EasyReader Case Study: Increased independence for disabled students

Independent learning at the University of Gothenburg

University success typically stems from hard work, extensive reading and hours of research all undertaken pro-actively and independently by the student. Equally, independent learning is a luxury taken for granted by many students. However, students with vision impairments and specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, have a more basic first requirement; accessing their course's basic core reading materials in a format that they can read.

The University of Gothenburg understands the fundamental importance of recognizing each student's learning requirements. Their proactive approach to accessible information ensures all students are empowered to realize their full potential.

Lennart Jareteg, IT coordinator at University of Gothenburg explains further:

"At the University of Gothenburg we want to prevent such discrimination where students with reading difficulties or visual impairments are reduced to using a single computer in the corner of a classroom or a computer with special equipment. You should be able to work from any computer with the applications you need to fulfill your studies.
"We have chosen Dolphin software as a step in our policy to be a University where all who can and want should be able to study on the same conditions."

University of Gothenberg has chosen a university-wide approach to accessibility, selecting Dolphin software to support the diverse requirements of their students:

"The whole University, all students and all staff, have access to EasyReader, EasyProducer and SuperNova. With these applications the students can read and work with their study material as well as easily convert their documents to an accessible format to fit their own requirements themselves."

Dolphin SuperNova is used to engage students with blindness and low vision to read the computer screen, magnify text and images, adjust the colours, as well as receive refreshable Braille output. EasyProducer is being used by teaching staff and students to create their own DAISY talking books. EasyReader is being used to empower students at the University of Gothenberg to read a wide variety of eBooks in their visual and audio preferences.

Lennart continues to explain how university staff are now also creating large print, MP3s, accessible eBook and Braille alternative formats:

"Staff at the University Libraries are also using EasyConverter for efficient conversion from different common file formats or printed documents to DAISY, MP3, Large Print and Braille."
"Using Dolphin software means increased independence for our students and gives our staff the opportunity to quickly and simply offer study materials in an accessible format. The complete solution and user-friendly products from Dolphin means an element of ease-of-use and security for us as a University."

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