ceased trading – but still sharing AT information

Having retired in December 2024 means that I can still share things of interest in the AT world. BETT is coming up and I am on a panel discussing inclusion in higher education. For more details of that go to:-

“Myles will be at BETT, participating in a panel discussion in the Higher Education theatre on Wednesday 22^nd January. You can find all the details at this link: https://uk.bettshow.com/2025-agenda/building-inclusive-campus-culture-send-students-using-technology” – BATA Bulletin for January 2025

Microsoft are promoting AI for learning and are show casing Microsoft 365 Co-Pilot and Agents. Yet to see what these agents are like but keep your eye on this blog and the sister blog discussingai.blog . For looking at Co-Pilot go to https://m365copilot.com/

I hope to spend a bit more time doing podcasts more regularly. These might be on new directions in AT or general topic discussions surrounding the world of AT. Tune in at The Smyles Podcast – AccessAbility Solutions – there are 78 episodes to listen to. They won’t take up to much of your time as I try to stick to one topic for 5 minutes!

One last thing. Just come across Everway which is going to be the new partnership and name for Texthelp the well know company that’s produced Read & Write. Look interesting with products like SymbolStix packs that can aide communication for symbol users. Find out more at Everway products – tools for the way we learn, work and live | Everway. This will be talked about at BETT so go to stand SK41 and grab a coffee and a friendly chat with Texthelp.

I wish you all the best in 2025 and have a great year in using AT!

Testimonies

“1’d like to give a shout out to Myles Pilling, BA,M.Ed. and encourage anyone who needs training and support around assistive tech to reach out to him directly. was lucky enough to have several hours of training with Myles thanks to my Access to Work grant. Myles’ training though? Well, it was closer to coaching than training. He didn’t assume. He asked me to show him what I did so he could offer refinements and tweaks.

But the most important thing Myles did was question why I was doing what I was doing; what was the benefit, why was it needed, and if it was what was the most effective way of doing it? No more ‘stick a tech plaster on a Luddite broken leg’ – instead Myles helped me work most effectively with my tech, by helping me figure out when and how I needed it. The absolute best bit? Thanks to working with Myles, I never ever need to do filing again.

Seriously. Never.

Myles helped me set up a system that I would likely never have discovered without him, that allows my work to be recorded and autosaved without a single follow up step.” Leah , Consultant , Search for Serenity

“Accessibility Smyles continues to serve up timely information about the latest and best technology for individuals with unique needs. Always pleased to receive these helpful resources with related links. I share them with parents, educators and others who serve the many with reading and learning challenges. (Thank you, Myles!)” – Jean

“I’ve known Myles for many years, he’s my go-to expert for all this Accessibility, so much so that he’s our resident expert at Anderton Tiger Radio. Whenever we feature this topic he’s always there with excellent advice and guidance, in fact you can listen to him again here from our January radio show https://www.buzzsprout.com/695014/2586430-myles-pilling-talks-about-technologies-for-send-that-have-caught-his-eye-at-bett-2020 Highly recommended, Myles is most definitely one of the top 5 experts in his field in the UK” – Russell Prue, Anderson Tiger

“After one of your recent training sessions, I visited your Techsavvy session and discovered the virtual tour guides. A a result my husband and I enjoyed a splendid trip to Edinburgh. A city I have avoided for a number of years due to its challenges for a wheelchair user due to its very steep streets and cobbles. I think the sessions you have posted are really good and I hoped you would be happy if I suggested these to clients, I am assisting in my volunteering journey. I am also liaising with a local charity who are trying to encourage their older members and I think they too could benefit from your regular hints and tips so would like to suggest they pass on the Techsavvy links. You really are an inspiration.” –

Heather Sneddon

South West Scotland Coordinator , AbilityNet