
Train the Trainer
Everyone who completes the course will receive an EASI certificate
of completion. This course will also count towards the EASI/USM Certificate In
accessible Information Technology and anyone completing 5 of these courses will earn both that Certificate and 15 continuing education units (3 units per course).
Course Registration and Schedule
Schedule: 2009: April 6, August 3 December 7
Course registration is $350 with a $70 discount for students. Overseas participants and EASI Annual Webinar members qualify for the student discount.
Register for this course
Course Description
Train the Trainer has been significantly updated and also enriched with new
multimedia. Participants will be expected to download both demo versions of adaptive
software or free support software and spend part of almost every lesson actually
acquiring hands-on experience. computer technology has the potential to provide
the most level learning space and working space in history for people with disabilities.
However, many users arrive on campus or at work with inadequate training on this
technology. Either the K-12 system failed to provide them with the appropriate
tools and training, or they may have only recently received the disability. They
will need help in identifying the technology that will enable them to achieve
more independence and need training to use it effectively. Your institution will
need to have someone equipped to provide this training. The information in Train
the Trainer will provide a staff person with the know-how to provide this support.
EASI believes that such support requires a joint effort between the trainer and
the trainee. While the trainee needs help to get started on using complex adaptive
technologies, after an initial introduction, EASI believes that the trainee has
the responsibility to become a skilled user independently.
The task of the trainer is made difficult because he or she will need to
have at least a beginner's skill on several different adaptive technologies and
have a broad understanding of various disabilities to provide such people with
what they will need to know to get started on using today's information technology.
This course will provide that broad, basic learning. The trainer may also need
to provide a beginner understanding of adaptive technology to other staff such
as lab assistants and similar support staff. The trainer may also need to provide
awareness training to other institutional staff. In short, the trainer may have
to be a "Jack of All Trades".
The course is month-long and is entirely taught over the Internet with the
use of the web and e-mail. for class sharing. There will also be several modules
using multimedia, video, audio, PowerPoint etc.
To earn the course completion certificate, participants will have to do all lessons and submit the assignment at the bottom of each lesson. There are 2 provisions to help in this situation. First anyone can get a 2-week extension to finish the course. Second, if that is not enough, the person will be able to do a free registration as a repeat for the next offering but this option will only be offered one time.
Week 1:
LESSON 1: Introduction to training users with disabilities on adaptive computer
technology
This lesson will begin with participants providing a personal introduction as
learning will happen better when we are acquainted. It will also introduce the
adaptive technologies that participants will learn about as well as providing
some background on the characteristics of the disability groups for which they
will most likely be providing training. We will assure participants that we believe
they do not need to be experts on all these technologies or on all people with
disabilities. Our goal is to provide basic, initial technology skills and to
provide helps that can readily be used to enable the trainer to refresh their
skills on any system they may not have used for some time.
LESSON 2 OVERVIEW OF PERSONAL COMPUTER HARDWARE PLATFORMS
Modern computer operating systems all provide the user the ability to customize
some of the appearance and functions of that computer to meet their personal
tastes or needs. Sometimes, these accessibility features are somewhat primitive,
and sometimes they are more sophisticated. Frequently, they are adequate to support
someone with a limited disability, but may not be adequate for someone whose
disability is more severe. They also are good tools to introduce a user to accessibility
technologies before anyone makes an expensive purchase. The operating system
accessibility features are an ideal choice for someone with a temporary disability
such as a problem caused by an injury. Participants will become acquainted with
the operating systems' accessibility features with hands-on use.
Week 2:
LESSON 3: TECHNOLOGY FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CONSUMERS
These users have problem accessing the computer output displayed on the computer
monitor and need technologies giving them an alternative access to that information.
The course will limit its training to 1-2 of the major screen reader and screen
magnification systems. Other packages function similarly and have similar command
systems so the basic knowledge will carry over. Tips on working with visually
impaired users will be provided. Participants will spend time actually using
both a screen reader and a screen magnification package. Several have demo versions
for download.
LESSON 4: TECHNOLOGY FOR PERSONS WITH HEARING RELATED DISABILITIES
While these users may not need adaptive technology to be able to use computers,
there are many computer applications that do provide special support for these
users both in their personal lives and in supporting their access to live presentations.
Such applications include real time captioning and transcriptions. Trainers may
be called on to interact with this population and need an initial understanding
of their needs and support for them. Also, participants may appreciate a lesson
without hands-on assignments.
Week 3
LESSON 5: Reading Support Technology For Persons With Learning Disabilities
Learning disability covers a broad spectrum of impairments and strengths. Participants
will be introduced to this. This population can benefit from mainline and special
software that compensates for impairments and maximizes their strengths. Many
benefit from receiving information in dual sensory modes and from content display
that is clean and uncluttered. Participants will experience several writing support
tools.
LESSON 6: Writing Support Technology For Persons With Learning Disabilities
Many of the reading support tools also assist writing. Mainline writing support
tools like spell checkers, grammar checkers and special features like word prediction
are among the support tools. Participants will again acquire hands-on experience
on such software.
Week 4
Lesson 7 Training Users with Motor Impairments (Voice Recognition, Onscreen
Keyboards, track ball, etc.)
Users whose impairments interfere with their effective use of the keyboard
require other tools to improve their ability to input information into the computer.
Voice recognition has improved greatly in recent years and is a popular alternative
input tool. Other solutions include an alternative mouse, onscreen keyboards
and a multitude of other special switches. The choice of systems will depend
on the specific motor impairment and, to some extent, the personal choices of
the user. Many of these tools are inexpensive. There are also demo versions of
many packages, and participants will gain experience working with tools for people
with motor impairments.
Lesson 8 Providing Institution-wide Awareness of the Needs of Users With Disabilities
The trainer will have a basic understanding of the technology support needs
of people with disabilities and of the technologies that assist them. Providing
advocacy for these students and awareness training to members of the school,
university, or business will help integrate these users into the overall organization.
Besides being a trainer, you will be uniquely positioned to be an advocate. As
part of that role, you can urge the institution to develop policies not only
guiding your department but impacting all faculty and staff. Progress always
happens best where there are clear policies and some system of accountability.
Register
for this course.
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