Devon Adult & Community Learning

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Accessibility and ICT

The use of computers and ICT (Information & Communications Technology) offers great potential for learners with disabilities - and also potential barriers. The links below give advice and information which may help.

1. TechDis: www.techdis.ac.uk

TechDis are government-funded and give information and advice on accessibility and inclusion, particularly focusing on disability and technology. The website contains much useful information and is worth a look around in general but particularly useful are:

  • 'Resources & Reference' gives an overview of the site (so you can then jump straight to what you want) and is at www.techdis.ac.uk/index.php?p=3
  • The 'technology database' at http://www.techdis.ac.uk/index.php?p=3_1 tells you what software and hardware are available for different disabilities
  • The Microsoft accessibility activity - a useful activity resource covering the most obvious Microsoft accessibility features and who they are appropriate for (eg Sticky keys - most useful for motor-impaired users, or anyone holding the phone in one hand and using the other to type)

2. TechDis via the Excellence Gateway

The QIA Excellence Gateway includes a section on 'making learning materials accessible' - the result of work by TechDis aimed particularly at tutors. This pulls a number of separate strands together in to one place: http://excellence.qia.org.uk/page.aspx?o=jisctechdis

3. AbilityNet: www.abilitynet.org.uk

A national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet - but worth a look for other learners too. The whole site is useful but particularly helpful is www.abilitynet.org.uk/athome_resources - a gateway to AbilityNet factsheets and skillsheets.

4. Example Equipment

There is a wide range of equipment available, covered in the 'technology database' (above) and via the other links in 1, 2 and 3. A brief selection is also mentioned in this document from the RSC:

5. AccessApps & OATSoft: open-source software

There are a number of free 'open source' accessibility programs that can help with reading the screen, magnifying, changing computer settings etc. Useful places to find out more, and download these free tools are:

  • AccessApps website - offers a range of software ideally suited to downloading onto a memory stick and carrying around with you .
  • AccessApps-MyApps helpsheet (10KB - pdf) - single sheet of instructions from DACL.
  • MyStudyBar - this is another free download which is ‘designed to support the complete study cycle from research, planning and structuring to communicating in writing or speech’. For more details see http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=277898 (or search for ‘mystudybar’ in Google etc).
  • OATSoft - www.oatsoft.org - who offer a range of free software (there is some overlap with AccessApps) and include a useful search facility so you can easily find particular accessibility tools on their website.

6. Creating 'Symbolised' information sheets etc

Widgit software: Devon ACL has licences for two pieces of software produced by Widgit.

  • 'In Print 2' - allows the user to create printed work such as handouts, information sheets, posters etc which include both text and the equivalent symbols. It is likely to be the more generally useful of the two packages. For a helpsheet, click the following link:
  • 'SymWriter' - allows a tutor to create interactive drag-and-drop activities for learners to complete and is a bit more specialist.

Mulberry symbol-set: A free-to-download symbol set for use with learners with restricted communications abilities. Allows symbols to be used to supplement - or replace - the written words in many situations. More restricted in range and features than 'Widgit' but may be useful: http://straight-street.com

7. Speech Recognition in Windows Vista and Windows 7

Both Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems include built-in speech recognition so that you can control the computer, and dictate documents, using your voice. For more information go to http://www.microsoft.com and type 'speech recognition' into the search box. Or, for info and a demonstration video about this in Vista, click the following link - Vista speech recognition

8. Other sites and Information

Inclusive learning sites to look at: download the following document for a list of these.

Xerte: This is free-to-download software that allows you to create accessible learning resources, with a strong emphasis on visual approaches.

Windows 7: The 'Ease of Access Centre' (normally found in the Control Panel) in Windows 7 has a number of significant improvements over previous versions of Windows.  These include full screen magnification, a resizable on-screen keyboard with word prediction and accurate voice/speech recognition, amongst a range of other optons. For information about this, see http://www.scottish-rscs.org.uk/e-inclusion/

Last modified: Tuesday, 13 July 2010, 11:40 AM