Examples of Support

Examples of Support

Support for students with visual impairments/Blind:

■Adjustments to texts and documents
• Enlarging fonts: the font can be enlarged, changed to a different font, or the contrast adjusted in accordance with needs of students with visual impairments.
• Conversion to PDF: data can be converted to PDF format so that a student with visual impairments can read it on a computer using the zoom in function.
• Text data:thetext data can be provided touse with text-to-speech software so the student with visual impairments can read (listen to) it on a computer. The process involves scanning images of a text book or document and using OCR software to convert this to text data, then making amendments and adjusting the layout.
• Translation into braille: automatic translation software can be used to convert text data into braille. For text books, this may have to be outsourced to a contractor.

■Person-to-person reading (Reader)
Texts or other documents can be read aloud to students with visual impairments. Dedicated person-to-person readingrooms can be found in university libraries (the General Library or Komaba Library).

■Assistance with searching for and organizing documents and materials
A support provider can accompany a student with visual impairments to the library to help search for the documents and materials they need for their research, and assist with the organization of the text materials they have gathered.

Support for students with hearing impairments/Deaf：

■Computer-assisted captioning
Two provided caretakers will work together to type the orally presented information given in class on their computers and convey it to the student with hearing impairments. Special Text transcriptionsoftware is used. The support providers must take a course to learn how to perform this task.

■Notetaking
Two note takers sit beside the student with hearing impairments, and take turns to write down on paper the orally presented information given in class. The support providers must take a course to learn how to perform this task.

■Note creation
A support staff can take notes for the student with hearing impairments so that the student can concentrate on watching the sign language interpreter and listening to the lecture.

■Captioning video footage
If video materials without captions on them are used during a class, a support provider can obtain the materials in advance to transcribe the dialog and add captions to the footage. Special captioning software is used. If the captioning cannot be done in time, the transcribed data is provided to the student.

Support for students with orthopedic/mobility impairments：

■Note creation
A support provider can take notes for a student who has difficulty writing due to a disorder of the upper body. As well as copying down notes from the blackboard, the support staff writes extra notes as instructed by the student.

■Scribing
A support staff can take write down the information orally presented by a student who has difficulties inwriting due to a disorder of the upper body.

■Converting texts and documents to PDF data
Texts can be converted to PDF data for students who have difficulty turning pages due to a disorder of the upper body, so that they can read them on a computer or tablet. .