ZAB's auxiliary pool

Contents: Overview of aids and assistive technologies provided by the Accessibility Services (ZAB), User guide for the (mobile) inductive loop system, Recommendations for action.

Did you know that the ZAB at Bielefeld University provides a range of aids and assistive technologies to meet individual needs or to support the running of events?

This gives both students and staff with impairments, chronic or mental health conditions the opportunity to test the aids before applying to the relevant funding bodies. In addition, this can help bridge the sometimes lengthy application process with the funding bodies or make the transitional period until one receives ones own aid as comfortable as possible.

Below you will find an alphabetical overview of the available aids and accessible technologies, categorised according to specific needs.

The availability of the aids listed cannot be guaranteed.

Aids for compensating visual impairments

• Bluetooth large character keyboard;
• braille display (BRAILLEX EL 80s, manufactured by Papenmeier);
• white cane;
• reading wand – magnifying reading aid (manufactured by Eschenbach);
• portable electronic magnifier with screen (manufactured by Reinecker);
• portable screen reader (VisioBook, manufactured by Baum);
• portable magnification system (Pocket II, manufactured by Steller);
• portable text-to-speech device (Enhanced Vision Acrobat HD Ultra);
• portable magnifying camera – combines camera and software with a mobile device (manufactured by Steller);
• 2 monitor swivel arms;
• monocular (manufactured by Eschenbach).

Aids for compensating hearing impairments

The following resources facilitate communication between students and teaching staff and are available for loan to both groups:

• 2 x Bluetooth microphones for hearing aids (Roger Select, manufactured by Phonak);
• 3 x MyLink PDF (Roger system, Phonak);
• 3 x NeckLoop wireless induction loop receivers (Roger system, manufactured by Phonak);
• 6 x Pass-Around handheld microphones (Roger system, manufactured by Phonak);
• 1 x Table Mic II (Roger system, manufactured by Phonak);
• 3 x Touchscreen Mic (Roger system, manufactured by Phonak).

Whilst some university premises are already equipped with permanently installed induction loops, this is still not the case for all rooms. In such instances, both students and you, as teaching staff, can make use of a portable induction loop system. These are compact and easy to transport.

The following section describes which combinations of aids are appropriate for different teaching situations:

Lectures

Bild einfügen

Illustration: Portable wireless induction loop receiver in a light grey casing with a neck loop. On the front of the receiver there is a narrow, oblong display, with a slider above it. The receiver is labelled as such. To the right of this is a portable transmitter in a dark casing with a neck loop. On the front of the transmitter there is a dark display and an oblong control button with a crossed-out microphone. The transmitter is labelled “Microphone”.

• Note: Where available, always use the permanently installed room microphone to ensure optimum transmission.
• Occasionally, you may be asked to use a portable transmitter microphone (e.g. Roger Touchscreen Mic). This device can be worn comfortably around the neck or attached to your clothing.
• People who use hearing aids can connect to the system using a receiver (e.g. Roger NeckLoop or MyLink). This improves the transmission and largely prevents background noise.
• Please note: Contributions or queries from other students are not automatically transmitted without the use of additional microphones.
• Suggested solution: As the lecturer, repeat the questions or comments from the floor before addressing them. Alternatively, you can use a handheld microphone (e.g. Roger Pass-Around). Find out more under “Group work”.

Group work

To make communication easier for hearing aid and cochlear implant users in group situations, there are various ways of combining portable inductive hearing systems, depending on the size of the group and the situation.

Option 1 (for lager groups)

Bild einfügen

Illustration: Portable receiver in a light grey casing with a neck loop. On the front of the receiver is a narrow, oblong display, with a slider above it. The receiver is labelled as such. In the centre is a portable transmitter in a dark casing with a neck loop. On the front of the transmitter is a dark display and an oblong control button featuring a crossed-out microphone. The transmitter is labelled “Microphone” To the right is a hand-held microphone, labelled as such, with a horseshoe-shaped stand positioned underneath it.

In larger groups, it is a good idea to provide the facilitator with a microphone (e.g. Roger Touchscreen Mic). The other group members can also use hand-held microphones (e.g. Roger Pass-Around), which, depending on the size of the group, can either be fixed in a holder or passed around the room. People who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants can connect to the system via a receiver (such as the Roger NeckLoop or MyLink). This reduces background noise and enables clear communication within the group.

Option 2 (for smaller groups)

Bild einfügen

Illustration: Portable receiver in a light grey casing with a neck loop. On the front of the receiver is a narrow, oblong display, with a slider above it. The receiver is labelled as such. To the right of it is a light grey, round and flat table microphone with slits. This is labelled “Table microphone (recommended for up to four people)”.

or

Bild einfügen

Illustration: Portable receiver in a light grey casing with a neck loop. On the front of the receiver is a narrow, oblong display, with a slider above it. The receiver is labelled as such. To the right of this is a light grey, square table microphone with rounded corners and circular slits positioned in the centre. The table microphone is labelled “Table microphone (recommended for up to six people)”.

For smaller groups, using table microphones (e.g. the Roger Table Mic for up to six people or the Roger Select for up to four people) is recommended. These are simply placed in the centre of the group; they automatically detect the direction of the speaker and suppress distracting background noise. Here too, people who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants can connect to the system via a receiver (e.g. Roger NeckLoop or MyLink), which improves speech clarity and makes it easier to communicate with group members.

Students who use nether a hearing aid nor a cochlear implant, but who, for example, need to minimise background noise, can also borrow equipment from the ZAB. In this case, headphones must be connected to the relevant receiver (Roger NeckLoop or MyLink).

Aids to compensate for mobility impairments

The ZAB at Bielefeld University provides students and staff with mobility impairments with the following aids and assistive technologies: 

• height-adjustable standing tables;
• wheelchairs.

Assistive technologies 

• ZAB Sprachkompass
  • An aid for checking texts you have written yourself for ableist language.
  • Helps you to use language sensitively and thoughtfully in the context of disability, chronic illness or mental health conditions.
  • This aid currently checks German texts only.
• UniMaps
  • An app for accessible navigation around the Bielefeld University campus.
  • Available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
• Bielefelder Barrierefreie Gesetzessammlung (BBG)
  • An accessible digital presentation of legal texts in an accessible format.
  • Provides law students with free and independent access to all legal texts relevant to their exams.

Recommendations for you as teaching staff

Should students at Bielefeld University approach you with relevant needs or queries, please feel free to refer them to the ZAB. Concerns regarding the selection, use and application for assistive technologies can be discussed in a face-to-face meeting.

Contact

Consultations can take place in person, by telephone or via Zoom. Please feel free to get in touch via:

• Email: zab@uni-bielefeld.de 
• Telephone: +49 521 106 12 600