Reading Machines

Kurzweil, Reading Edge and Ruby Open Book are voice synthesis equipment that read text. They allow you to listen on headphones and some have the capability of recording to cassette or disk.

The Rio Grande Computer Center has a Kurzweil machine.

The OSD recommends students download the free software ReadPlease for their home computers. (Note that you cannot install this on Library computers.)

Text Enlarger

These machines, which enlarge print material onto a computer or television screen, are available in the library at Eastview, Northridge, Rio Grande, Riverside and Pinnacle. There is also a machine in the Learning Lab at Northridge. See Adaptive Technology by Campus for information on specific machines.

Return to top

Enlarging Photocopiers

All libraries have photocopiers can enlarge text up to 400% per copy. There is a charge of $0.10 per page copied.

Magnifiers

Lighted magnifiers and page-sized magnifiers (7" by 10") are available for use in the Northridge library.

Variable Speed Cassette Recorder

The Rio Grande Media Center is equipped with audio cassette players that can play at variable speeds. These machines have colored buttons and raised letter instructions. These are also available at the OSD office at Northridge.

Top

Closed Caption Decoder and Larger Screen TV

Closed caption decoders that can display captioned broadcasts or videos are available on all TVs at all campuses. All media centers should have decoder boxes that can be attached if the equipment doesn't have it built in.

Some campuses have larger screen TV’s available for use with broadcast or videos. These must be reserved with the media office. They range in size from 19 to 29 inches depending on the campus. They are available at Northridge, Rio Grande, Riverside. At Northridge all carts available for checkout have 19” TV’s on them. The mounted TV’s in the classrooms are all 25"

Voice-Synthesis and Character Enlargement

All libraries have computers with large screen monitors to facilitate access to electronic information resources, including the library catalog, various indexes to periodicals, and the World Wide Web. These computers also have character enlargement (Zoom Text Extra or Magic) and speech synthesis (JAWS) software.

The Open Access Computer Centers and the Learning Lab Computer Rooms at all seven campuses are also equipped with computer software that provides voice synthesis and text enlargement. These programs include Jaws, Magic, Magnifer, Narrator and On Screen Keyboard. The magnifier, narrator and on screen keyboard are functionalities built into Windows XP.

Top

For more information on services and equipment, contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at your preferred campus or check the OSD web site.

• Cypress Creek  223-2026 or 2014
• Eastview  223-5159
• Northridge  223-4726 or 4725
• Pinnacle    223-8300 
• Rio Grande 223-3142 or 3143
• Riverside   223-6244
• South Austin   223-9166 or 9163