Adaptive Technology Services

Adaptive Technology for Home, Work, and School

ABVI-Goodwill’s Career and Training Center provides comprehensive training in the use of computers and adaptive technology.  We provide skill-building training to develop familiarity and confidence with computers, based on an individual’s personal needs.

The Career and Training Center utilizes the latest in adaptive equipment, including voice synthesizers, screen readers, and screen magnification software, as well as optical character recognition, speech recognition, and Braille translation software; and hardware including note takers, CCTVs, Braille displays, and digital book readers.

Adaptive computer skill training allows participants to learn keyboarding techniques, e-mail, Internet, and work processing.  Training is designed to enhance an individual’s ability to succeed at school, work, or home.

Adapt and Connect with Technology (ACT)

ACT is designed to provide training to people who are interested in learning to use computers for the first time, or for those who have used computers, but are now in need of adaptive technology to access the computer.

Below is a list of courses currently available. 

If you are interested in any of the following classes, or have other needs that you would like to discuss, please contact (585) 232-1111 for more information.

Fundamentals of Web-Based E-mail
This four session course will provide hands-on the basics of using e-mail to send and receive electronic mail.  By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Create an e-mail account
• Navigate the in-box
• Use the address book
• Navigate and read a message
• Reply to a message
• Forward a message
• Send a message
• Open an attachment
• Attach files
• Email and computer viruses
• Empty the deleted items folder

Students will practice creating a web-based email account and send and receive messages during class.

Cost - $45
Time:  1:00 to 3:00 pm
Day:  Tuesdays
Dates:  3/10/09, 3/17/09, 3/24/09 and 3/31/09

Keyboarding
This is a ten week course in which you will learn to use the keyboard through keyboarding software and games.  Through this course you will:

• Use the home row keys
• Learn letters and numbers
• Learn the symbols on the keyboard
• Learn the function six pack of keys
• How does the number pad work
• Use the arrow keys
• Learn to use the mouse

Dates: TBA

ZoomText
This four session course  will provide instruction in using the features of Zoomtext screen magnification and screen reading capabilities.  You will learn to customize ZoomText to meet your needs.  Learn to:

• Load and unload ZoomText
• Temporarily suspend magnification and speech
• Adjust magnification and speech
• Navigate to and from the ZoomText window
• Navigate using different views in ZoomText
• Navigate around the screen with ZoomText
• Adjust ZoomText Zoom Windows
• Set up color enhancement, cursor enhancement and mouse pointer enhancement
• Basic configuration using the ZoomText User Interface
• Use ZoomText’s help facilities

Dates: TBA

Surfing the Internet
This four session course is designed for individuals who use magnification software and who wish to use the Internet.  Through hands-on instruction you will be able to:

• Define commonly used Internet terms
• Describe a typical web page
• Navigate around the web page
• Navigate to a specific web page
• Find and follow links
• Fill out forms on the web
• Use search engines
• Bookmark websites

Dates: TBA