Integrated Accessible Microscopical Workstation for Students with Disabilities

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AbstractThe goal of this project is to construct an integrated accessible microscopicalworkstation that will allow students with disabilities to independently perform commonbiological laboratory techniques, thereby enabling individuals to actively participate inscientific experimentation and the opportunity to pursue a career in the SMET fields.This multi-purpose workstation is to be used primarily by persons with mobilityimpairments. All aspects of the integrated workstation will be operated from a centralcomputer interface, which will be used to automatically control and monitor externalperipheral devices so that biological experiments can be performed. Using a computeras the user interface and central control of the accessible laboratory workstation isideal, because the personal computer can accommodate various disabilities usingdifferent pointing devices and accessibility software utilities. Total keystroke control ofthe integrated workstation will be emphasized.The intent of this proposal is to develop an accessible laboratory workstation that willallow students and investigators with mobility impairments to perform the majority ofmicroscopical and histological laboratory procedures, most notably in the biologicalsciences, with minimal assistance and setup. The integrated microscopy workstationwill use software to control all features of operation, including an automatedmicroscope, motorized stage, bulk slide autoloader, and digital video camera. Theworkstation will allow a student with a disability to independently load up to fiftyindividual slides, focus, change objectives, filter wheels, illuminator and condensor, andposition the microscopy specimen translationally in X and Y directions and rotationallyusing theta control - all controlled through a computer that will also capture images ofthe histological tissues to be managed and analyzed for anatomical studies. Thus, theonly assistance the student with a disability requires is for someone to load the slides.All other phases of microscopy and image analysis can be performed without furtherassistance.The accessible microscopy workstation will be evaluated both in a classroom settingthat performs typical undergraduate and post-graduate biological experimentation andin research laboratory setting that performs sophisticated laboratory procedures. Tenhigh school and college students with a range of mobility impairments will be assessedin the first year by their ability to use a computer and their specific ergonomics relatingto the construction of the accessible workstation. In the second year the students willbe tested on their ability to use the workstation to accomplish a variety of laboratoryprocedures. Educators will also be queried as to their capability of incorporating theworkstation into the classroom environment.University and local high school educators and Special Education specialists andstatewide organizations, like the Council of Volunteers/Organizations for Hoosiers withDisabilities (COVOH) and Assisting Technology through Awareness in Indiana(ATTAIN), which advocate the use of assistive technologies for persons with disabilities,will be utilized to disseminate findings and promote the use of the integrated microscopyworkstation.