Purpose

The Microcomputer Training Program for Persons With Disabilities;(MTPPD) provides PC-based adaptive equipment training, consultations and technical support to veterans and government employees with disabilities.

Program Services

In FY '94 we initiated the training, consulting and technical support portion of our program to blinded veterans with a service connected status in the Washington metropolitan area through the Department's Blind Rehabilitation Service. For eligibility requirements and application procedures, contact your Vision Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator at the DC Veterans Hospital.

Training

Our staff has developed courses in Microliteracy, Word Processing, DBASE III PLUS, LOTUS 1-2-3, MS DOS, Touch Keyboarding and PC Based Scanning Systems. Courses such as Operation of the Braille 'N Speak and using Windows with Access Systems are particularly helpful for employees who are blind or visually impaired. Course handouts are provided in an accessible format per the student's choice.

Training is provided on an individual basis, i.e., one instructor per student and is tailored to meet the unique needs of employees with disabilities who cannot gain the full benefits of regular classroom instruction. We offer customized training on state of the art adaptive systems to meet the needs of our customers on a cost-recovery basis.

Students must have computer equipment and adaptive systems installed at their work site prior to registering with our program. Following course completion, students will receive two hours of follow-up assistance on the concepts and applications covered during their courses.

Training Sites

Students in the Washington metropolitan area can be trained at our Individual Learning Center (ILC), our Information Technology Center (ITC) or their own work sites. Those from out-of-town are trained at our facilities. VA employees who can see the blackboard but need modified workstations or adaptive systems are eligible to take non-adaptive courses from our ADP Training Staff..

Consultations

We consult with disabled employees and their managers regarding appropriate PC access systems. These consultations ensure that employees have successful computer solutions at their workstations. As a result, they are guaranteed to have equal access to print materials, data and federal information processing systems as is provided to their non-disabled co-workers.

Equipment Demonstrations and Networking

Often we invite vendors of emerging PC access technologies to showcase their products and systems in our new Information Technology Center (ITC). Vendor personnel set-up and demonstrate adaptive technologies to interested people from the public and private sectors.

Officials from the Office of Information Resources Management (IRM) are participants of the GSA Counsel on Adaptive Technology (COAT). We network with the GSA Information Technology Access Group (ITA Group), Job Accommodations Network (JAN), Department of Defense Computer/ Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) and the Department of Agriculture's TARGET center to keep abreast of newly developed policies and physical/adaptive PC access technologies to better meet the needs of fellow employees with disabilities.

Our staff also participates with the GSA's Information Technology Access Working Group to keep in touch with evolving PC access policies and solutions being adopted and used by other federal agencies. Additionally, we are represented on the National Task Force on Disability which helps promote the recruitment, employment and advancement of people with disabilities in the federal and private sectors.

We continually update access technologies in our Information Technology Center (ITC) to better meet the inter-operability and connectivity needs of employees with disabilities.

Evaluation Site

Our Information Technology Center has been selected as an evaluation site for new technology by both the Department's Rehabilitation Technology Assessment Section (RTAS) and the National Technology Center of the American Foundation of the Blind headquarters in New York City.

Scanning & Document Conversion

We can scan hard copy text and turn it into commonly used word processing, database and spreadsheet formats. Additionally, we can convert documents on disk from one format to another, i.e., from WANG WP PLUS or Microsoft WORD to WordPerfect or from WordPerfect to LOTUS 1-2-3. For your convenience, we can also convert text into Braille or translate braille text onto disk or tape.

Tours

Visitors may arrange to tour our Information Technology Center and receive a demonstration of the latest PC access technologies by calling Mr. Patrick Sheehan, Program Coordinator, on (202)273-6543 Mondays-Fridays from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Facilities are accessible to people with disabilities and guide dogs are welcome.

In-house Adaptive Technologies

In order to provide the most affective training for our customers, the following systems can be configured together and integrated with standard office automation equipment:

Speech Synthesizers -- We have a variety of speech synthesizers that are connected to the communications port of the PC and convert text into speech.

Screen-reading Software -- This software interfaces with the synthesizer and PC. It provides full access to information on the screen to customers who are blind or visually impaired. We also have systems which access text files in the WINDOWS environment for customers who are blind or print handicapped.

• Braille -- We can produce hardcopy braille for our customers with braille translation programs and a braille embosser. This year we have converted text files into braille and have produced course handouts and certificates in braille. We have a variety of refreshable-braille display systems that will give customers who read braille access to PC's.
  
  
• Screen Magnifiers -- We showcase systems that can enlarge text on the screen up to 16 times its normal size for employees with low vision. Most of these systems can also enlarge graphic images and work in the WINDOWS environment. Our laser printers can output documents in a large-text format according to standards specified by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Large print text documents can also be printed in color.
  
  
• Text Enlarging System -- Our closed-circuit television reading systems are capable of enlarging hardcopy text up to 60 times normal size. One of our televisions is connected to a PC which enables our customers to have a simultaneous split-screen enlarged display of computer and/or hardcopy output.
  
  
• Reading Systems -- We showcase the latest versions of the Reading Advantage, Open Book and OsCaR Scanning/Reading systems. These are optical character recognition systems which scan hard copy text into computer code that can be stored on disks for later access at adaptive and non-adaptive workstations. Some of these systems can be useful to customers with cognitive impairments. In particular, the Word Scholar program highlights electronic text on the screen as it is verbalized. This is very helpful for customers with learning or cognitive impairments.
  
  
• Technologies for Customers with Hearing Impairments (TDD) -- Our center provides the use of portable telecommunications devices for the deaf. The use of this equipment permits a person who is hearing impaired to communicate by telephone with another person using TDD equipment. Two PC-based Microflip TDD systems have been installed in our PC's. They give full-screen output of conversations between Microflip system customers and other similar devices and TDD's.
  
  
• Technologies for Customers with Motor Impairments -- Our center's voice recognition systems allow the customer to command the PC by voice. The systems have upwards of 25,000-word vocabularies, a 5,000 user defined vocabulary and are programmed to automatically spell-check documents. We also have systems that operate on the MACINTOSH with a limited vocabulary enabling customers with partial upper-extremity functional limitations to command the MACINTOSH by voice.
  
  

• Keyboards -- The center provides access to key-latch and sticky-key software which allow customer to use a standard keyboard with one hand. Other ergonomic keyboards can be used by customers who have repetitive stress injuries. All PC's have mice which enhance keyboard control for all customers.
  
  

Note: Throughout the year vendors rotate new adaptive and non-adaptive technologies through our center to keep our customers abreast of new PC products and systems.

Further information for information about our program or its services, contact Patrick Sheehan (202)273-6543, Randy Mardres (202)273-6548, MARDRES@MAIL.VA.GOV or Susan Boaz on (202)273-6542, BOAZ@MAIL.VA.GOV or COMPUSERVE ID 74404,1446@COMPUSERVE.COM.

We want to help you meet your adaptive Information Resources Management requirements and your work productivity needs. We hope you will choose our facility and we look forward to hearing from you soon.