Return to Skip Menu

Assistive Technologies

Most of us take for granted the ability to do simple tasks such as taking a walk on campus, reading a good book, listening to music, watching a movie or using a computer. When the ability to perform everyday tasks has been limited by injury, aging, illness, or any other condition -- assistive technologies can often help. Assistive technologies (or AT) may be defined as any product, system, or service that is used by an individual to increase, enhance, or maintain functional capabilities.

The most common example of AT is eyeglasses which are used by millions of Americans to maintain or enhance vision for reading or driving a car. However, accessible technologies, such as screen magnification for visual difficulties, synthetic speech for assisted reading, voice recognition products for writing, and adaptive or ergonomic workstations to prevent injury, may also be defined as assistive technologies.

Mission

The primary mission of Assistive Technologies is to ensure that students, employees, and the general public with disabilities have appropriate technologies needed to access programs and services of the university. To achieve this goal, Assistive Technologies works with University ADA Services and with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD Office) who refer individuals with a documented need for disability accommodations requiring assistive technologies at Virginia Tech.

A unit of Learning Technologies, Assistive Technologies is operationally responsible for Special Services in Newman Library, the AT Research Lab (AT Lab) in Torgersen Hall, AT Central Services, and Teaching and Outreach activities. Assistive Technologies encourages members of the Virginia Tech community to become involved with accessible technologies by participating in research to create advanced technologies, finding better ways to use existing AT for the disabled, or just by learning about the benefits of assistive technologies. For more information about Assistive Technologies, please contact us.

Special Services

Focusing on abilities is essential to successful accommodations. The objectives for individuals requesting AT accommodations should focus on the sensory, physical, or cognitive abilities they want to enhance, increase, or maintain rather than on their disability. Special Services is capable of demonstrating and consulting on a wide range of AT services, software, and adaptive equipment to help individuals achieve their goals.

To utilize Special Services an individual must have an accommodation referral from either University ADA Services or the SSD Office, or be a student in the regional on-campus transition program (OCTP) with a need for Special Services. Special Services accommodations may include:

  • AT accommodations training and consultations by Assistive Technologies or more advanced training by Commonwealth disabilities service agencies (DSA) or outside consultants
  • Video Magnifiers and screen magnification programs with assistive reading and large-print software for people with visual difficulties
  • Screen reading programs and low-vision products that scan and read for people with low-vision or for the blind who use synthetic speech or Braille
  • Assistive reading, writing, and note taking products that often have literacy tools using synthetic speech or dramatic readings to aid persons with learning or print disabilities
  • Speech and voice recognition products for persons needing to dictate text or control a computer due to a physical limitation or cognitive disability such as dyslexia
  • Alternative input devices and built-in operating system (Widows/Mac OS X) accessibility features that enable people with disabilities to use a computer, improve their level of comfort, and/or avoid injury

Special Services is located on the first floor of Newman Library in Room 110. Access to Special Services is controlled by a Hokie Passport card swipe and is restricted to qualified individuals and AT/Special Services staff. For more on Special Services, please contact us.

AT Research Lab

Advancing technologies to empower people with disabilities for a lifetime defines the goals for AT research at Virginia Tech. To achieve these objectives, the AT Research Lab (or AT Lab) supports multidisciplinary research focused on creating new technologies or improving the uses of existing assistive technologies for people with disabilities. In addition, Assistive Technologies also works regularly with established outreach programs to publicize the benefits of AT research. (See Teaching and Outreach)

Research collaborators and sponsors have included university, government, and corporate entities interested in conducting sponsored or independent research studies to advance AT for people with disabilities. Over the years, the AT Lab has collaborated with a number of university disciplines, labs, and centers that include Electrical and Computer Engineering, Human Factors and Ergonomics, School of Education, Biological Systems Engineering, Center for Geospatial Information Technology, and Computer Science. Outside the university, the AT Lab has worked with corporate sponsors, other universities, and with Commonwealth disability service agencies.

AT Lab participation in a research project brings expertise in accessibility issues, assistive technologies, and universal design principles. Prior research participation has included work on: the efficacy of speech recognition when used by people with learning disabilities; programming avatars to produce American Sign Language (ASL) with the goal of web based sign language interpreters for the deaf; cellular phone research with Human Factors and Ergonomics to improve cellular phone designs for people with disabilities, such as blindness; cross-cultural studies of specific assistive technologies; and independent research studies with graduate and undergraduate students and their faculty advisors on a variety of research projects involving the creation or improvement of assistive technologies.

The AT Lab is physically located in room 1180 of Torgersen Hall. For more on the AT Research Lab, please contact us.

AT Central Services

Assuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access when using university computers and websites is the primary objective for AT Central Services. AT Central Services attempts to achieve this objective by supporting network licensed assistive technologies (AT), access validation software, and web accessibility standards; and by providing consulting services. AT Central Services encompass:

  • Providing AT software for university owned computers using networked licensed software for:

    AT Central Services licensed software is available to university computer labs, departmental classrooms and labs, and administrative offices. For more information on networked software support from AT Central Services, please contact us.

  • Providing objective information about assistive technologies equipment, services, or software to computer lab managers and personnel responsible for supporting disability accommodations in a college or department.
  • Leading and/or supporting web accessibility initiatives involving policies, standards and software that will ensure Virginia Tech websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  • Providing information and support for university licensed software that validates website accessibility to determine an overall accessibility rating for web developers and university management.

    For more information on university web access policies, standards and guidelines, tools and training, and support services, please see AccessVT website regarding accessible web design.

Teaching and Outreach

Teaching and Outreach demonstrates the benefits of assistive technologies and the results of AT research by annually conducting a number of one-time classroom lectures for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students. In addition to classroom lectures, Teaching and Outreach works with a variety of outreach programs that demonstrate AT for people with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These programs include:

  • College Bound, a statewide program that prepares students with disabilities for a collegiate experience. Students come to campus to learn about AT, residential life, self-advocacy, and other daily living skills needed to be successful in college.
  • Real World Day, a regional outreach program held in the fall. This event gives high school students with disabilities, parents, teachers, (and other consumers) an opportunity to try out a variety of assistive technologies. In addition to AT demonstrations, there are programs on transitioning from high school to college, help with identifying funding for AT with State disability service agencies, and opportunities to talk with vendors about specific disability service needs.
  • Takin' the Next Step, another regional program, delivers the message of college transition to middle school students, parents, and teachers. Students are introduced to assistive technologies, which they may use for a lifetime of learning.
  • Youth Leadership Forum (YLF), a statewide program, is designed to empower young leaders for the 21st century. YLF works throughout the year to encourage young people with disabilities to develop leadership skills. Successful candidates serve as delegates from communities throughout Virginia and participate in a wide range of activities and learning, including exposure to assistive technologies.

  • For more information on Teaching and Outreach, please contact us.

Return to Skip Menu

Quick Reference

For Disability Accommodations

Special Services

  • Located on the First Floor of Newman Library, Room 110.

  • Special Services requires Hokie Passport Card and authroized access for services.

  • AT training available for persons with a documented disability and a need for AT accommodations.

AT Research Lab

  • Supports multidisciplinary research focused on creating new AT or improving uses of existing technologies.

  • AT Lab participation on research project brings expertise in accessibility issues, assistive technologies, and universal design principles.

AT Central Services

  • Coordinates and supports university centrally licensed AT software for university owned computers. Provides consulting services to entities not wanting centralized AT software, services or computer support.

  • Supports website evaluation software (HiSoftware) for validating website accessibility for developers and management.

Teaching and Outreach

  • Demonstrates the benefits of assistive technologies and the results of AT Research by on-time classroom lectures and public outreach events.

Contact Information

Assistive Technologies
P.O. Box 90001
Blacksburg, Virginia
Zip Code: 24062-9001
Phone: 540-231-3937
TTY/TDD: 540-231-3035
Fax: 540-231-1724

Request for Comments
Send an e-mail to assist@vt.edu