Getting Started:

An Introduction to Stout Online’s Assistive Technologies

This user manual is brought to you by the Graduate School and Stout Online with
design and development done by Danae Cowell, Mathias Ahman, Taryn Derfus,
and Allison Kincaid.
 Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2

Dragon NaturallySpeaking .............................................................................................. 5

Echo Pen....................................................................................................................... 10

Job Access With Speech (JAWS) ................................................................................. 11

Kurzweil 1000 ................................................................................................................ 13

Kurzweil 3000 ................................................................................................................ 14

Victor Reader Stratus .................................................................................................... 15

ZoomText ...................................................................................................................... 18

Mac VoiceOver .............................................................................................................. 21

References .................................................................................................................... 22

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Introduction

An assistive technology is defined as “any item, piece of equipment, software program,

or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities” (Assistive Technology Industry
Association, n.d.). Assistive technologies can help with a wide range of functions,
including some of the following: speaking, typing, writing, pointing, seeing, hearing,
walking, etc… Please keep in mind that different disabilities require different
assistive technologies.

Assistive Technologies at Stout Online

• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Echo Pen
• JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
• Kurzweil 1000, 3000, and Firefly
• Victor Reader Stratus
• ZoomText

Here are some quick introductions to the tools and what they do.

Dragon Naturally Speaking:

- Is a speech recognition and voice command software and advertises 99%
accuracy rates.
- Is intended for users who have difficulties typing or writing.
- Is compatible with Microsoft word processing software, Internet Explorer, Firefox,
and Google Chrome. There are also versions for Macs and PCs.

Echo Pen:
- Is a smart pen that is designed to help capture a student’s notes and audio.
- Comes with an audio jack, microphone, built in speaker, memory storage, and a
micro USB connector.
- Has audio playback available with the pen itself, and pencasts and notes are
available once hooked up to your computer within Echo Desktop.

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 - Echo Pen Video Overview

JAWS (Job Access With Speech):

- Is a screen reader, a type of software that provides text to speech or Braille
outputs for users.
- Is intended to be of use to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
- Is compatible with Windows, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, and Firefox.

Kurzweil (1000, 3000, and Firefly):

- Kurzweil’s products were developed to assist those who are blind, have low
vision, have learning disabilities, or those that are English language learners.
- Kurzweil 1000 is the original screen reading software that provides a high
contrast platform for scanning and reading files aloud.
- Kurzweil 3000 is the updated, desktop version of Kurzweil 1000. It, too, is a
screen reading software but includes additional study skill features.
- Kurzweil Firefly is the web-based version of Kurzweil 3000.

Victor Reader Stratus:

- Is an audio reader intended to read information off of CDs, SD cards, and USB
flashdrives.
- Offers an interface with large, tactile, contrast keys, voiced controls, a speaker
jack, and a headphone jack that makes it easy to use for a large range of people,
including those with low vision or mobility issues.

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ZoomText:
- Is a screen magnifying and screen reading software.
- Is intended for those with low vision.
- Is compatible with Windows, all internet browsers, and Microsoft Office. It offers
versions for both PC and Mac

VoiceOver for Mac:

- Is a built in screen reader for Mac computers that utilizes to speech to text
technology
- Is compatible with Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox for internet
browsers and works with Microsoft Office Programs
- Is intended for those who are blind or have low vision

Moving Forward…

The rest of this document serves as a guide to getting started with each of the
assistive technologies found at UW-Stout Online. There will be step by step
instructions as well as links to full user guides provided by vendors.

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 Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Dragon NaturallySpeaking has two main features, voice commands and providing
speech to text for dictation.

Step 1: Setting up your Headset

1. Start the computer.
2. Log in with your username and password.
3. Plug your USB Logitech headphone (microphone will be attached) into the
computer.
4. Go to the bottom right hand side of the screen and right click on the volume
button.

5. Select “Playback devices.”

6. A pop up will appear. Select the speaker option that says it is a “Logitech USB
Headset.”

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 7. Then select “Set Default.”

8. Before closing the window, move over to the “Recording” tab.

9. Select the microphone option that says it is a “Logitech USB Headset.”

10. Then select “Set Default”

11. Then press “OK.”

Step 2: Opening a User Profile

1. When ready, navigate with your cursor down to the left corner of your screen to

“Search Windows.”

2. Click and search for “Dragon NaturallySpeaking.”

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3. Click on the file to open Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

4. Then a Dragon NaturallySpeaking Open User Profile window will appear.

a. If you have already created a user profile, select your name and then click

on “Open.”

OR

b. If you have not created a user profile, close the window. Click on the

“Profile” button on the top menu and select “New user profile….”

A pop up will appear. On this pop up, select “New.”

Follow Dragon’s preset steps to create your user profile. When your profile

is set up, then continue on to the next page to learn how to use Dragon’s

dictation and/or voice command features!

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Dictation
1. To start using dictation, hover over the top window, and on the right side, you

will see “Now listening for….” and by default, it has “Dictation & Commands”

selected. Click on the Dictation & Commands drop down and change it to

“Dictation.”

2. Then go over to the red Microphone button and click on it. It will turn green,

indicating that it’s ready to go .

3. For transcribing or taking notes, open a Word document and start speaking, and

Dragon will type down what you say.

Voice Commands
1. To start using voice commands, hover over the top window, and on the right

side, you will see “Now listening for….” Click on the drop down and change it

to “Dictation & Commands.”

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2. If the microphone isn’t already on, go over to the microphone button and click on

it. It’s ready to go when it turns green .

For a complete listing of all available voice commands to use with Dragon

NaturallySpeaking, please go to the following manual brought to you by Nuance:

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Installation Guide and User Guide

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 Echo Pen

Start the Echo Pen

1. Press the Power button to start your smartpen.

a. As the smartpen starts up, the display shows the words “Livescribe” and
then “Starting…” After startup completes, the display shows the time.
2. When you are finished using your smartpen, press the Power button again to
turn it off.

Writing notes and recording audio

1. With your smartpen powered on, tap on the “Record" button printed on
pages of your Livescribe notebook to start Paper Replay.
2. Begin writing in your Livescribe notebook.
3. When you finish taking notes and recording audio, tap on one of the Stop

buttons printed on your Livescribe Dot Paper.

4. To play back your recorded audio, tap on your handwritten notes.

For a complete listing of all available features to use with the Echo Pen, please go to
the following manual brought to you by Livescribe: Echo Smartpen User Guide

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 Job Access With Speech (JAWS)
1. Start the computer.
2. Log in with your UW-Stout username and password.
a. Wait to start JAWS until you have the program you want JAWS to read for
you opened.
3. When ready, navigate with your cursor down to the left corner of your screen to
“Search Windows.”

4. Click and search for “Jaws 17.” You should see a logo with a shark tail.

5. Click on the search result to open JAWS.

6. Then a JAWS Professional window will appear. Make sure your volume is on and
turned up as you will hear a voice talking. (There might be an install update
window that pops up, but at this time, you can press no).
7. Navigate with your cursor or keyboard, and JAWS will read new windows you
click on and pages you open. For more specific details on common shortcut
keys, see the directions below.

Using JAWS: Shortcut Keys

Reading a Page:
• Up and down arrow keys= Read next/prior line
• Right and left arrow keys= Read prior/next character
• Ctrl= Stop reading
Note: Images will be identified as graphics and alternative text read if provided.

Navigating
• Tab= Move through links and form elements
• Ctrl + Home= Go to the top of the page
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 • Ctrl + Insert + Down arrow= Start skim reading
• Insert + Left/Right arrow= Read prior/next word
• Insert + Up arrow= Read current line
• Insert + Up arrow quickly= Spell current line
• Insert + Page Up= Read from cursor
• Insert + Down arrow= Read all
• Alt + Up/down arrow= Read prior/next sentence

Data tables
• Will read hearers of tables and data cells
• Ctrl + Alt + up/down/right/left arrows allows you to navigate within a table

Table reading
• Insert + Shift + Up arrow= Read current row
• Insert + Shift + Home= Read from start of row
• Insert + Shift + Page Up= Read to end of row

Voice rate
• Ctrl + Alt + Page Down/Up= Decrease/Increase voice rate
• Ctrl + F= Search for a word or a phrase
• Insert + Esc= Refresh screen
• Insert + F1= Help with current element

For a complete listing of all available keystrokes to use with JAWS, please go to the
following manual brought to you by Freedom Scientific: JAWS Keyboard Shortcut
Manual

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 Kurzweil 1000

1. Turn on the computer.

2. Log in with your username and password.
3. Go to “Search Windows” at the bottom left side of the screen.

4. Type in “Kurzweil 1000” and click on it when it appears. This will open the
program.

5. When opened, go to the “File” tab. Press “Open” and select the file you would
like read.

6. Then go to the “Read” tab. Select “Start reading” (F5). Kurzweil 1000 will then
begin reading your document aloud to you.

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 Kurzweil 3000

1. Turn on the computer.

2. Log in with your username and password.
3. Go to “Search Windows” at the bottom left side of the screen.

4. Type in “Kurzweil 3000” and click on it when it appears. This will open the
program.

5. When opened, go to the “File” tab. Press “Open” and select the file you would
like read.

6. Then click on the “Read” button. Kurweil 3000 will then read the document aloud.

For additional information on Kurzweil 3000’s features, including study skills help,
please see the Getting Started Guide provided by Kurzweil Education Systems: Getting
Started with Kurzweil 3000 Guide

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 Victor Reader Stratus

1. Remove the Victor Reader Stratus from the box along with its charger. Then
connect the Reader with the charger and plug the charger into an outlet.
2. Press and hold the Power button to start the Victor Reader. It is on when the
Power button turns green, and you are greeted by an automated voice.
3. Insert your CD, SD card, or USB flash drive.

*Please keep in mind that the Victor Reader Stratus is intended to be an

audio book reader or audio only player.

4. To get to your intended file, push the “Go To….” Button.

5. Then click on the number button of the file you want. (If the file you want read is
the first on the storage device, click the button #1).

6. Press the “Play” button to have the audio begin playing.

7. Use the keys to perform additional functions: stop, rewind, fast-forward, adjust
tone, adjust volume, adjust speed, navigate, cancel, confirm, bookmark, eject,
and power on and off. Below is an image of the reader layout with each button
labeled with its function.

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 Victor Reader Stratus Keys

Tone Volume

Speed

Go To…

Power
Bookmark

Time and
Date

Eject

Center Buttons: Play/Stop Fast Forward

Rewind

Button #1 – Book shelf

Button #2 – Scroll Up

Button #3 – Manage Books

Button #4 – Move Back

Button #5 – Where am I?

Button #6 – Move Forward

Button #7 – Menu

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Button #8 – Time Jump

Button #9 – Playback Mode

Button #0 - Information

Button * - Cancel

Button # - Confirm

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 ZoomText

ZooomText has two main features that can be used to test content, magnification and
screen reading.

Magnification:
1. Turn on the computer.
2. Log in with your username and password.
3. On the desktop, click on “ZoomText 10.1” to open the program.

4. Select the magnifier tab.

5. Under the magnifier tab, select the strength of the magnification by using the up
and down arrows to alter the power (example= 2x).

6. Once you have your magnification as desired, select the “Enable ZoomText”
button. Then, navigate around your screen with your cursor to view how a
webpage or document looks zoomed in.

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Reading a Document:
1. Turn on your computer.
2. Log in with your username and password.
3. Open your document.
4. On the desktop, click on “ZoomText 10.1” to open the program.

5. Then, select the “Reader” tab.

6. Select the “DocRdr” icon.

7. Your document will then open in the document reader. Press “Play” to hear how
your document would read.

Reading a Webpage:
1. Turn on the computer.
2. Log in with your username and password.
3. Open the webpage you want read in Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
4. On the desktop, click on “ZoomText 10.1” to open the program.

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5. Select the “Reader” tab.

6. Select “AppRdr” and place your cursor over the spot where you would like the
reader to begin reading the page.

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 Mac VoiceOver
Mac VoiceOver is a built-in tool in Mac computers that functions as a screen reader and
speech to text technology and is intended for users who are blind or low vision.
VoiceOver allows users to control their computers with their gestures, keyboard, or a
Braille display.

Reading a Webpage
1. Turn on the Mac computer.
2. Log in with your username and password.
3. Open the webpage you want read in Safari or Google Chrome (recommended
browsers).
4. Press the Command + F5 key to turn on VoiceOver.
5. To navigate through the webpage, press the Tab key.
6. To pause or resume speech, press the Control key.

Using Dictation
Dictation learns the characteristics of a user’s voice and adapts and improves the more
it is used.

1. Turn on the computer.

2. Log in with your username and password.
3. Open the document or text field and place the curser where you want the
dictation to begin.
4. Press the keyboard shortcut for starting dictation (FnFn) or choose Edit > Start
Dictation.
5. Speak the words and special punctuation you want the Mac to type.
6. To stop dictation press Fn, switch to another window, or click Done.

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References

Assistive Technology Industry Association. (n.d.). What is AT? Retrieved from

https://www.atia.org/at-resources/what-is-at/

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