You have a paper due next week and the computer lab in your residence hall is open, but there are no computers with voice output systems for you to use.
You have a paper due next week and one of the requirements is to do research using the Internet, but the computer lab in your residence hall has no large print adaptive program on any of its computers.
If any one of these scenarios doesn't sound familiar, you are probably a new freshman at MSU. These vignettes may be all too familiar for returning and/or transfer students, however. And OPHS has a possible solution to these brain-burning problems: the Tech Room.
The Tech Room is available to students who utilize the OPHS' services. It contains four IBM-compatible computers and one Macintosh Quadra, all of which have assistive technologies. Some include voice output systems and large print, two also allow printing of Word Perfect documents to Braille, with a few commands. Two are equipped with Internet browsers, and all have e-mail and Gopher access.
There is a scanner attached to one computer, which scans documents fed into it and reads them aloud to the user.
Students wishing to use OPHS\ computers should sign up with Pam, who holds the keys. The best policy is to make an appointment in advance, but occasionally computers are available on a walk-in basis.
Not in the Tech Room, but also available at OPHS, are two text-enlargement machines. Students should sign up with Pam to use these text enlargers.
The Main Library also offers several similar machines and programs, although theirs are primarily designed for research and reading. For more information on the Handicapper Access Center, contact Denise Forro or Paul Cooper at the Information and Referral Desk in the Main Library.