ZoomText Xtra Provides Complete Computer Access for Youngstown State University Director with Visual Impairment

Youngstown State University Director of Career Services Bernie Cummins has built a highly successful career with the help of talent, drive, and assistive technology. He is thoroughly supported in getting the tools he needs to maintain his productivity by a university dedicated to providing technology accessibility to students, faculty, and staff.

"To me, it makes all the difference in the world," says Bernie Cummins, Director of Career Services for Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio. Cummins is talking about assistive technology. In particular, ZoomText Xtra magnification and screen reading software from Ai Squared. He uses the screen magnification features of ZoomText Xtra to enlarge type and other objects on his screen from 2-to-16 times their actual size.

"Youngstown State University is committed to a campus environment that values all individuals and groups," says Barbara Orton, Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at Youngstown State. "And, we are committed to helping each employee achieve her/his full potential. When it comes to assistive technology," she says, "our process is individualized and focused to address the specific needs of the employee."

Providing Assistive Technology is a Win-Win for University and Employee

"Providing assistive technology is a win-win situation for the University and the employee," says Hubert (Hugh) Chatman, Executive Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations at YSU. "In the case of Bernie Cummins, for example, we are extremely pleased to provide the assistive technology Bernie needs to better perform his job. For a relatively small investment, the University gets a very valuable and productive employee."

University Takes Action to Ensure Technology Is Accessible

Donna Esterly, Interim Chief Technology Officer at YSU, reiterates the point—"Youngstown State University is committed to providing all students, faculty, and staff, access to technology. Assistive technology plays an important role in higher education and particularly at Youngstown State University—an institution that has always focused on providing access to higher education for all students. As YSU further develops a comprehensive Technology Master Plan, it is expanding on a strategy within the institution's strategic plan to ensure accessibility to technology for traditional, non-traditional, and special-needs students, faculty, and staff. We will also be emphasizing the need for disability access and compliance in all facets of the overall plan," says Esterly. "Technology provides a means for all students and employees, to learn, work and live in the world of technology, and for many individuals with special needs, these tools provide a world that, not so long ago, few could imagine."

Computer Is Essential Workplace Tool

Like most people in business today, Bernie Cummins spends a lot of time on the computer. The Office of Career Services is a comprehensive career development center that assists students and alumni in exploring career options and making decisions regarding career direction. They also work to promote employment opportunities for students and alumni by working with employers. In his position as director of the busy Career Services office, Cummins is responsible for overall operation of the office. Among other activities that require work with printed materials, he does budget and activity planning as well as seeing students and alumni for one-on-one sessions. Cummins' computer is equipped with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Microsoft Office 2000 Professional, which are highly compatible with ZoomText Xtra technology.

Power and Usefulness of Assistive Technology Is Growing

Cummins has been using ZoomText software for more than 10 years, he says. "In that time, ZoomText has just exploded in terms of its capabilities." Its development and integration with PC technology in offices was just-in-time technology for Cummins. "The timing couldn't have been better. This Windows-based product I'm using now enables me to access and utilize all of the different software that I work with every day. I just run it through ZoomText Xtra—everything I use on my PC is handled that way. I really would dread to think about life without the ZoomText software—so much of what we do is PC-based now. It would make life very difficult for me—for anyone who has a visual impairment."

Visual Impairment is 'Something to Deal With'—Doesn't Limit Accomplishment

Cummins is a highly qualified professional who has not let his visual impairment limit his accomplishments. He has held his directorship at Youngstown since 1998 and has worked in career services for nearly 27 years. He is a graduate of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas and holds three degrees from that university. He began his career working 12 years in the Wichita State University Office of Placement and Career Services before joining Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts as Director of Career Services. He later worked for Idaho State University before being recruited to Youngstown State University. In his spare time he has added a master's in business administration to his credentials.