Many students enrolled at Queen’s face physical, emotional or mental challenges that can make studying hard. Being deaf, visually impaired or having a learning disability makes academic life anything but ordinary.
Helping these students succeed academically is the purpose of the Adaptive Technology Centre. Located on the first floor of the Stauffer library, the centre is equipped with a wide range of assistive devices to make a person’s disability less of a barrier to learning – large-screen monitors and special magnifiers to enlarge text in books, computer programs to translate speech into written text, and an FM radio system that allows the hard of hearing to listen to audio books.
...nothing should prevent a blind or deaf student from accessing the same materials as their able-bodied counterparts
In addition to technology, the Centre’s staff teach students how to use the equipment and help them search for library or reference materials. Students also access quiet space when they feel anxious, or just need to escape the hubbub of the main library.
The centre provides many of these assistive devices thanks to the generosity of Toronto couple Janice and Colin Walker. Through her work as a critical-care and home-care nurse, Janice has witnessed first-hand how a lack of appropriate technology can frustrate a disabled person’s attempts to learn and cause them to fall behind in their studies, or in life.
That’s why she and her husband recently established the Jamie Walker Advanced Technology Fund – named for their son, Jamie, Artsci’11. When he was at Queen’s, Jamie took notes for students unable to attend class.
“With today’s technology, nothing should prevent a blind or deaf student from accessing the same materials as their able-bodied counterparts,” says Janice. “The fund is meant to help level the playing field and give students with physical challenges as much of a chance to succeed as their peers.”
The Walkers’ contributions have done just that. “The Walkers have really made a difference by helping us maintain the tools we have and acquire new ones on our wish list,” says Michele Chittenden, the centre’s coordinator. “We’re really grateful for that.”
Learn more about the Adaptive Technology Centre
