{"id":1704,"date":"2022-08-08T23:48:10","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp-test.lt.ucsc.edu\/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1704"},"modified":"2022-09-22T17:37:30","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T00:37:30","slug":"disability-resources","status":"publish","type":"epkb_post_type_1","link":"https:\/\/www.lt.ucsc.edu\/?epkb_post_type_1=disability-resources","title":{"rendered":"Disability Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Recognize and Assist Special Needs Customers Using the Labs and Libraries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Part of our responsibility is to make our labs and libraries accessible to everyone in the campus community and communicate these services to all our customers. As a consultant, it is your responsibility to know that we provide disability resources as well as assistive technology facilities. It is also a part of your job to notify those with special needs that the DRC (Disability Resource Center) is available to provide additional accommodations if necessary. Please note that Learning Technologies labs offer many resources, such as ergonomic keyboards at specific labs and wheelchair-friendly tables to special needs customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Be particularly aware of the special needs of customers with obvious and not so obvious disabilities. An obvious example is someone in a wheelchair that may need to use a computer in the back row or near an aisle (the back row in most labs is higher to accommodate wheelchair access<\/strong>). Another obvious example is someone with a guide dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A less obvious example might be a customer constantly squinting with their nose to the screen who has trouble seeing the and needs the screen zoomed to work optimally in our labs. Part of your job is to identify and assist these customers and direct them to the appropriate resources. If it seems a customer isn\u2019t aware of the disability resources available to them, please refer the customer to the DRC so that the DRC can work with the student and Learning Technologies to identify the accommodations best suited for this customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1)<\/strong> Identify special needs customers<\/strong>: There are some cases where those who need accommodations need customers are obvious – wheelchairs, crutches, people with service dogs, etc. However, other customers might need assistance as well, such as the example above where the customer is really close to the screen for a long time, people with wrist injuries who might benefit from having an ergonomic keyboard, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2)<\/strong> Determine if Learning Technologies or Library resources can help them<\/strong>: You should be familiar with the various resources available to assist with special needs. Wheelchair-friendly tables, special mice, screen magnifiers, and speech-to-text software are only a few. Visit the Learning Technologies website at https:\/\/its.ucsc.edu\/computer-labs\/software\/assistive.html<\/a> for a complete listing. Additionally, the libraries provide a range of services to people with disabilities and further information can be found at https:\/\/library.ucsc.edu\/services\/patrons-with-disabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3)<\/strong> Inform the customer of Learning Technologies resources<\/strong>: It is perfectly appropriate to approach and offer resources to a special needs customer that might help them. A good method looks like this: “I notice you are sitting close to the screen – we have screen zooming software that might help. Would you like me to show you how to use it”? Do not focus on the disability (\u201cSince you are in a wheelchair\u2026\u201d), but the issue to be solved (\u201cI noticed you are having trouble making this table work\u2026).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4)<\/strong> Direct the customer to the DRC<\/strong>: We are committed to making whatever reasonable accommodations are necessary to ensure that students with disabilities have access to the technology resources they need. While we already have some standard adaptive technologies in the labs, accommodations may need to be made on a case-by-case basis to ensure the best accommodation for each individual. For instance, if any students need to use Dragon Dictate, we can refer them to the DRC. The DRC currently has the newest version of Dragon installed on all three computers in the Inclusive Computing and Technology (ICAT) computer lab located at the DRC. They also have the software installed on laptops available for students to check out for exams if they are authorized to use a laptop for exams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The DRC’s website is at https:\/\/drc.ucsc.edu\/<\/a> and students can contact them at 459-2089 (voice), or 459-4806 (TTY), or by email at drc@ucsc.edu<\/a> with any questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Service Animals in the labs and Libraries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Individuals requiring service animals are permitted anywhere on campus with their service animals, including the computer labs and libraries. It should be noted that customers with service animals (whether they be students, faculty, visitor or otherwise) are not required to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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