Students enrolled in Disability Awareness class students visited the Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab this quarter.
The students had fun with the neurodiverse sensory space (and the “jellyfish”), gaming area and some of the breakout demos about how some of the Microsoft inclusive and accessible tech can be used in daily life.
Bryce and Michelle shared and demonstrated how to use a few Microsoft features (like Microsoft Copilot and Immersive Reader or Read Aloud). A few examples:
- Use Microsoft Copilot to help you do things like job searches or build resumes and cover letters.
- Use built-in Microsoft text-to-speech features (like Read Aloud and Immersive Reader) to help with reading and understanding written assignments or more complex web pages – or just to add a fun Australian voice to read a web page for you and change things up a notch.
These types of text-to-speech features are built into common Microsoft products like Microsoft Edge web browser, or in Microsoft apps like Microsoft OneNote and Microsoft Word. When you look at web pages in Microsoft Edge, you can access Read Aloud or Immersive Reader by selecting the little text and book icons just to the right of the web site address.
Student Reflection: What did you enjoy most about this community activity?
- I liked learning about how I can communicate to my teachers and classmates when I lose my voice. I also liked playing with the video games, cuddling with the Minecraft stuffed animals and playing with the pop-its.
- What I enjoyed most about this community activity was playing the racing car video game as well as learning about AI.
- I enjoyed the whole activity. There were things I did not know about AI. Bryce is a cool person and I enjoyed learning things that he was talking about. Another thing was the vast amount of cool fidget toys and the enjoyable modern lights in the room.
- I enjoyed this community activity for the fact that I learned how to write a cover letter with help of Artificial Intelligence, I learned how OneNote has a incorporated a dictionary to check your spelling or check what a word means if you don’t understand it. I got to play a videogame while I enjoyed my peers and professor.
Thanks to the Microsoft Inclusive Lab for their time and willingness to support OLSBC.
About the OLSBC Disability Awareness Course
Disability Awareness is taken in the second year of the OLSBC program and is one of the many courses students take to earn their associate degree. In this course, students gain awareness of different types of disabilities within the community, reflect upon their disability and when and how to disclose this information.
About OLS Bellevue College
Occupational & Life Skills Bellevue College (OLSBC) is an associate degree program for students with learning disabilities. In our uniquely supportive skills-based program, students apply academic knowledge through community activities, service learning and social experiences. Students identify a career pathway, gain marketable, workplace-ready competencies, develop better interpersonal skills and complete an internship in alignment with their career goals.
Learn more about our program at an upcoming Information Session, open to all prospective students, family members/guardians, educators, counselors and other service providers. Come learn why OLS Bellevue College is one of the best colleges for students with learning disabilities.
Last Updated March 14, 2024