Assistive Technology

The library offers assistive equipment to serve a variety of needs.

Coming Soon

Large screen monitors, equipment, and specialized software will soon be available at:

Some personal instruction is available at the above locations to help you get familiar with these resources.

For people with reading challenges

Wynn Wizard is a program that helps improve your reading and writing skills

For people who have difficulty typing

Dragon Naturally Speaking, a dictation program that allows you to operate the computer using voice commands and see your spoken words typed onto the computer screen

For people who are visually impaired
  • Large type keyboard
  • JAWS, a screen reader that reads aloud from the Internet, email, Word, and other software applications
  • Portable digital camera magnifier or a large screen magnifier

All PCPL branches offer Magic, a screen magnifier for computer applications and the Internet

Other equipment

Digital scanner for scanning documents

About This Equipment

New equipment and software will be available thanks to a grant from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Agency, a division of the Arizona Secretary of State, under the Library Services and Technology Act, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

ADA Computers

These can be used by people with visual impairments, learning disabilities, reading disorders, dexterity impairments, or writing or typing difficulties.

  • Joel D. Valdez Main Library has 2 ADA PCs on the 3rd floor.
  • Joyner-Green Valley Branch Library and Mission Branch Library each have 1 ADA PC.

Software on ADA Computers

We do not currently offer training on the assistive technology equipment, but we can direct customers to organizations in the area that offer training. Links to user guides are provided above as available.

Other Equipment

  • Magnifying glasses available at the Information desk.
  • Optelec Closed Circuit Television (large screen magnifier) available at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library and the Joyner-Green Valley Branch Library
  • Juliet Braille Embosser available at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library.
  • Arkenstone Open Book Software plus optical character recognition scanner (converts print to speech) available at Joel D. Valdez Main Library and the Joyner-Green Valley and Mission branches.
  • A low vision reader that magnifies printed material available at Oro Valley Branch Library.

More about Software on ADA Computers

JAWS 4.5

JAWS is a screenreader that reads aloud from the internet, email, Word, and other software applications.

  • For users who are blind
  • Works with internet, email, Windows, and Microsoft Office
  • Works with a regular keyboard

Learning to use JAWS

The library does not offer in-depth JAWS training. People needing training should make use of one of the resources below:

Free Online Tutorial
Designed for a sighted tutor to teach a blind user to use JAWS with Windows programs. Provides a basic overview plus details about keyboard commands, JAWS screen reading commands, how to switch between applications, working with Windows and dialog boxes, and much more.
One-on-One Training from SAAVI
The Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired (SAAVI) offers a comprehensive JAWS training course at their location at 3767 E. Grant Rd. There is a fee for this course, though there are some programs available that offset the fee in some circumstances. Call 795-1331 or visit their web sitefor more information.
Training for Students or Veterans
If you are a student at Pima Community College, the University of Arizona, the Arizona School for the Deaf or Blind, or one of the public schools, you will be eligible for their JAWS training resources. The VA hospital also offers JAWS training for veterans.

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OPENBook 8.0

OPENBook scans printed material and reads text aloud.

  • For users who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Uses ten-key pad or standard keyboard commands.
  • Users may tailor the display through magnification, special character spacing, and high-contrast color settings.

Duxbury

Duxbury converts text from other programs to Braille, and outputs to the Braille embosser/printer.

  • For people who are blind
  • Converts from other programs to Braille
  • Outputs to the Braille embosser

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WYNN Wizard

Word processor, print scanner/reader

  • For people with learning disabilities, low vision and other disabilities
  • Reads scanned text, Internets sites, or documents on disk
  • Highlights each word as it is spoken
  • Pages retain original layout, or toggle to a text-only display
  • Built-in dictionaries
  • Word Prediction - users get help in writing with word suggestions

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Dragon Naturally Speaking

Dragon Naturally Speaking is a dictation program that also allows the user to operate the computer using voice commands.

  • For users with difficulty typing.
  • Spoken words are transcribed onto the computer screen.
  • After a 10-minute training to your voice, the computer has 95% accuracy; additional training increases accuracy.

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