that's more like a traditional
one and lastly we have gloves that enable someone to make a the touch needed these
probably aren't just people with disabilities as they definitely serve a purpose for with
that I'll pass it onto Elisabeth who will get into the cognitive realm.
>> ELISABETH SIMPSON: Thanks moving on to the final segment of today's
presentation I'll spend Item discussing accessibility features and apps that might be
useful for an employee with a cognitive or mental health impairment just to offer a brief
overview of what conditions fall under this umbrella conditions can include autism,
epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, learning disabilities, which can
include dyslexia, specific learning disabilities, auditory or visual perceptual deficit. And
traumatic brain injuries or TBI. Mental health impairments can include post-traumatic
stress disorder or PTSD, depression, anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD
and bipolar disorder of course these are not all inclusive lists by any means as we go
through the information in the next section hopefully you will get a better understanding
of how the technology I'll be focusing on could be used for employees with these
conditions.
First I'll be discussing accessibility features by limitation and then I'll talk about features
and apps that could be useful for a specific condition. To get us started I wanted to
provide an overview of the built-in features that someone with a cognitive or mental
health impairment could harness as a reasonable accommodation or in place of a
traditional accommodation. We've gone into the features of VoiceOver already so I
won't spend much time on this I just want to point out that VoiceOver can be very useful
for someone who has difficulty reading because of a cognitive or neurological
impairment. Calendars and reminders on mobile devices can take the place of larger
desk side calendars and alarms the calendar or reminder can be set so that someone
who has trouble with memory or time management is alert today a staff meeting,
training event or basic task if you're anything like me auto correct has saved you from
the embarrassment of sending something riddled with misspellings make sure the auto
correction was the word you intended it to be this is another feature built in along with
word prediction features which can be very useful for someone with a learn disability the
camera and video cameras on mobile devices and tablets can have a number of unique
uses that serve as an accommodation and I'll be getting more in depth in a later slide
about this feature the built-in maps and GPS can take the place of stand-alone GPS
and can be useful for someone who has difficulty remembering how to get from one
place to another this built-in can be for driving or walking to a destination and the built-in
clocks, timers, alarms and stop watches can be great tools for making sure a task is
completed within a certain amount of time. Let's talk about built-in features and apps
that could be useful for people with memory loss as I mentioned before the calendar
notifications and recurring event reminders can be a way to use mobile devices as a
reasonable accommodation. Depending on the device an employee might be able to
sync e-mails and other events directly to the device's calendar using the camera to
capture sequential tasks, final products, people or places can be really useful for an
employee with an intellectual impairment one example of a case that I worked on was
with an employee at a fast food restaurant that had trouble putting together salads I
suggested the manager take a picture of what the salad should look like as it's being
made and the employee could use the picture as a guide with the mobile device the
pictures could be stored turned into a slide show and easily modified as needed.
Another example that one of our colleagues associated with involved an employee who
had difficulty remembering how to get from the parking lot of the building to his
workstation the employer was able to take pictures to illustrate the doors and hallways
the employee should walk down to get to his workstation do any of you have trouble
remembering all 500 passwords you have for work, online bills accounts and e-mails I
do and there are actually password reminder apps available which could be useful for
someone who has difficulty keeping track of these. I provided a couple of app options
that someone with memory loss could use on this slide the -- these work -- these sync
with the Web site you can have reminders floating tasks and also reminds you if you
forgot a task from the previous day. Moving on to the next limitation interacting with
others.
This limitation could apply to employees who might not be able to interpret social
queues or have difficulty interacting with supervisors another use for the ram are a and
video features of mobile devices could be to demonstrate appropriate behaviors in the
workplace role play scenarios or model specific actions if an employee is having
conduct problems, it could be beneficial to create a short video acting out what that
situation should look like. For example, if an employee tends to greet customers with a
hug but this is not appropriate workplace behavior a video could model how an
employee should greet a customer there are too many apps that count that focus on
relaxation meditation or sound therapy but these apps could be useful for an employee
who has difficulty handling stressed or easily frustrated not that the employee should be
meditating in their cubical for an hour or two but the accommodation could be to allow
the employee to listen these employees when they are stressed or anxious.
Keeping organized in any work setting could be difficult for an employee with a cognitive
or mental health impairment an employee might be using multiple computers a laptop
mobile device and have paper documents to keep track of a benefit of having a mobile
device anymore is you can have most if not all of the informing on one device that a
desktop would have. Additionally documents can easily be scanned and stored in the
device barring any security issues as mentioned before calendars, e-mails and contact
lists can all be synced apps can be organized and grouped into folders so you don't
have 18 pages of apps also the most frequently used apps can be placed on the bottom
or main page of the device so they are front and center when needed. I've included a
couple of examples of apps that could be useful tools for organization on this slide.
The meeting planning has a neat function in that it will send out a reminder to
participants of the meeting on the user's behalf the Trello app has a dedicated Web site
where you create and track tasks add members of a team to a task upload attachments
on the task then syncs to the mobile device. Moving on to specific conditions the next
slide focuses on accommodation options that an individual with an autism spectrum
disorder could benefit from in the workplace limitations can include speaking and
communicating managing stress concentration and exhibiting typical social skills. The
individual may also have difficulty with sensory processing so noise sensitivity may be
an issue in the workplace. Apps that could benefit an employee with an autism
spectrum disorder in the workplace include those that help with emotional regulations,
stress anxiety or anger they are apps that measure the sound is so the person has a
visual display if they are speaking too loudly there are many different types of
alternative or AAC apps as Teresa mentioned earlier it may be a matter of allowing the
employee to use this type of technology in the workplace if they are already using an
AAC device or app and they are apps that help identify and recognize personal social
skills and apps that help with schedules.
the Sosh app helps to improve social skills it has a voice meter to do lists goals area
and facial expressions gallery to help in recognizing emotions. The Android calm
counter is a visual and audio tool also designed for individuals with autism it's used to
help the user calm down when they are angry or anxious. The next medical condition I
want to spend some time on is epilepsy employees frequently express concerns about
what weather they should keep an employee with epilepsy on the job you can designate
a person to respond to emergencies there are a couple of ways mobile devices can
work for an accommodation and an emergency action plan an alternative to stand alone
fall detecting or alerting devices could be a fall detection app for a mobile device the
accident alerts the GPS to locate the location of the fall and sends an e-mail to a
chosen recipient the -- it can detect the movement of the user differentiate the
movements associated with epilepsy from normal movement and will warn the person
that it is about to send a text to a contact if the alarm is not cancelled by the user the
text will be sent to the contact and the accident alert act will work even if the phone is
locked and provides important medical information to first responders and hospital staff
on to the next slide employees with ADHD may have difficulty concentrating managing
distractions prioritizing or multi-tasking again timers and reminders are a couple of
built-in features that could be used there are also apps that offer more than just a
countdown of time and a checklist white noise apps can be more expensive than a
white noise machine.
Some apps have been specifically designed to be used by individuals with ADHD.
Pomodoro divides tasks so they are more manageable. The still lap monitors
movement for whatever amount of time the user says if they fidget a lot you can use this
app to encourage sitting still adults with learning disabilities might have difficulty reading
either from a computer screen, paper or both. Per approximate forming mathematical
equations might be difficult for someone who has problems seeing characters or
numbers in correct order. Organization and time management might also be difficult
for an employee with a learning disability. If the employee is using a mobile device
they can turn on the text-to-speech feature for reading or proof reading documents.
This is another area where the auto correct or spell check features will come in handy if
an employee has difficulty with a standard keyboard layout there are various options for
changing the layout as Lisa mentioned earlier and for some individuals who have
difficulty using or typing on any keyboard, a handwriting to text application might be
useful.
For meetings and trainings notetaking -- note takers that sync audio with the notes can
be very helpful. Again there are a couple of app options on this slide including a few
for taking notes both typed and handwritten the handwriting calculator and my script
calculator allow the user to write an equation and the app converts the handwritten
information to type text. With the influx of returning Veterans we're getting more and
more calls about accommodations for those with PTSD. Limitations can vary just like
any other medical condition. But a couple that we commonly hear about include coping
with stress, dealing with emotions and sleep disturbance mobile technology can offer a
number of useful tools for employees with PTSD. There are too many audio and visual
relaxation options to discuss today but an employee experiencing anxiety or feeling
overwhelmed can pull up one of these apps as a way to mitigate those feelings in the
workplace.
The stay awake app as Lisa discussed can also be a useful app the PTSD coach is an
app developed by the Veterans Administration. This happen provides users with
education and information about PTSD as well as relaxation tools, positive self talk,
anger management and other common self help strategies. Employees who are
depressed may have difficulty dealing with emotions, stamina and meeting deadlines
depending on the job a work from home arrangement could be an effective
accommodation option. Allowing an employee who is working from hematoma to use
video chat or Skype can sometimes meet an employers need for face-to-face
communication. For employees who have difficulty meeting deadlines there are a
number of project management apps available and I've listed a couple on this slide.
Anxiety can be triggered by stress in the workplace or interactions with others such as
supervisors.
And some individuals may even experience panic attacks. A traditional
accommodation may be to allow the employee to take a break to use stress
management techniques to cope with frustration mobile devices or apps could be used
during these times if the employee would benefit from guided breathing exercises or
music. There are also apps that provide a panic attack talkdown the at ease and
anxiety stopwatch apps are two that have been developed to assist individuals during
periods of anxiety or during a panic attack. There are numerous basic breathing apps
and most mobile devices are able to download music and store it in the device. So
what does the future of mobile technology hold for individuals with disabilities. Well, if
there's one thing we all should know it's that mobile technology is changing every day.
Devices are smaller and have greater capabilities.
And over time we have seen continued improvements in the accessibility features of
these devices but there's always room for improvement and hopefully we will see he this
as our phones and tablets rapidly approach the point where we can access the same
type of information that is housed on desktop computers. These devices are portable,
can hold a great deal of information and work in places where they never would have
worked just a few years before. If there is a place for this type of technology,
employers and employees may benefit from using the different types of devices
available either as a supplement to an existing accommodation or a stand-alone
accommodation. On our final slide we wanted to highlight where apps can be found
stores such as Google Play, iTunes apps store, Amazon and the Windows store are
where you can purchase apps for a device and we have a couple of Web sites listed for
where you can search for various types of apps depending on the need.
And that concludes our presentation today on "Harnessing the Accessibility Features of
Mobile Devices for Use as Reasonable Accommodations" and we would be happy to
answer any questions you may have at this time.
>> Okay we actually have a few questions I'm going to try to squeeze in first this
one is for you Elisabeth do Android devices tablets provide good text-to-speech like the
iPad VoiceOver and I think you have some experience with Android tablets.
>> We have experience both with Android tablets as JAN as well as the iOS
devices the Apps4Android text-to-speech they work and they work pretty well do they
work as good as iOS? Maybe not for some specific applications. But they are out
there and they are available and that's really the important thing.
>> Next question this one is for you Teresa how much does the Livescribe
Smartpen cost.
>> TERESA GOODARD: Well it varies depending on the model that you get. I
have one of the earlier models and I paid a little more that 100 when I got it. But recent
prices that I've seen range from 74.99 up to about 174. It is the holidays, though, so
look out for specials.
(Chuckles).
>> All right. Next question are you aware of mobile technology for individuals who
have lost their sense of smell. And this is kind of an interesting one and I think we
would like to research. One of our tech team has a background in chemistry and
during the webcast he was telling me that we might be able to find something
specialized to face-to-face with some sort of chemical detector I'm not sure if it's out
there. It sounds like it might be doable At some point in time any thoughts from the
team here real quick.
>> Well in the past when using one's sense of smell has been an essential function
we have usually solved that using a chemical detector. Lab safety direct used to have
a lot if I were looking for one today I would check with Ranger.
>> Okay. Next question: Regarding remote access for places like the iPad or use
of cloud technology how do we achieve confidentiality and manage security of
document access without the firewalls let me start by saying we have had this issue and
we have had difficulty with this. Any comments on solving security issues from the
team?
>> We had this problem with iPads. And we have not come up with a solution yet
for accessing some of our information that's highly confidential.
>> Well I personally choose not to use apps like remote desktop simply because of
the confidentiality problem I think if somebody is considering this as part of an
accommodation they need to carefully consider what's going to be on the computer to
be accessed and work with their I.T. team to see if the security problem can be solved.
>> Excellent tip and last but not least any chance we can have a copy of the
PowerPoint? Yes you can have a copy of the PowerPoints we will have the recording
so that you can review it and we will provide a transcript. All of this information will go
to the person's e-mail who registered for the webcast. And we'll be happy to provide
any additional information that you need related to what we've discussed today and with
that I think the team is pretty happy that we have successfully put this on today we have
had some technical difficulties today so we are pretty excited that everyone was able to
attend. That is all the time that we have. And I have also had the team promised they
will do a follow-up in the future to address any of the questions that you posed today
that we didn't necessarily get to or that we don't have answers to yet.
So always remember that JAN is available to you and we do thank you for attending.
We also want to thank Alternative Communication Services for providing the net
captioning. We really do hope the program was useful and the team put a lot of time
into this as we mentioned earlier an evaluation form will automatically pop up on your
screen in another window if you don't have your popups blocked. If you do we will also
send that to you afterwards. We appreciate your feedback and do hope you'll take a
minute to complete the form and this concludes's today -- this concludes today's
webcast.
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This is being provided in a rough-draft format. Communication Access Realtime
Translation (CART) is provided in order to facilitate communication accessibility and
may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings.
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