LSC-Kingwood Assistive Technology Lab

The primary goal of the Assistive Technology (AT) lab is to provide students with documented disabilities access to technology resources that can facilitate successful academic and career success.  The services provided by the AT lab support the mission of the Lone Star College (LSC) and are coordinated with the instruction, counseling, tutoring and training provided by other departments on campus.

How are students referred to the AT lab?

Students are referred for AT lab services by the Disability Services Counselor, and the AT lab provides accommodations as determined by the Disability Services Counselor.

What technology is available through the AT lab?

Kingwood College maintains a number of devices and soft-ware programs that help "level the playing field" for students with disabilities. Some items are portable, and can be checked out by the student.

• Alternative input devices allow individuals to control their computers through means other than a standard keyboard or pointing device.
• Braille embossers transfer computer generated text into embossed Braille output.
• Reading tools and learning disabilities programs include software and hardware designed to make text-based materials more accessible for people who have difficulty with reading. Options can include scanning, reformatting, navigating, or speaking text out loud.
• Screen enlargers work like a magnifying glass for the computer by enlarging a portion of the screen which can increase legibility and make it easier to see items on the computer.
• Speech recognition or voice recognition programs allow people to give commands and enter data using their voices rather than a mouse or keyboard.
• Text-to-Speech (TTS) or speech synthesizers receive information going to the screen in the form of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, and then "speak" it out loud in a computerized voice.
• Talking and large-print word processors are software programs that use speech synthesizers to provide auditory feedback of what is typed.
• TTY/TDD conversion modems are connected between computers and telephones to allow an individual to type a message on a computer and send it to a TTY/TDD telephone or other Baudot equipped device.
• Videophones allow deaf and hard of hearing individuals to communicate with each other using sign language.
  Assistive Listening Devices are hard-wired or wireless transmitting/receiving devices that transmit sound from the microphone directly to the listener, minimizing the negative effects of distance, noise, and reverberation on clarity.

What services are available through the AT lab?

• Textbook Conversion/Audio Book Services are available for those with appropriate accommodations; i.e. impaired vision or blindness. Scanned material is reformatted; ready to be processed by screen reader software or converted to audio files. Conversion requests require a disposable copy of the textbook, a copy of the course syllabus, and current accommodations documentation. Our current turn-around goal for textbook conversions is 10 working days from receipt of request.
• Other services the AT lab may provide are an overview of Assistive Technology to others, demonstrate AT equipment as well as provide training and support. The AT lab coordinator works with the Office of Technology Services (OTS) as well as academic departments and faculty to provide assistive technology services in the classroom -- installing special software on the computer the student uses for a particular class, or to convert a test to an alternate format, e.g. large print.

Who can I contact for more information?