Skip to main content

Assistive Technology at Your Fingertips

In Janet Hopkins' article "School Library Accessibility: the role of assistive technology,"  the sixth suggestion is to "Become familiar with built-in accessibility features already available on your computer operating systems" (Teacher Librarian 31:3, 2004).

I have an iPhone (and a Mac), and I had ZERO clue about the majority of the IOS accessibility features that are mentioned here.

Some of my favorite features:
  • If you have color blindness or other vision challenges, you can adjust the view on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV so it works better for you
  • Magnifier works like a digital magnifying glass.
  • Live Listen lets you fine-tune your Made for iPhone hearing aids and AirPods to help you hear more clearly. For quiet conversations, move your iPhone or iPad closer to the people who are speaking, and the built-in microphone will amplify what they’re saying
  • The Noise app tracks decibel levels of the ambient sounds around you, helping you identify when the levels could negatively impact your hearing (available on Apple Watch Series 4 and higher)


I had never known about the Magnifying glass, and I wish I had learned about it sooner! I am disappointed that the Noise App is only available on the Apple Watch Series 4, because I am super curious and cognizant of ambient noise.

So how could some of these features help in a library?
  • Magnifier: Small print on an assignment? Whip out your phone and zoom on in
  • Live Listen: Have trouble hearing the teacher? Sit up front and position your phone as close to the teacher as possible
  • Noise: If a student is triggered by loud environments, the Apple Watch can give him/her a heads-up to move to a different area of the classroom or school
The iPhone, Apple Watch & associated tech are considered "cool" (or at least, cool enough), so the students using these functions should be able to do it discreetly and inconspicuously.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This week’s focus is on SCARY books and Bibliotherapy! While it seems like a random pairing at first (sorry, Barb!), I realized that people derive comfort AND strength from characters who are undergoing the same hardships as them (mental health challenges) and from characters who are overcoming incredible and unrealistic situations (zombies, ghosts) with bravery and resilience. Below are my selections for this week. I dabbled in mental health, a modern day horror story, and a throwback that has probably entertained four generations by now! Matters of Mental Health Chisholm, Holly. (2019.) Just Peachy: Comics About Depression, Anxiety, Love, and Finding the Humor in Being Sad . New York City, New York: Skyhorse Publishing.  Plot summary: Author and illustrator Holly Chisholm bares her soul in this comic collection that explains and explores  her life grappling (and making peace) with depression and anxiety. The pocket-sized book is broken into four parts: depres...
Post a Comment
Read more

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

This week kicked off LBS 730: Managing & Evaluating School Library Programs. As far as I can tell, this course does not require blog entries. However, it looks like we'll have a ton of discussion posts/essays, and I'll post those here. The question this essay addresses: How much have the issues surrounding school libraries changed? Librarian at the card files at a senior high school in New Ulm, Minnesota, October 1974 Plus ça change... I explored with great interest the articles in Module Two that cover the history of school libraries. And while I read the articles expecting to learn about the halcyonic days of school librarianship, where school librarians were recognized and lauded for their role in schools…”plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.” For example, in “School Library: A Historical Perspective,” the following is written: “Although certification requirements were written, in many states, school districts often ignored them simply by not creati...
Post a Comment
Read more

All Good Things Must Come to An End...

We've reached the end of LBS 850! I enjoyed the class, diving deep into technologies for schools, and dabbling in cataloging...I do think the class experience is highly dependent upon who someone has as an instructor. Luckily, thankfully, Barb Fecteau at Salem State is an excellent, patient, and knowledgeable teacher, and she created a wonderful experience with an atmosphere conducive to learning and exploration. Here's a reminder of what the class was, so here's the course description for future me: LBS 850 - Emerging Technologies for Libraries 3   Credit(s)  This course presents tools and procedures that school library personnel implement to manage the ever-evolving organizational landscape. Course topics include basic strategies for dealing with, organizing and managing change professionally, new computer and internet-based methods of cataloging physical materials and web based applications that address libraries’ systemic needs. I started off the course feelin...
Post a Comment
Read more