Iowa State University will soon have a lab on campus where students with disabilities will have access to assistive technology resources.
Iowa State University’s Computation Advisory Committee (CAC) recently approved a $24,264 funding request to create a physical space on campus where students with disabilities will have access to assistive technology resources.
The project proposal for an assistive technology lab — spearheaded by university Digital Accessibility Coordinator Cyndi Wiley — was outlined during a CAC meeting on March 28, and requested committee financial support to create a location dedicated to accessibility resources, peer mentoring, and community building for Iowa State students with disabilities.
The new assistive technology lab will be located in an approximately 200 square foot space on the first floor of Durham Center, previously used as a collaborative student work space. Information Technology Services (ITS) is providing the physical space and will also sponsor the furniture needed for the lab, allowing the $24,264 of start-up funds provided by CAC to be used to purchase assistive technology hardware and software, including speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools, a screen reader, a Braille display, and a screen magnifier.
