Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)

If you don’t know which solutions are the best for you, a needs assessment will help you determine which items will assist you most.

The "refreshable" Braille appears one line at a time. Braille displays, used by people who are Braille literate, must be used in conjunction with screen readers, which contain the software necessary to activate the Braille display. Compatible with word processing, database, commercial web browsers, and spreadsheet applications, Braille displays make proofreading, spreadsheet, and database applications more efficient than speech output alone.

A Braille embosser is a printer that creates tactile Braille cells instead of written text.  Using Braille translation software, a document can be embossed, making Braille production more efficient and available to people who are Braille literate.

A Braille Translator is a software program that translates a script into Braille cells, and sends it to a Braille embosser, which produces a hard copy in Braille script of the original text.

Desktop video magnifier or closed-circuit television (CCTV) provides low vision aid for a full range of visual magnification of hard-copy printed materials.  Video Magnifiers are used by people with low vision to help with reading and writing difficulties. The desktop video magnifier has a camera and monitor connected to display real time images with versatility and visual magnification aiding which allows the user to control the focus, magnification, and screen preferences setting.

Organize work assignments, calendars, and general information in a logical arrangement to facilitate the processing of tasks and events.

Large key keyboards and large print keyboards have keys and/or letters that are larger than those found on standard keyboards.

Store up to six thousand Braille pages. Portable notetakers can be operated from a desktop or from a person's lap. All models have built-in speech synthesizers; some also have Braille displays. Portable notetakers are used instead of a pen/pencil and are similar to portable data assistants (PDA). Users can choose between the Perkins style (eight key Braille input) or a standard typewriter keyboard.

A compact and portable version of the CCTV, the video magnifier or closed-circuit television (CCTV) provides low vision aid for a full range of visual magnification of hard-copy printed materials.  Video Magnifiers are used by people with low vision to help with reading and writing difficulties.

A scanner converts typewritten or typeset material into computer images. Once scanned a scanner/reader can be read immediately, stored on a computer disk, saved into a word processing application, or prepared for Braille production.

Scanner/Readers convert typewritten or typeset material into clearly spoken synthesized speech. Scanners/readers feature both verbal output and text highlighting, assist in facilitating reading, and can be used in conjunction with a document scanner. Individual settings are available for screen color, reading speed, degrees of highlighting, and note-taking capabilities. Scanned text can be read immediately, stored on computer disk, saved into a word processing application, or prepared for Braille production.

Magnification software is used to enlarge print on the computer screen. Images can be enlarged up to 16 times, and the user controls print size, color contrast, and color selection.

Screen reading software operates a speech synthesizer, which voices the contents of a computer screen. Screen readers are helpful in navigating programs and word processing documents. The user, through windows-based keystrokes, navigates the electronic environment, hearing the prompts, dialog boxes, etc. Screen readers highlight words as they are read by the computer. Screen readers are compatible with word processing, spreadsheet, commercial web browsers and database packages and can be used in conjunction with screen enlargement and Braille output products.

Voice Recorders are devices that use a microphone to record audio information and save it in a digital format.  They can sort audio files into folders, play back information and download the information on a computer.