As part of the  new and enhanced public computer centers that are going in across Colorado public libraries, an accessible (ADA)  public computer is now available for public use at East Morgan County Library. This computer is designed for individuals with low vision, blindness, limited mobility, wheelchair users, learning disabilities, and other disabilities that might limit access to computers and the Internet. It includes a low vision keyboard, software and an adjustable table. 
Increasingly, computer access and knowledge are major skills needed to navigate within our society. It is more common to only be able to apply for jobs online. Many government resources are moving to the online format. Many classes are now offered only online. Computers that allow for increased accessibility are often very expensive and cost prohibitive to own. Additionally, these computers also provide support for those with short term disabilities, such as surgeries that decrease vision or mobility. 
The computer currently has two assistive technology programs enabled. Zoom Text Magnifier/Reader software is designed for people having a hard time viewing the computer screen. A person benefiting from this program will have some loss of vision, but not complete blindness. Text can be enlarged up to 36 times the size of normal type. The entire page of text can be enlarged or just sections of a page, by line or quadrants. Colors and brightness can be adjusted to benefit individual patrons. Sound can be enabled so that a person can hear what they are seeing. All these options can then be saved on a flash drive so that a patron can easily find their preferences each time they use the computer. JAWS (Job Access for Windows and Speech) is a program specifically designed for people who do not have any sight. While the average person might not have heard of this program, people who are blind or family members of people that are vision impaired may have. It is a screen reader program which allows people to hear information from the computer. Using JAWS, an individual can operate programs such as Excel and Microsoft Work, browse the web and perform most other functions on a computer. While we are not able to teach or train a person to use JAWS, the Colorado Center for the Blind provides the training necessary to utilize this program.                                                                                                  

Coming soon, a third program, Dragon Naturally Speaking, is voice activated software that lets patrons create documents, email and surf the web, all by voice. 
Access to an ADA computer goes a long way to helping people achieve their goals, whether it is getting a new job or keeping in touch with family far away. We ourselves are just learning the programs, but we are willing to help as we are able. For more in depth training with programs such as JAWS, a person will be directed to contact Colorado Center for the Blind for more information. Stop in and check out our computer. Share this information with a family member or friend that might be interested or in need of adaptive software.  We look forward to sharing this computer with the community!