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Speech-to-Speech--Using A Telephone Independently

Speech-to-Speech (STS) is a Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). This is a service allowing persons with hearing or speech limitations to access the telephone to place and receive calls. STS enables persons with a speech disability to make telephone calls using their own voice or an assistive voice device. A caller may use a communication device such as a Tobii or Dynavox. Speech-to-Speech uses Communications Assistants (CAs) to relay the conversation back and forth between the person with the speech disability and the other party to the call. CAs are operators who are specifically trained in understanding a variety of speech disorders, which enables them to repeat what the caller says in a manner that makes the caller’s words clear and understandable to the called party. The communication assistant will notify the receiver that the communication will take time and to remain on the line.

The service is a good way for someone with a hearing limitation to use a phone without assistance from the hearing world.

Who Uses STS?

Often people with speech disabilities cannot communicate by telephone because the parties they are calling cannot understand their speech. People with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease and those who are coping with limitations from a stroke or traumatic brain injury may have speech disabilities. People who stutter or have had a laryngectomy may also have difficulty understood. In general, anyone with a speech disability or anyone who wishes to call someone with a speech disability can use STS. Are you under A person can make a STS call from any telephone. You simply call the relay center by dialing 711, and indicates you want to make an STS call. You are connected to an STS CA who will repeat your spoken words, making the spoken words clear to the other party. Persons with speech…

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The Indiana Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI Coordinators’ Association is offering two $500 scholarships for incoming college freshmen. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2019.  Eligibility requirements:

• Be an incoming college freshmen attending an accredited Indiana college or university
• Have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Have an area of study must be associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act or special needs including, but not limited to education, medicine, speech and/or hearing therapy, engineering, architecture, nursing, physical therapy and occupational medicine

For an application, contact Ashley Lowe at 765-472-2400 or alowe@cityofperu.org. Recipients will be announced no later than July 31, 2019.

Utilizing Macros in Microsoft Word

A macro is a quick way of completing multiple commands or text sequences that are used often. An example is having a formatted design of a Microsoft Office document. These can be created in Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint. There are other programs which develop macros for different needs.

Installing the Developer Option

1. Go to File
2. Select Options
3. Click on Customize Ribbon
4. Check the box next to “Developer”

Creating a Macro in Microsoft Word

1. Go to Developer
2. Click on record Macro
3. Type the name for the macro.
4. To use the macro in all Word documents, be sure the Store macro in the box saying All Documents (Normal.dotm). If the macro is only required in that document, select the title of the document.
5. Perform the actions for the macro
6. Click on Stop under the macro on the ribbon

Create a Macro with a Keyboard Shortcut

1. Repeat steps 1-4 from above
2. Select Keyboard which will assign a key command the macro
3. Input the key combination command for the macro (i.e. Crtl + 6)
4. Perform the actions for the macro
5. Click on Stop under the macro on the ribbon

Create a Macro with a Button Shortcut

1. Repeat steps 1-4 from above
2. Select “Button” to create a button on the Quick Access Toolbar
3. Perform the actions for the macro
4. Click on Stop under the macro on the ribbon

Running a Macro in Microsoft Word

1. Go to Developer on the Ribbon
2. Choose macros on the ribbon
3. Choose the macro which you would like to run
4. Click on the run option on the dialog box…

Interacting with people who are deaf/blind

There are many recommendations for communication between the hearing and the people who are part of the deaf/blind community. It is wise to talk with someone about communication prior to meeting the person for the first time when not possible, the following are some recommendations for communicating between the hearing and non-hearing community.

• To get the attention of a person who is deafblind, gently touch him or her on the arm or shoulder, wait to be acknowledged and identify yourself. Do not assume that he/she knows who you are.
• Learn to use whatever means of communication the person who is deafblind prefers. If you know another method that might be helpful, share that information.
• Express yourself in a natural way. Softening or exaggerating your gestures may result in confusion.
• Express yourself clearly and make sure that your message is understood. Summarizing important points at the end of a conversation is often helpful.
• Always inform the person who is deafblind of your whereabouts. Also, let him/her know if you intend to leave the immediate area.
• If others are present, let the person who is deafblind know their locations. Inform him or her of opportunities to enter the conversation without interrupting others.
• If you move an object (a glass of water, a chair) in the immediate environment, let the person who is deafblind know. Such information can prevent accidents and reduce confusion.
• When walking with a person who is deafblind, offer your elbow or shoulder as a guide. Hold your guiding arm close to your side to provide a stable area of contact and walk slightly ahead of the person who is deafblind. Pause slightly to indicate that you have arrived at stairs or a curb.
• You can learn more about interpreting and guiding by seeking the suggestions of people who are deafblind, observing their reactions in various…

Learning about the latest information about the ADA and disability is important for everyone. The following resources are some opportunities at no cost for you to explore and learn. Assistive technology is included in all of the websites and resources. Enjoy.

Disability Hub Training

• https://disabilityhubmn.org/my-tools/

Access North

• http://www.accessnorth.net/

Christopher Reeve Foundation and assistive technology for spinal cord injury

• https://www.christopherreeve.org/

Attitude Magazine for webinars for individuals with learning disabilities

• https://www.additudemag.com/tag/webinar/

ASL training opportunities

• http://adagreatlakes.org/ADA/ASL_Videos.asp

ITunes and Apple products once had the market for products with built-in accommodations but with increased awareness and ease of access has created a competitive market. Whether you are looking for visual accommodations such as voice output or typing strategies for one-handed skills, they are included in tablets, cell phones, and all android technologies. In addition, there is Google docs and the Play Store which are promoting inclusion.

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides with Google Internet Accessibility Options

Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides are a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program. They are part of a free, web-based software office suite offered by Google within its Google Drive service. The three apps are available as web applications, and as mobile apps for Android and iOS. The apps are compatible with Microsoft Office file formats. The suite consists of Google Forms, Google Drawings and Google Fusion Tables. The service automatically saves documents and keep them all coordinated. Everywhere you are working will update automatically in the cloud base environment. Google Chrome and Google services have expanded their disability services making their products work for a variety of needs. Voice-recognition, voice output, learning disability implementation, auditory options, keyboarding changes and similar options available on the PC or Macintosh computers built into Google docs.

Benefits

There are benefits to using the Google chrome docs for people with disabilities. It works with most accessibility options and software. Google docs announced that their software will work with JAWS screen reader, built-in Windows accessibility options and special keyboards. It is wonderful that you have access to your documents anywhere there is Internet access, it will automatically save your documents, and many colleges are exclusively using the Google drive and documents with…

Amazon Echo and Google Home Meet

Amazon Echo and Google Home are two environmental control units that allow for voice control of your home and searching the Internet along with music operation.  Amazon Echo and Google Home are affordable and expandable assistive technology options.  For under $200, an environmental control environment is set up with basic functions.  For each device in your home that you want to control, it will cost an additional $15-30 for a smart device controller.    

Amazon Echo (known in-development as Doppler or Project D and shortened and referred to as Echo) is a smart speaker developed by Amazon.com. The device consists of a 9.25-inch (23.5 cm) tall cylinder speaker with a seven-piece microphone array.  The device is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic and other real time information. It can also control several smart devices using itself as a home automation hub.

Google Home is a voice-activated speaker powered by the GoogleAssistant.  This is a simple device in which a voice request triggers Google Home to play music, podcasts or radio from services like Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Pandora and TuneIn. (Google Staff, 2016).  It was created and released in November 2016.

Terms to Learn:

• A smart device is an electronic device, generally connected to other devices or networks via different wireless protocols. Several notable types of smart devices. Some smart devices are smartphones, IPhones, Android Cellphone, Tablets, Smartwatches, and Smartbands.  The term refers to a device that exhibits some properties of computing and artificial intelligence.  Smart devices can be designed to support a variety of form factors, a range of properties pertaining to ubiquitous computing and to be used in three main system environments: physical…