Grand Valley State University Disability Support Services Guide to Assistive Technology

Transcription

1 Grand Valley State University Disability Support Services Guide to Assistive Technology List of Assistive Technology Solutions FTP Access to Network Storage Prepared by Jeff Sykes, Assistive Technology Coordinator, Disability Support Services

2 The following is a list of assistive technology solutions in all GVSU computer labs: WYNN Wizard 5.1 A text-to-speech "reading machine" software package designed to assist users with learning disabilities. WYNN Wizard allows any text to be scanned or imported from a Windows program, and voiced out loud in a self-defined environment. Users can view the document in either an exact image view, or a simpler text-only view. Words are highlighted as they are voiced by the computer. Users can add bookmarks and colored highlights to text, and insert typed or spoken notes. WYNN Wizard allows users to individualize a custom reading environment, including speed, voice selection, colors, and font. JAWS Screen Reader Professional 11.0 A screen reader designed to allow computer access to users who are blind. JAWS voices text from documents and screen objects, and provides control of Windows by a set of keyboard commands. JAWS provides nearly complete computer access to individuals who are blind. MAGic 11.0 Screen Magnifier A screen magnifier designed to assist users with visual impairments. MAGic allows screen magnification of up to 32 times normal. Several screen magnification modes are available, including full screen, lens, and a dockable magnified window. MAGic integrates with JAWS to allow text on the screen to be voiced by the computer. WordTalk A toolbar add-in to Microsoft Word designed to assist users with learning disabilities. WordTalk provides text voicing and spoken spell-checking. Words are highlighted as they are voiced. WebbIE 3 A web browser that displays web pages without graphics. A graphical view is also available. WebbIE works well with screen reader software, and provides easy web page navigation via the keyboard for users who are blind or who have a visual impairment. Inspiration 8 A graphical organizer program designed to assist a user will all stages of a writing project. Inspiration provides a graphical view in which users brainstorm and use concept-mapping to connect ideas and organize a work of 1

3 writing. Inspiration automatically creates an outline which can be used as the basis for the final work. All text can be voiced out loud. Mouse Alternative Trackballs are available for those users who prefer this option. Contact Disability Support Services to request installation of a trackball. Alternate Keyboard Big Keys keyboards are available in both QWERTY and ABC formats. Contact the Disability Support Services to request installation of an alternative keyboard. Headset Users are encouraged to supply headsets. Headsets are also available from the Student Technicians, or by contacting the CTS HelpDesk. All assistive technology workstations are equipped front-side audio jacks, or with extension cables from the back of the PC. Audio extension cables are attached to the keyboard cable. The cable with the green label is for sound, and the cable with the red label is for microphone input. Using FTP to Access Network Storage Faculty, staff, and students can access their private N: drive network storage space from off campus by using an FTP program. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and an FTP program is simply a program designed to allow file transfer over a computer network or the internet. Any FTP program may be used. Grand Valley State University supports Core FTP in the computer labs, which is a free download from Core FTP is available on all computers in the labs, and is found in the Non-Departmental Applications folder. These instructions are written assuming you are using Core FTP, but they can easily be adapted to other FTP programs. Core FTP may lacks some desirable accessibility features because its use is very dependant on the graphical interface. Core FTP will work well for mouse users, but anyone who depends on keyboard navigation will need to use a different FTP program. Other, more accessible choices of FTP programs include: WS-FTP FileZilla FireFTP extension for the FireFox web browser 2

4 Connecting to the GVSU FTP site using Core FTP: Launch Core FTP If this is the first time you are connecting to your GVSU network drive, you will need to create a new profile for this FTP connection. After this profile is created you can select it from the list of profiles within Core FTP. Create a new FTP site entry within the Site Manager window by clicking the New Site button. Enter the following information in the appropriate fields: Site Name: GVSU Host: ftp.novell.gvsu.edu Username: your GVSU user ID The format for a student ID is.username.last_initial.student note initial dot prior to the username Example: Jonathan Edwards would log in as.edwardsj.e.student the The format for a staff ID is.username.department_container.office note the initial dot prior to the username Example: Jonathan Edwards working in Human Resources would log in as.edwardsj.hro.office Do not click on the checkbox next to Save Password Do not type in your password; you will enter it later The textbox labeled Comment can be left blank The profile is automatically saved This site profile can be recalled at a later time by opening the Sites menu and selecting Site Manager To log in to your network storage space: Launch Core FTP The Site Manager will automatically open If Core FTP is already running, open the Site Manager by clicking the toolbar button on the far left, or open the Sites menu and select Site Manager Select the profile named GVSU and click Connect Type in your GVSU password in the textbox labeled Password when prompted 3

5 Using Core FTP to Transfer Files Once the program connects you to your network drive, the Core FTP window will appear. Displayed on the left window pane is a list of files and folders on your computer. Displayed on the right window pane is a list of files and folders on your N: Drive. On the left side you will see the open folder is the root of the C drive. (If you are using Core FTP at home, your copy of the program may open to a different folder.) You will want to navigate to a folder where you will store your downloaded files. This is similar to working with the Windows Explorer in Windows. To navigate your hard drive to your My Documents folder, doubleclick on the folder Documents and Settings, and then double click on the folder labeled as your username on the computer. Next, double-click on the My Documents folder to open it. When you first log in to your N: Drive you will be in your home directory, and you will see two or more folders, including My Documents In addition to these two, you will see any folders you have created on your N: Drive; including perhaps folders you have created to store your scanned documents. Navigation is similar to working with the Windows Explorer in Windows. To navigate through folders: Double-click on a folder to open the folder and displays its contents. Double-click on the dot-dot symbol <..> to return to the previous level. To transfer a file: Locate the file to be transferred on the source system Locate the destination folder on the destination system Double click the file to be transferred The file will be copied Note: the fist time Core FTP is used to transfer a file the user is prompted for a default action for double-clicking. Select Transfer as the action, and check Default. Core FTP will display a progress indicator while the file is transferring. To log out of your N: Drive: Click the disconnect button above window that displays the contents of your network drive. This button has two small red arrows on it. To Exit Core FTP: Click the X button at the at the top right of the Core FTP window, or open the File Menu and select Exit. 4

6 Using FileZilla as an alternative to Core FTP FileZilla is a free, open source FTP Program available from and is available for the Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms. An advantage to using FileZilla is keyboard navigation can be used to establish and FTP connection and to transfer files. Open the FileZilla Site Manager open the File menu and select Site Manager. (Alt-F, then S) Select New Site (Alt-N) Enter the FTP host and account information as described above in the Core FTP instructions. Select Connect (Alt-C) to connect to your GVSU network drive Enter your password when prompted To connect to the GVSU FTP site during future sessions Open the Site Manager (Alt-F, then S) Select the entry for the GVSU FTP site account Click Connect (Alt-C) Transferring files is accomplished in the same manner as described above in the Core FTP instructions. Navigation through the folder and file list with keystrokes is possible using FileZilla. Press the Tab key to navigate to the Local Site or Remote Site textboxes Press the Tab key again Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate the folder and file list Use Enter to select and transfer a file To Disconnect from the GVSU FTP site Open the Server menu and select Disconnect (Alt-S, then D) 5

7 Using FireFTP as an alternative to Core FTP FireFTP is a free extension for the FireFox web browser that works on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux systems. It can be downloaded and automatically installed into FireFox from FireFTP can be navigated from the keyboard FireFTP is opened from the Tools menu in FireFox. It needs to be configured to open as a new window for proper accessibility. By default FireFTP opens as a new tab within FireFox, not a new window. To make the necessary changes for accessibility: Launch FireFox Open the Tools menu and select FireFTP Select the FireFTP tab within FireFox Click on the Tools button on the far right side of the FireFTP tab, and select Options Select the Interface tab on the Options property sheet Select the Interface tab Select the radio button to Start FireFTP in a new window Click the OK button Close the FireFTP tab Relaunch FireFTP from the FireFox Tools menu as described above To set up an FTP account within FireFTP: Select Create an Account. From the choices in the combo box at the upper left corner Enter the host and account information as described in the instructions for using Core FTP Click OK (tab to the OK button and press Enter) To connect to the GVSU FTP site Select the GVSU FTP site account from the site listbox Click Connect (Alt-C) Navigation through the folder and file list with keystrokes is possible using FireFTP: Press the Tab key to navigate to the Local Site or Remote Site textboxes Press the Tab key again Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate the folder and file list 6

8 Use Enter to select and transfer a file To Disconnect from the GVSU FTP site: Click Disconnect (Alt-D) 7