adbraill.txt ADAPTECH PROJECT COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES SURVEY OF POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec Canada H3Z 1A4 1999 This braille version of the survey has been adapted from the print version. We invite you to braille or tape your answers, or answer on a computer disk or on the enclosed print questionnaire. If you plan to fill in the enclosed print survey, please note that the instructions that you will find here differ from those on the print copy. This is because the print version has check boxes and other visual layout features that are not suitable for braille. When answering the questionnaire, remember to include the question number and letters where applicable. Help Desk. If you have any problems or questions, feel free to call our Help Desk collect at (514) 488-2376 Monday through Thursday from 6 P.M. to midnight and Sundays from 3 P.M. to midnight Eastern time. You can also e-mail your questions to adaptech@concordia.ca. 1. Are you female or male? - - 2. How old are you? ---- 3. Which language do you speak more often, English or French? Choose one. ---- 4. What province/territory are you considered a resident of? (eg., for voting, income tax - if you are an international student, specify country) ---- 5. What is the name of your educational institution and where is it located? Name of institution: ---- City: ---- Province/Territory: ---- 6. What is your field of study? ---- 7. Which of the following are you currently pursuing? Choose the one letter that best describes your situation from the following list. a. college certificate/diploma b. university degree c. I have not been a student since 19 - (specify year): d. other (e.g., just taking courses) - specify situation: If you chose c. or d., please indicate year or situation. 8. We would like to know what disabilities/impairments you have and how long you have had them. Please write all letters from the list below that apply to you and use a 3-point scale as follows: 1 equals all or most of my life (before age 10) 2 equals part of my life 3 equals recent (past 3 years) For example, if you have been totally blind all of your life, you would write A 1. a. totally blind b. visually impaired/partially sighted c. Deaf d. hearing impaired/hard of hearing e. speech or communication impaired f. learning disabled g. wheelchair user h. mobility impaired (e.g., walk with difficulty, use a cane) i. difficulty using hands/arms j. health or medically related impairment (e.g., diabetes) k. psychological or psychiatric disability l. other (specify impairment/disability) 9. Please write yes or no for all items. At home I use: a. a desktop computer: yes or no, choose one b. a laptop computer: yes or no, choose one c. adaptive computer hardware (e.g., braille display): yes or no, choose one d. adaptive software (e.g., software that enlarges what is on the screen): yes or no, choose one e. the internet: yes or no, choose one f. other computer technology: yes or no, choose one. If you answered yes, specify the technology. 10. Please write the letters of all the items that apply to you from the following list. I don't have the following technologies at home, but wish I did: a. a desktop computer b. a laptop computer c. adaptive computer hardware (e.g., braille display) d. adaptive software (e.g., software that enlarges what is on the screen) e. the internet f. other computer technology (specify technology) 11. Please write yes or no for all items. At my educational institution I have used: a. a desktop computer: yes or no, choose one b. a laptop computer: yes or no, choose one c. adaptive computer hardware (e.g., braille display): yes or no, choose one d. adaptive software (e.g., software that enlarges what is on the screen): yes or no, choose one e. the internet: yes or no, choose one f. other computer technology: yes or no, choose one. If you answered yes, specify the technology. 12. Please write the letters of all the items that apply to you from the following list. I have had no access to the following technologies at my educational institution, but wish I did: a. a desktop computer b. a laptop computer c. adaptive computer hardware (e.g., braille display) d. adaptive software (e.g., software that enlarges what is on the screen) e. the internet f. other computer technology (specify technology) 13. Rate your level of agreement with the statements listed below. Refer to your current situation. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. a. In general, I rarely use computer technologies. b. In general, I consider my level of expertise with computer technologies to be very good. c. Computer technologies that meet my needs are unavailable to me. d. Getting my work done more easily is important to me. e. I am a person who dislikes computers. f. There are opportunities for me to learn how to use computer technologies. g. Computer technologies are inadequate in meeting my needs effectively (e.g., too inaccurate or slow). h. I do not plan to become more knowledgeable about computers. i. What friends think about computers is unimportant to me. j. When I have problems with my computer technologies, I can get help easily. k. Computers crash often. l. Computer technologies I need cost too much. m. I think working efficiently on computers is unimportant. n. Using computer technologies effectively is likely to help me get my work done more easily. o. Friends don't think using computers is helpful. p. In general, there are good computer facilities for me to use. q. I can comfortably use computer technologies if I need to. r. There are people available to show me how to use computer technologies. s. My friends think I should use computer technologies. t. In general, my financial situation allows me to meet my needs. u. Overall, I am very dissatisfied with my experiences with computers. 14. Rate your level of agreement with the statements listed below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. Please be sure to rate all items. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. Please indicate the product names if you know them. The following adaptive computer technologies are/could be useful in getting my work done: a. a screen reader (software that reads what's on the screen) product name ---- b. software that enlarges what is on the screen product name ---- c. a scanner product name ---- d. braille translation software product name ---- e. a portable note taking device (not referring to a laptop) product name ---- f. a large screen monitor product name ---- g. a braille printer product name ---- h. a spell checker/grammar checker product name ---- i. other specialized software for learning disabilities (e.g., word prediction) product name ---- j. keyboard adaptations (e.g., "sticky keys") product name ---- k. mouse adaptations (e.g., head mouse, track ball) product name ---- l. dictation software (voice recognition software that types what you say) product name ---- m. voice control software (you give voice commands like "file," "open," - e.g., VoicePad) product name ---- n. having material available in electronic format (e.g., books, hand-outs) o. other (specify adaptive hardware/software and product name) ---- 15. Which of the following suggestions would you like to make to adaptive computer hardware and software companies? Choose 5 of the 12 suggestions listed below by writing the letters of the five that you feel are most important to you. a. provide student discounts b. provide trial periods c. make product more user friendly d. provide better technical support e. ensure that advertising reaches students with disabilities f. make adaptive hardware and software less expensive to purchase g. make manuals/tutorials available in alternative formats h. make manual/tutorials easier to understand i. when designing a piece of hardware or software, include accessibility features for a variety of users with disabilities j. provide grants to educational institutions to purchase equipment k. provide training l. other (specify suggestion) 16. Do you use a computer, yes or no? ---- If you wrote "YES," skip the rest of this question and go to number 17. If you wrote "NO," rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. Please be sure to rate all items. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. I do not use a computer because: a. it is unavailable to me b. it costs too much c. I am not interested in using it d. it is too difficult to learn e. it is too expensive to maintain f. I don't know how to use it g. the technology makes me anxious h. I am uncertain about where to buy it i. adaptive technology I need to access a computer works poorly for me j. it is impossible for me to get it through a government program or an educational institution lending program k. available computers don't have appropriate adaptive hardware/software on them l. other (specify reason) IF YOU DO NOT USE A COMPUTER, GO TO THE LAST QUESTION, NUMBER 29. IF YOU DO USE ONE, CONTINUE WITH the NEXT QUESTION. 17. Please write yes or no for all items. What type of computer do you use? a. IBM compatible: yes or no, choose one b. Macintosh: yes or no, choose one c. other type of computer: yes or no, choose one. If you answered yes, specify type. 18. Please write yes or no for all items. I have used a computer: a. at home: yes or no, choose one b. during class lectures (e.g., writing lecture notes, in-class assignments): yes or no, choose one c. in the library (e.g., doing assignments on a computer located in the library): yes or no, choose one d. in a Disabled Student Services Office/specialized lab: yes or no, choose one e. in a computer lab: yes or no, choose one f. at work: yes or no, choose one g. elsewhere: yes or no, choose one. If you answered yes, specify location. 19. Approximately how much time during a typical school week have you spent: a. using a computer - not including time spent on the internet number of hours per week: ---- b. using the internet number of hours per week: ---- 20. Do you use the internet, yes or no? ---- If you wrote "YES," skip the rest of this question and go to number 21. If you wrote "NO," rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. I do not use the internet because: a. it costs too much b. I have no access to a computer that is equipped to go on-line c. the available browser/e-mail program (e.g., Netscape, Eudora) does not work well for me d. it is unavailable in my area e. I am not interested in using it f. some features of web sites are inaccessible to me g. it is not available at school h. it ties up the phone line i. other (specify reason) IF YOU DO NOT USE THE INTERNET, SKIP THE NEXT QUESTION, AND GO TO NUMBER 22. IF YOU DO USE THE INTERNET, CONTINUE WITH the NEXT QUESTION. 21. Rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, 6 equalling strongly agree. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. I use the internet for: a. doing research b. e-mailing friends/family c. entertainment d. accessing library materials e. looking for a job f. taking courses on-line g. e-mailing my professors h. participating in listservs/news groups i. participating in chat rooms j. banking/shopping k. getting software/updates/demos l. other (specify activity) 22. Did you take advantage of a government program to obtain a computer or adaptive computer technologies, yes or no? ---- If you wrote "YES," skip the rest of this question and go to number 23. If you wrote "NO," rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. Please be sure to rate all items. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. I did not take advantage of a government program to obtain a computer or adaptive computer technologies (e.g., braille display, software that enlarges the screen) because: a. there were too many restrictions b. my own/my family's income was too high for me to qualify c. my disability was excluded by existing programs d. the waiting period was too long e. I did not want to take the required evaluation f. I was unaware that there were any programs out there for me g. I/my family preferred to buy the equipment I needed h. the process for applying was too complicated i. the equipment I need was unavailable through existing programs j. other (specify reason) IF YOU DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, SKIP THE NEXT QUESTION, AND GO TO NUMBER 24. IF YOU DID TAKE ADVANTAGE OF a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT QUESTION. 23. Rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. Please be sure to rate all items. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. My experience with a government program has been that: a. there were many restrictive rules and regulations b. I had no say in what hardware/software I received c. the equipment I received met my needs d. I received excellent training on the technology e. the waiting period was very long f. the program's documentation was unavailable in a format I could read myself (e.g., no large print or tape) g. the program was flexible in meeting my needs h. contacting the necessary people to discuss my needs was easy i. the process for applying was complicated j. the equipment I received was up-to-date k. the evaluation process was unpleasant l. other (specify experience) 24. Do you have a computer that you use at home, yes or no? ---- If you wrote "NO," skip the rest of this question and go to number 25. If you wrote "YES", answer the rest of the question. How did you get your computer and/or your adaptive computer technologies as a student? Write all of the letters that apply to you from the list below. a. through the Federal Government (specify name of program) b. through the Provincial Government (specify name of program) c. through a foundation/organization (e.g., Kiwanis Club, Neil Squire Foundation - specify name of foundation/organization) d. by borrowing it from my family/friends e. from my family who bought it for me f. by buying it myself g. through my educational institution's lending program h. other (specify how you obtained it) 25. Rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. Please be sure to rate all items. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. Computer technologies cause problems for me because: a. they are difficult to learn b. they cost too much to buy c. using them causes me physical discomfort d. they are frustrating/difficult to use e. they crash f. they need to be repaired often g. there are hardware and software compatibility problems (e.g., document saved on one computer does not work on another) h. they are inadequate in meeting my needs i. they have to be upgraded continuously j. they make me dependent on them k. computer labs where my courses are held lack suitable adaptations for me (e.g., no dictation software) l. manufacturers fail to support their products m. there are few opportunities for training on adaptive technologies n. other (specify problem) 26. Rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. Please be sure to rate all items. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. I have had problems using computers at my educational institution because: a. using computer technology in class is disruptive (e.g., too noisy) b. my schedule and the hours of access to computers have been incompatible c. the computer programs I use at home are unavailable at my educational institution d. there has been insufficient technical support available to me e. using computer technologies in class makes me stand out f. computer lab/adaptive center have always been full g. there has been a lack of suitable adaptive technology for my disability h. I have received insufficient training on existing adaptive technology i. other (specify problem) 27. Do you need any special adaptations to use a computer, yes or no? ---- If you wrote "NO," skip the next question and go to the last one, number 29. If you wrote "YES," go to the next question, number 28. 28. Do you use adaptive computer hardware or software, yes or no? ---- If you wrote "no", skip the rest of this question and go to the last one, number 29. If you wrote "yes", rate your level of agreement with each of the statements below. Use a 6-point scale with 1 equalling strongly disagree, 2 equalling somewhat disagree, 3 equalling slightly disagree, 4 equalling slightly agree, 5 equalling somewhat agree, and 6 equalling strongly agree. Please be sure to rate all items. If an item is not applicable to you, write 9. I do not use adaptive hardware/software (e.g., braille display, software that enlarges what's on the screen) because: a. it is unavailable to me b. it costs too much c. I am not interested in using it d. it is too difficult to learn e. it is too expensive to maintain f. I don't know how to use it g. the technology makes me anxious h. I am uncertain about where to buy it i. adaptive technology I need to use a computer works poorly for me j. it is impossible for me to get it through a government program or an educational institution lending program k. available computers don't have appropriate adaptive hardware/software on them l. other (specify reason) 29. Please let us know if there are other computer technology issues that are important to you that we have not asked about. Also, put any comments about this questionnaire here. MANY THANKS FOR HELPING US WITH THIS STUDY! ??