ALLY (Accessibility Tool)  

The Ally Accessibility tool is available in Canvas! This allows students to view content in alternative formats to best suit their learning styles and modalities.   

• Using Ally as a Student

__________________________________________________________________

Panopto   

Students and Panopto

• Submitting an assignment with Panopto in Canvas

• It is possible to allow students to record videos in a Panopto course space.  This is achieved by using an “assignment folder.”

• Students can also use “Panopto Capture” to create new recordings. This is a browser-based recording application that will be convenient for students. The following video link provides a new introduction. 

__________________________________________________________

The Immersive Read

• The Immersive Reader enhances your reading experience by improving accessibility and boosting reading comprehension.
• You can manage text, grammar, and reading preferences using the toolbar. You can hear the page text read aloud and adjust various audio settings. Additionally there are translation and definition services available as well.
  • Immersive Reader

• Speech Central: Free Text-to-Speech App

• Google Docs Accessibility Update

• Standard EBooks : Standard EBooks is a volunteer-driven project that produces new editions of public domain ebooks that are lovingly formatted, open source, free of copyright restrictions, and free of cost! 

• Minnesota STAR Program for Assistive Technology

• Google Read & Write: Step by Step Tutorial:Check out our step-by-step tutorial on how to utilize Google Read & Write
• GOOGLE READ AND WRITE SET UP HELP
• Make Sure All Books Work with Google Read and Write

Videos to help with Google Read & Write

• Type and Talk Feature
• How to Set up Text to Speech Feature
• Highlight Feature
• Vocab & Dictionary Features
• Screen Mask & Simplify Features 

Saint Mary’s University of MN Licenses Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor 

These applications are used to deter cheating during online examinations.

LockDown Browser prevents students from printing, copying, going to different URLs or accessing other applications during an online exam. It’s ideal for use in testing centers and proctored environments.

Respondus Monitor enhances LockDown Browser by using a student’s webcam to record the assessment session. This enables online exams to be taken in non-proctored environments and deters students from accessing other resources during an exam (such as a phone, a second computer, etc.). It also ensures the right student is taking the exam, and that the student isn’t getting help from others.

You may find the following resource helpful in getting started:

Overview video

Using Google Read & Write with Respondus Lockdown Browser 

Check out our step-by-step tutorial on how to utilize Google Read&Write through Respondus Lockdown

Live Caption in Google Chrome

Google chrome has a helpful feature to support any hearing impaired person relying on technology because of covid. It is very simple to turn on. Please follow the steps provided HERE or watch this short tutorial video. 

Snapverter

Snapverter is an add-on tool for Google Read & Write that will convert inaccessible digital files into a PDF format. This allows for sharing and reading aloud in Google Drive. A video describing how to use Snapverter 

Stanford Neurodiversity Job Fair/Reverse Job Fair Opportunity!

————————————————————————————————–

Mayo Clinic Virtual Career Fair Opportunity (Click here)!

September 30, 2021
3pm to 7pm CST

Click here to register!

————————————————————————————————–

Total and Permanent Disability Discharge and Student Loan Forgiveness

See this link for information on Total and Permanent Disability Discharge and Student loan Forgiveness

————————————————————————————————–

Scholarship Opportunities!

Follow this link to see a list of scholarship opportunities!

————————————————————————————————–

The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota:

There are still almost two weeks to apply for scholarships with the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. Our deadline for applications is April 15. Legally blind postsecondary students attending school full-time in Minnesota are encouraged to apply. Two scholarships of $2,000 and $1,500 will be awarded at our state convention in Bloomington during the weekend of November 5-7, and your expenses will be paid to attend that convention. In addition, scholarship winners will have the opportunity to attend our national virtual convention on July 6-10. The application for our scholarship and all pertinent information and an on-line application can be found here

Please note that our state convention was “virtual” last year, so a decision will be made about the actual location of our state convention closer to the scheduled date.

A Microsoft Word version of the application is also attached to this note. If you use the attached Microsoft Word form, send it with the required documents to Scholarships@nfbmn.org. If it is necessary to submit the application on paper, use the mailing address supplied with the application in the attached document.

For questions about the application process, please contact the Scholarship Committee at Scholarships@nfbmn.org or call our office at 612-872-9363.

*** A Note from our national office: Thirty scholarships will be awarded by the National Federation of the Blind, but this year’s deadline has past. Keep our national scholarships in mind for next year.

Best regards,

NFB of Minnesota Scholarship Committee

————————————————————————————————–

General Disability Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships4Students

Empower Scholarship/ Allina Health

Disability Scholarship

AAHD Scholarship Program

Autism/Asperger’s Scholarships

Organization for Autism Research

AHEADD: Achieving in Higher Education

Learning Disabilities

Scholarships will be updated as needed.

Blind or Visually Impaired

National Federation of the Blind

Lighthouse Guild

Hearing Impaired

Travelers Protective Association

Limited Mobility

1800 Wheelchair

1800 Wheelchair Scholarship Information Sign Up

————————————————————————————————–

Study Abroad

Students with disabilities participate in study abroad programs and international experiences around the world. Just as cultures differ, so does the degree of access and readily available disability services in the many countries and communities a student might consider for his/her study abroad or international experience. There are many study abroad programs and international experiences in which students with disabilities have successfully participated however, not every such program or experience is a good fit from an accessibility perspective.

The key to a successful experience is planning. To maximize the opportunity to travel abroad and study internationally, it is essential that students allocate a minimum of six months (preferably up to one year) in advance of their travel to plan for accommodations, regardless of the type of disability.

Students must work with the Director of Access Services, the Director of Health Services, if appropriate or needed, the Study Abroad Office, and any host program/institution. Please note that all requests for services and accommodations must be supported by the documentation on file and be reasonable and appropriate within the limits set forth by state and federal law and university procedure. The university will make efforts to assist students with finding reasonable accommodations to participate in the program. The accommodations cannot fundamentally alter the nature of a course or program of study or present an undue hardship for either the university or any host institution.

Although many countries are becoming more aware of the needs of people with disabilities, not all countries have similar laws and accessible infrastructure/services. Consequently, requests which may be reasonable in a domestic context may not fall into that category in the international context in light of available resources.

Helpful Links

• Mobility International USA

Difference Between High School and College-Level Disability Services Guide

Learning Ally’s College Success Program

As a college student, you share many experiences with your sighted peers, but others are unique to you and your blindness or low vision.  Learning Ally’s College Success Program gives you the tools and suppot you need to thrive during college and beyond!

Guide to Online College with a Learning Disability

Live Caption in Google Chrome

Google chrome has a helpful feature to support any hearing impaired person relying on technology because of covid. It is very simple to turn on. Please follow the steps provided HERE or watch this short tutorial video. 

Tools for Life-App

Check out this unique site that offers apps for people in a variety of different areas ranging from organization, mental health, vision, and more!

Apps, Articles and Youtube Channels for Ambiance During Studying/Blocking Social Media

Useful Apps:

• Coffitivity (web, iOS, Android)
• Rain Rain Sounds (iOS)
• Naturespace (iOS, Android)

Utilize Youtube for free access to additional sounds:

• ASMR Rooms for studying/completing homework

Social Media Blockers for Distraction-free Studying:

• Apps that may keep you from getting distracted

Additional Links for Your Success:

• ADDitude Magazine
• The Learning Cycle
• Pacer Center: ADA Q & A
• College Survival Skills

Free Online Mental Health Support Groups for Individuals and Families

NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online peer support groups for adults and young adults living with a mental illness, their families, friends, spouses/partners, as well as parents of children and teens. African-American, GLBTQ and BIPOC community focused groups are also offered. Led by trained peer facilitators, the support groups help individuals and families learn coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences. Find a complete listing of group meetings and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Support Groups” or go straight to https://namimn.org/support/nami-minnesota-support-groups/.

Free Counseling Services available via Phone or Computer

• FREE, anonymous, no-appointment couseling available!
• Stress, Anxiety, Anger Issues, and Relationship Problems
• Access care here!

Finals Survival Tools

• Finals Survival Guide: Interactive series to reduce stress and prepare for finals
• Feeling Stressed about Finals? Finals Week Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
• Cardinal Care Resources: Cardinal Care Guide

Your Happiness Calendar for May 2021

• Our monthly Happiness Calendar is a day-by-day guide to well-being. This month, we hope it helps you take care of your mental and physical health.. BY KIRA M. NEWMAN 

Join in NAMI Minnesota’s Free Online Mental Health Classes

• NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has set up a wide variety of free online mental health classes for May and June. They include classes such as Hope for Recovery, Transitions, Ending the Silence, Understanding Early Episode Psychosis for Families, In Our Own Voice, Family to Family, Positive Psychology, Creating Caring Communities, a suicide prevention class called QPR – Question, Persuade and Refer, a special QPR class for Agricultural Communities and many more.
• The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living with a mental illness, service providers, and also the general public. Find a complete listing of these classes and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Classes” or go straight to https://namimn.org/education-public-awareness/classes/scheduled/.