Author: AccessAbility Smyles

Many people believe they should run only the latest software on a new laptop. I had a client who was running Offcie 2013 on their new Windows 11 laptop. It’s been running for months now with no hiccups today where the machine got into a pickle and stopped loading Office 2013. It was showing there was no word running so after a search on the internet I did get lucky and found this article which solved the problem. The registry was giving false information so removing the date using this method enbale the program to run again. You have to log back into Microsoft 2013 and then it will run again.

Here are the instructions for all versions of Word:-

To delete the Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:

1. Exit all Office programs.
2. Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
3. Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are using.Word versionRegistryWord 2016 or laterHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\DataWord 2013HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word\DataWord 2010HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\DataWord 2007HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\DataWord 2003HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data
4. Select Data, and then select Export on the File menu.
5. Name the file Wddata.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.
6. On the Edit menu, select Delete, and then select Yes.
7. Exit Registry Editor.
8. Start Word.

If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem (a damaged Word Data registry key). You may now have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.

If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Data registry subkey, and then try the next option.

NB Do not try this if you are not confident or not sure that is the problem

Synapptics provide assistive technology for the blind and partially sighted. They have revamped their website and on it is a large selection of training materials in different formats for the blind. I include a link here do take a look especially if you know anyone who is a user of the software,

https://www.synapptic.com/help-support/#downloads

A feature of Windows 11 that may not be well known is that Vocie Access in Accessiblity . It does not require internet which is a great help to schools using Microsoft Word and struggle with a consistent internet connection or using voice input in exams. A stripped down Word can then be used with voice input at no additional cost.

Had a chance to look at the Orcam Learn for schools and really is a useful tool. First of all, I like the voice, Such tools like this fall down due to the voices they use. This is a useful tool is inflection and tone to the sentence understanding. Also the targeting using laser lights are cool and useful for accurately recording. You can also hear individual words as well. But where the package wins out is in the recording of pupils individual progress. Orcam has worked hard with SENCO’s to find the information they wanted. So you can see in realtime use and how the children read as there is a listen mode and a reading mode. This makes it more comprehensive a tool for reading .

At the moment there is special deal going on so take a look at the link below for more details of that. It’s annual subscription fee for the software after the first year . There is a one-off price for the device around the £400 mark. Still quite difficult for schools to afford in this period of austerity, in my opinion, but I understand the price of developing this product and making it work in this way . Check it out at https://learn.orcam.com/gb/

Today I am attending the annual natspec conference. Natspec stands for National Specialist Colleges and the TechAbility event is it’s annual conference. This is a good assistive technology event put on by the national specialist colleges in the UK. I went a few years ago for BATA and found it useful to promote the work we do at the council and recognise the good work that has been going on this educational field. 

Looking at the speaker line up it will be good to catch up on what Rohan Slaughter has been doing in the AT MSc course in Dundee. If I were younger I would go on that course. It’s been running for 2 years so I suspect there will be some interesting developments to share. 

It will also be a chance to network with colleagues such as Fil McIntyre. I worked with him during the pandemic on remote assessment for schools. This was an interesting concept and an eye -opener into the current state of our education system. Apart from that I will attend a few other workshops and speak with colleagues about how AT is impacting the community.

It did not disappoint! Lots of fantastic sessions from technical sessions like Will Wade on some of the assisitve technology devices. that help disabled people to the update on the EduAT MSc course at Dundee University which is making headway towards a professional workforce for AT. I enjoyed it. all and look forward to the next one.

Renewed old and renewed acquitancies and made new ones! It was good to meet you all and thank you for your time. Hope to colleague with you all in the future.