Proposal

Narrative

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is responsible for ensuring the highest degree of accessibility for students at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). The OSD accomplishes this by providing the use of specialized assistive technology software and hardware to OSD students on all FAU campuses. This allows students to obtain equal access in classroom and curriculum activities and function independently in pursuing their academic goals at FAU. The OSD also accompanies the equipment with specialized training for the students, so that they may fully and effectively utilize each assistive technology solution. The technology software and hardware requested in this proposal is chosen to fully meet this goal and to uphold the highest access to instructional technology in the most effective and cost efficient manner.

 We are requesting 10 Lenovo T440S laptops for use by OSD students. These will have assistive technology software installed for students who do not have access to a laptop.  The laptops will primarily be used for students with learning disabilities who utilize text-to-speech software (This software already owned by the OSD) and an additional 5 licenses of Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software on 5 of the laptops. We would also like to upgrade 5 Dragon Naturally Speaking licenses used in our department on desktop workstations by students with disabilities across Boca, Broward and Jupiter campuses.

The OSD would also like to improve service to students by providing accessible online access that allows students to book appointments with counselors through a web portal and additionally book many of the other OSD services online by the end of 2015. Additional database modules (including 2 year software maintenance agreement) will streamline the dispatch of books in alternative format and create an efficient database for the loan of assistive technology equipment to students. All these components will also provide a high degree of quality data tracking. This is aimed at providing a convenient method of resource delivery to students, to reduce paperwork and increase OSD staff efficiency and overall quality of service to students.

The OSD is also requesting 6 desktop computers with monitors for use by students taking computer based tests within the OSD. This is due to increased numbers of students with disabilities taking online exams over recent years. The number of students taking computer based exams at the OSD has increased from 385 in 2010-11, to 699 in 2013 and this is anticipated to increase once again during 2014-15. This increase has pushed the OSD exam facilities to maximum capacity at many times during the year, particularly during mid-terms and finals.

The requested items in this technology proposal will present increased accessibility to our growing number of FAU students with disabilities served by the OSD and ensure the continuation of the highest quality information technology services that will foster support, equality and inclusiveness to students at FAU.

 

Facilities

No facilities reservations or upgrades necessary.

Hardware Requirements

No additional hardware requirements.

Software Requirements

No additional software requirements.

Personnel Costs

No additional personnel cost required.

Other Costs

No additional costs.

Timeline

Items will be implemented immediately upon provision of funds and purchasing. Timeline of use will depend upon lifetime of hardware which is estimated to be 5 years. Software life cycle is dependent upon future upgrade release dates.

Sustainability

N/A

Resource Matching

Servers will by provided for database and the Office for Students with Disabilities will provide staff for training of students on hardware and software provided in the proposal.

Implementing Organization

The Office for Students with Disabilities will implement this project.