Present: G. Allen, M. Belsky, G. Blievernicht, S. Blosser, J. Eulenberg, D. Fisher, D. Forro, M. Hestenes, M. Hudson, T. Hwang, D. Kleinhardt, J. Renuk, C. Wisniewski, R. Wittick.
Guest: John Pedraza
1. Eulenberg brought the meeting to order at 1:34 p.m.
2. Minutes of 1/13/99 and 1/20/99 meetings were approved (Hudson, Forro).
3. John Pedraza, the new OPHS coordinator for employees with disabilities, was introduced. He was previously disabilities and diversity coordinator at Grand Valley State University. Here he will work with any employee requesting accommodation, or their supervisor, to see that they receive what they need. Temporary disabilities are included.
4. APP&R requests
Blosser reported that the new Macintosh OS 8.5, which requires a Power Macintosh, has new built-in accessibility features. Commercially available accessibility applications OutSpoken and InLarge work better with a Power Mac. He will distribute specifications at the next meeting.
Concerning the portable laptop program, Blosser has made arrangements with Mary Perrin (of the Computer Center) to load any software required for an individual with a disability. She may need to request an upgraded PC (faster CPU, more RAM and HD space), so he will list the software items desired and the hardware that would be required, and then he will check to see if any of the current portables meet these specifications. Forro noted that the libraries might need a similar PC in their portable laptop pool.
Forro reported on a MagniCam hand-held optical magnification system, which might be suitable for use by vision impaired users to view titles, call numbers, and larger text items in volumes in the stacks. She will have more information by the next meeting.
Forro asked whether OPHS is upgrading to the Kurzweil 3000 text recognition system. Blosser and Hudson pointed out that, strictly speaking, the K3000 is not an upgrade to the K1000 system, since it has additional features that make it especially useful for users with learning disabilities. Forro will consider adding the K3000 to the librariesí request.
Blievernicht circulated a short memo describing our current closed captioning capabilities; he will have additional information at next weekís meeting. Belsky circulated a memo from Karen Rivard describing the need for a laptop for Gail McAllen. Blievernicht will put these two requests together to see what the total package will look like.
5. Eulenberg announced that Microsoft Corporation has a new accommodating technology grants program. Allen noted that one impressive feature of this program is that Microsoft is particularly looking for applications that make the vary latest technology fully accommodative out of the box. Too often adaptive hardware and software are created after a new system has been released, and by the time the adaptive tools are ready the new system is out of date. Applications are due February 12th, and this yearís winners will be announced at CSUN.
6. Meeting adjourned (Blosser, Fisher) at 2:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
George D. Allen, Recording Secretary
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Last updated 21 April 1999.