INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / APRIL 24, 1990

 

 

Talking calculator helps the blind

tudents with disabilities at

Douglas College now find life a
little easier thanks to two new
electronic devices.

Blind students now have ac-
cess to a “talking” calculator,
while students with learning dis-
abilities are improving their writ-
ing with the help of a hand-held
“spell-checker” computer.

The College’s Disabled Stu-
dent Services department pur-
chased the new equipment witha
$500 grant from the Douglas Col-
lege Foundation.

“What I find exciting is that
these machines expand the oppor-
tunities for people with disabilities
and allow them to have better ac-
cess to the College,” says Gladys
Loewen, Co-ordinator of Disabled
Student Services. “The grant
enabled us to buy two of each
machine.”

Several totally blind students
enrolled in basic mathematics cour-
ses will benefit by using the voice-
synthesized calculators during
exams, Loewen says. “They will
have more independence because
there will be no need for any mid-
dle-man assistance during tests.”

For students with learning dis-
abilities, the Spellmaster computer
is easier to use than a dictionary.
“It helps our students to edit their
own spelling as they are writing. It
also has a built-in thesaurus,” says
Maria Iaquinta, a clinician with
Disabled Student Services.

Rock Chalifour of North Delta,
a 36-year old nursing student at
the College, says the new equip-
ment is good news for students
with disabilities.

“In the past I was functionally
dyslexic and the residual effects
are such that I have very poor writ-
ing and reading skills and my

spelling is abominable,” says
Chalifour.

“Roughly half of my course
time is spent in hospitals, gaining
clinical experience. We have to
write reports on patients several
times a shift and our language
must be without flaws. These are
legal documents so they have to be
both accurate and appropriate. I
find the Spellmaster very valuable.
It gives me that much more con-
fidence about my writing.”

Richard Marion, a 21-year old
computer information systems stu-

dent at Douglas College, also
speaks highly of the new equip-
ment.

“Il only have about two per-
cent of my sight,” says Marion,
who is vice-president of the B.C.
Educational Association of Dis-
abled Students.

“Last year, I was treasurer of
the Association and talking cal-
culators came in very handy. I
don’t think I could have done my
job without it. I would definitely
have needed sighted assistance. It
really speeds things up a lot.” B

 

Faculty Professional Development. May 14-18

 

The Role of Community in Learning

The College-Wide Professional Development Committee has given
the green light to the staging of a five-day series of events for faculty in

the week of May 14 to 18th.

This series is in response to the Faculty P.D. survey undertaken early
in the spring. The survey indicated faculty’s preference (79%) for a May
time slot for professional development activities.

Although five days in length, faculty may elect to attend as much as
they are able. Each day will! run from 0900 to 1600, with separate and dis-
tinct activities occurring in the morning and afternoon.

The series is organized around two main themes: Innovations in In-
struction and Individual, Organization and Community Ecosystem Well-

 

ness. The five days will culminate in a sponsored luncheon barbecue.

Topics will include:
* collaborative learning

¢ design of computer-based instruction

* future-history planning process
¢ students of the 1990’s

* course and instructor review process

* personal ecosystem (wellness)
* Organizational ecosystem

* community ecosystem

¢ learner/participant retention

 

* guide to personal computer purchase

* women’s ways of knowing

Watch your mail slot for registration. For information, call Eugene
Hrushowy for more details (local 5122). @