Lister Hill Letter
Newsletter of the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences at UAB

November/December 1999

"THIS STATION HAS SOFTWARE FOR VISION- AND HEARING-IMPAIRED USERS."

This is a new sign to be posted over a workstation in the MicroLab on the Ground Floor of Lister Hill Library.  We're delighted to be able to invite our users who may need visual or hearing assistance when using a computer to stop by this new workstation and get a look at how some new software will provide that help.

The computer will be equipped with three kinds of software:

 Open Book - a software program that turns your PC, scanner and sound card into a full-featured reading
 machine.  Scan a page using a flatbed scanner and Open Book will read aloud to you or, if you have low
 vision, modify the way the page is presented on the screen.

 ZoomText Xtra - the total low-vision solution - a powerful family of low-vision software, featuring
 magnification and screen reading, providing complete access to all Microsoft Windows applications.

 Jaws for Windows - This interactive computer program is designed to make Windows and Windows-based
 applications accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. The program provides screen
 magnification and speech synthesis for screen description, commands, creating, editing, and reading
 electronic documents. The cassette tapes are a recording of the accompanying printed manual.

Audio amplification is also available.  The HelpDesk in the MicroLab can assist with a limited amount of instruction in the use of the software.  The software instruction manuals will be available at the HelpDesk in the MicroLab and you can borrow them while you are using the workstation.  Multiple cassettes, for more in-depth information on the features of the software, will be available from Reserve at the Circulation Desk.  The cassettes, and player, can be used anywhere in the library.  You can also make an appointment with The Disability Support Services Office located in Room 504, Hill University Center (telephone 934-4205) to arrange for one-on-one training on the use of the software.