Services

Assistive Technology Service: Services

Denise Keaveney is the Assistive Technologist, and she provides a range of support for users:

• Training and on-going support in the use of assistive technology applications. Atraining schedule for new students is put in place at the beginning of the academic year, and one-to-one training is provided on request.
• The Library offers extended loan periods and additional borrowing to undergraduate students registered with the Disability Support Service.  (7 books for 14 days).  No extension applies to 1 or 3 day loan books.
• Texts in alternative formats: electronic text, audio, braille, enlarged text.  Students requiring text in accessible formats must read the and sign the NUIG Alternative Format Process and the NUIG Copyright Disclaimer Form.  It is important to discuss and agree the format and standard of editing necessary as early as possible.  The current NUIG process is outlined in Textbook Conversion to Accessible Formats. Accessible format text editors use the NUIG Guidelines for editing scanned text.

Accessible format resources

Robobraille is an email based service for translation of e-text documents to Audio or Braille. The service caters for different languages, including: English, French, German, Danish, Spanish and Italian. The user can email a document attachment to one of several email accounts used to manage the translation process, eg eightdot@robobraille.org for eight dot Braille translation or sixdot@robobraille.orgfor six dot braille translation. A link to the Braille file is returned to the user via email. 

Text to Speech: The user can email a text document as an attachment to britspeech@robobraille.org . The attachments are processed, the document converted into an audio file in WAVE format, and compressed into an MP3 file. A link to the MP3 file is returned to the user via email.

Academic and Support Staff - Resources for Creating Accessible Information:

• Student information resources should be clear, comprehensive, timely and presented within an accessible format. Inclusive information involves clarity of both Format and Content.
• Trinity College Dublin has published guidelines on creating accessible information.
• NUI Galway guidelines Preparation of Accessible Learning Materials may be helpful. 
• The Disability Advisors Working Network (DAWN) has published a handbook: Teaching Students With Disabilities: Guidelines for Academic Staff
• Accessible format text editors use  Guidelines for editing scanned text  . 
• The current process is outlined in Textbook Conversion to Accessible Formats  .  

Useful web resources include:

• TCD, Trinity Inclusive Curriculum (TIC) 
• National Council for the Blind of Ireland Guidelinesfor producing written or online information that is accessible to everyone
• JISC TechDis covers accessibility in learning