Minutes of Meeting of January 21, 1998

Accommodating Technology Committee

Present: J. Eulenberg, D. Forro, M. Belsky, M. Hestenes, J. Renuk, R. Wittick, R. Thomas, S. Blosser, M. Hudson, D. Fisher, S. Goodman, T. Hwang, J. Doell

1. The meeting was called to order by J. Eulenberg at 2:05 p.m.

2. The minutes of the January 14, 1998 were approved. (M. Hudson moved and J. Renuk seconded).

3. The agenda for this meeting was planned.

4. M. Belsky, nominated by D. Fisher, was introduced to the committee. D. Fisher moved and J. Renuk seconded that M. Belsky join the committee as a regular member. Her membership was unanimously accepted. M. Belsky's term is for 1998-99.

5. D. Forro asked that we discuss the topic regarding the request for financial support for committee members to attend accommodating technology conferences. This is considered important since this committee must have the most current and up-to-date information available to function effectively. Although the importance of the suggestion and the uncertainty of relying on individual member's respective units for funding to attend such conferences were recognized, the understanding is that this funding request might not be given high priority. Therefore, a decision was made not to pursue the request at the present time.

6. S. Goodman from the OPHS Satellite Office at Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Center submitted a revised request for equipment. (See attached.) Discussion followed and suggestions were made. S. Goodman will further revise and explain in detail the request. Consideration for this request to be included in the APP&R will be made at the next meeting.

7. J. Eulenberg announced that he had talked with James Forger, Director of School of Music, in regarding to the request for purchasing the adaptive high consult piano. The request proposal will be discussed in next meeting.

8. D. Forro proposed the idea of looking into the "Talking Sign" as a possible accommodating technology assistance for individuals who need help with orientation in various environments; especially for those who are visually impaired or blind. D. Forro, D. Fisher, and M. Hudson will gather information on this subject and report to the committee at a future meeting.

9. J. Eulenberg reported that Paul Hunt has read and approved the supporting letter for AgrAbility at MSU.

10. M. Hudson briefly summarized a conversation with Dr. Lew Greenberg where he identified a university wide difficulty in readying students for the CPS101 and other classes that require heavy computer usage. In such cases, a lead-time is needed to prepare the appropriate adaptive technologies and to familiarize the students with the operation and optimum use of adaptive solutions. Presently, two visually impaired students are in CPS 101, neither is very familiar with the operation of the software they must use to access the computer. M. Hudson and Greenberg thought there would be a possibility to propose a LCT training component to help students and staff gain basic skills with various adaptive solutions. J. Eublenberg is planning to speak with Lew before the next meeting and will invite Lew to attend and discuss his perspective. D. Fisher, with his personal experience of having students with the same kind of accommodation needs in his class, echoed M. Hudson's statements and suggested that there should be a built-in policy for the training component to hold the students, as part of the program, accountable in identifying his/her own needs in a timely manner and in receiving the necessary training.

11. M. Hudson sees a need for staff time that is dedicated to implementing an overall adaptive technology solution on campus.

12. D. Forrow reported on her contact with Susan Graff at the MSU library copy center to see if they would be interested in buying at least one handicapper accessible copier. Susan Graff said that they would like to avoid having a large variety of copier brands. She feels this would add to their training and maintenance costs.

13. The Nielson report was reviewed. The possible need for more site licenses for voice recognition software was discussed. Issues such as ergonomics, ease of use or inability to type for physical reasons were considered. D. Forro mentioned that N. Lucas was willing to train users in voice recognition use.

14. J. Eulenberg agreed to present the issues of this meeting during his appointment with L Greenberg on January 26, 1998.

15. The meeting was adjourned (D. Forro and J. Doell) at 3:08 PM.

Respectfully submitted, T. Hwang and Stephen Blosser, Substitute Recording Secretaries