Integrated Accessible Microscopical Workstation for Students with Disabilities

Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract The goal of this project is to construct an integrated accessible microscopical workstation that will allow students with disabilities to independently perform common biological laboratory techniques, thereby enabling individuals to actively participate in scientific experimentation and the opportunity to pursue a career in the SMET fields. This multi-purpose workstation is to be used primarily by persons with mobility impairments. All aspects of the integrated workstation will be operated from a central computer interface, which will be used to automatically control and monitor external peripheral devices so that biological experiments can be performed. Using a computer as the user interface and central control of the accessible laboratory workstation is ideal, because the personal computer can accommodate various disabilities using different pointing devices and accessibility software utilities. Total keystroke control of the integrated workstation will be emphasized. The intent of this proposal is to develop an accessible laboratory workstation that will allow students and investigators with mobility impairments to perform the majority of microscopical and histological laboratory procedures, most notably in the biological sciences, with minimal assistance and setup. The integrated microscopy workstation will use software to control all features of operation, including an automated microscope, motorized stage, bulk slide autoloader, and digital video camera. The workstation will allow a student with a disability to independently load up to fifty individual slides, focus, change objectives, filter wheels, illuminator and condensor, and position the microscopy specimen translationally in X and Y directions and rotationally using theta control - all controlled through a computer that will also capture images of the histological tissues to be managed and analyzed for anatomical studies. Thus, the only 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 further assistance. The accessible microscopy workstation will be evaluated both in a classroom setting that performs typical undergraduate and post-graduate biological experimentation and in research laboratory setting that performs sophisticated laboratory procedures. Ten high school and college students with a range of mobility impairments will be assessed in the first year by their ability to use a computer and their specific ergonomics relating to the construction of the accessible workstation. In the second year the students will be tested on their ability to use the workstation to accomplish a variety of laboratory procedures. Educators will also be queried as to their capability of incorporating the workstation into the classroom environment. University and local high school educators and Special Education specialists and statewide organizations, like the Council of Volunteers/Organizations for Hoosiers with Disabilities (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 microscopy workstation.