Purdue News
Purdue NewsNovember 21, 1997
A dozen students in the Engineering Projects in Community Service program are working with university officials to improve the learning environment for students with disabilities.
Under the supervision of James Jones, associate professor of mechanical engineering, the students are addressing three projects. They recently issued midterm progress reports.
The program involves engineering students committed to long-term community-service projects that can involve developing mechanical devices and special computer hardware or software. The teams identify technical problems, or propose ways that technology can create new opportunities.
"It is a great setup," said Paula Micka, assistant dean of students in charge of Adaptive Programs. "Students get to develop real solutions for real problems, and our staff has access to ideas and resources we would not have any other way."
One group is designing an adjustable chair and table for students who use wheelchairs or have other physical conditions that prevent them from sitting in regular classroom chairs. Owen Cooks, accessibility coordinator for physical facilities, is working with the engineering students to design a chair and table that are fully adjustable and fit in the available space while not drawing undue attention to the student's disability. They have finished the design for the chair and table prototypes, and expect to have finished products by semester's end.
A second group is seeking computer access solutions for a student with a neurological disorder. The student becomes dizzy, experiences headaches, nausea and seizures when viewing most computer monitors. The engineering students discovered that displays like those used on laptop computers or projection systems do not trigger the symptoms. The group is continuing its research to find computer monitors that won't cause the student to become ill.
The third group is investigating ways to improve or lower the cost of the classroom captioning system used by Adaptive Programs. "Right now we hire stenographers who take notes during class," Micka said. "The notes appear in real time on the screen of a laptop computer used by a hard of hearing student. It's a wonderful system, but it is expensive because we have to pay the stenographers for their travel and travel time to and from campus and for their down time between classes." Alternatives being examined include new software packages for real-time captioning, wireless modem and data-over-voice hardware. Voice recognition software cannot be used because current software can only translate at about half the speed of normal speech.
Indiana students involved in the project include Jenine Black, South Bend ; Jennifer Crider, West Lafayette ; Chad Delagrange, Middlebury ; Andrea Schmitt, Jasper; and Benjamin Swaim, Carmel.
In addition to the new relationship with the Schools of Engineering, Adaptive Programs has added two staff members for a total of eight. Jim Johnson, a clinical psychologist, is coordinating services for students with learning disabilities, including attention deficit disorder. Mary Ann Ferkis, an instructional specialist, had her job transferred to Adaptive Programs. She helps faculty members find teaching tools to level the academic playing field for students with disabilities.
At the end of the spring semester, Adaptive Programs will move its offices from the second floor of Schleman Hall to Student Services Annex 1. "We're looking forward to the move because it will give us additional space for working with students with disabilities," Micka said. "It also will provide us with a central location where we can set up meetings among students, our staff and teachers to address accommodation issues before they become problems."
Adaptive Programs provided services to more than 560 students during the last academic year.
While Adaptive Programs helps keep instructional opportunities open, Cooks in facilities planning works to minimize physical barriers for students, staff and visitors. He helps ensure that new construction projects such as the Food Science Building and the natatorium addition to the Recreational Gymnasium comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Pat Russell, access and occupational health services coordinator in personnel services, said more staff members are contacting her office for assistance. "People are gaining a better understanding about disabilities and the types of accommodations that can be made," she said.
Various departments around campus will spend about $500,000 this fiscal year on accessibility improvements, Cooks said. Major projects for the current fiscal year include a new elevator in the Agriculture and Biological Engineering Building and a new accessible entrance to the west side of Stewart Center for patrons of Loeb Playhouse and the Experimental Theatre.
New listening systems for people with hearing impairments have been installed in large classrooms in Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry, the Physics Building and the Electrical Engineering Building. The listening systems in the Class of 50 Lecture Hall, Elliott Hall of Music, Loeb Playhouse and Experimental Theatre will be upgraded this year.
Sources: Paula Micka, (765) 494-1245; e-mail, pjmick@delta.reg.purdue.edu
Owen Cooks, (765) 494-5431; e-mail, ojcooks@pffpc.purdue.edu
Pat Russell, (317) 494-0269; e-mail, pdrussell@personnel.purdue.edu
Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371, e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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