has ceased trading – but still producing valuable assistive technology information
Tomorrow I am at the Guildhall in Salisbury representing AbilityNet at the Eye Can Exhibition from 10:00-4:30pm on Wednesday 5th October .
Come along if you are near and support the cause of free and accessible help for your technology
With help from digital technology, differently-abled individuals no longer have to feel limited in terms of their career prospects. There are a number of ways you can use modern tech to your advantage, whether you’re learning new skills, networking, or seeking new employment. In this article, we’ll explore a few handy tips for furthering your career as a differently abled individual.
Remote Learning
If you don’t feel you’re adequately prepared to apply for the roles you want, you’ll find no shortage of online resources available that can help you to learn new skills or gain knowledge in your desired field. You can take free online courses or even get a certification or degree without ever attending classes in person. These opportunities also provide an easy way to network with
other professionals, which could help you find a job or get your foot in the door of your desired industry.
Consider a Home-based Business
If you’re not comfortable working in a traditional office setting, or if you have a potentially profitable idea, you might want to consider starting your own home-based business. With technology, all aspects of starting a business can be carried out fully online, including financing, creating a business plan, and even meeting with potential investors. Even if you’re working with employees, platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams make it easy to manage personnel remotely.
Use Assistive Technologies
There are a number of assistive technologies tailored to a variety of disabilities that you can make use of to further your career. As computers are widely used in most vocations, you may be able to use alternative hardware, such as keyboards and input devices. Programs that can be adapted to accommodate various needs are also available, including screen magnifiers, voice recognition, and screen reading software.
If you work in an in-person environment, you can request mobility, seating, and positioning aids from your employer if you need these to make your job possible. If you have a physical disability, you may need to be provided with lifts, ramps, and special parking spaces.
Finding Employment
When you’re job searching, it’s important to have a well-written resume and an up-to-date LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is invaluable for building connections in your field and can be used to find job opportunities. If you opt for the premium version, you’ll also be able to check who’s viewed your profile and send direct messages.
When building your resume, be sure to highlight your skills and make mention of any notable accomplishments. Having a professional-looking resume will help you stand out from the pile of candidates recruiters receive, so try a resume creator and free templates to achieve this. You’ll
be able to select colors and designs that suit your preferences and then add your photo and relevant work experience.
Once you’re ready to search for a job, it’s important to seek out a job that best suits you and use the appropriate tools to apply for it. Most job applications are time-consuming, as you’ll be required to fill in copious amounts of details in order to be considered, so it’s best not to waste your efforts on positions you aren’t invested in trying.
You may also consider applying for fully remote jobs, as these are far more available now that more and more companies are transitioning toward a hybrid work environment. There are a number of job boards that are dedicated solely to remote jobs, which should help you narrow down your search.
With leaps in remote technology, differently-abled individuals are increasingly equipped to find employment that accommodates them and meets their needs. With the right tools at your disposal, you’ll be able to bolster your expertise with the necessary skills and successfully land a job in a burgeoning field.
Accessibility Solutions aims to find the right technological fix for various challenges that are faced by those who are differently abled. Find a personalized solution at: http://www.aas123.com
Andrea Needham, eldersday.org
Image by Pexels
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and this week is Dyslexia Awareness Week. So AAS is going Red for this month. Please share to make Dyslexia known. Dyslexia affects people’s ability to decode and write words accurately. Assistive Technology helps to overcome this barrier to learning. If you want to know more just reach out to me via this website for advice and support
Assistive Technology can help your children in the following ways:-
This page will contain advice and resources that will be discussed in the session. Please contact me by email at myles@aas123.com for any questions you may have.
Your children and pupils don’t want to stand out in the class as being different so its always good to use mainstream software whether it’s a Microsoft or Google product they are using in the school context. Speech recognition is a good tool for the home. Homework can be done more effectively if it requires volumes of text. If it’s just a few words then using the spell checker and typing suggestions are just as good.
In the workshop I will be looking simple changes to the operating system as well as extensions to browsers and free and paid apps for iOS that may be useful to you. Android will be touched on as well as Chrome OS.
Windows 10/11 Accessibility – switch on typing suggestions and the option to make suggestions when you type. This produces a short list of possible words to use
Google Voice Typing – in Google Docs under Tools is the option to use voice typing. Google does this well and it’s quite accurate.
Dictation in Email is a Chrome Extension that allows voice typing in Google Email.
Smart Typing works as artificial intelligence guessing what you want to write as you type. Suggestions are in grey and you may be using it without knowing! It’s switched on in settings or via the wizard when you set up a google account.
Grammarly is the chrome extension of choice by older children, pupils and students as it corrects again as you type. I am using it now and its handy on picking up my grammatical errords. There is also a free add – in for MSWord where grammarly sits on the toolbar in Word. Paid options are also available with more options to have. It’s one drawback on free is American spellings!
Natural Reader – is a text to speech tool that can read out PDF’s . If you are using The Edge – Read Aloud is really good and it’s also good on an iPad.
Color Enhancer is a Chrome extension that puts a filter over the screen to make it more readable for the user in Chrome. Fully customisable and maybe useful for those who need to use overlays to decode text
Lightkey Chrome extension works invisibly suggesting completing of text like smart typing.
Helperbird Chrome extension is a suite of tools that help you access your browser more suited to your needs. Like a certain font? Then Helperbird can set that font to work over the internet on your browser. Worth a look.
Read&Write for Chrome is a useful toolbar for research and text to speech. Again can be used when needed. Text to speech cuts down the time and energy decoding long pieces of text.
Accessibility
Display – changes from size to bold text as well as screen filtering options
Spoken Content – an easier way (and safer!) so you don’t loose your text by inadverttly pressing the screen area. It gives a playback menu that reads and highlights the text as spoken.
Microphone on the On-screen keyboard – now free from using wifi. Not always accurate for young children. But works well as an integrated tool for efficiency.
Keyboards – add-in keyboards like Read&Write and Swiftkey as well as slowing key presses and repeat key pressing options. More important for children and adults with fine mote problems.
Notability – £free – note taking https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/notability/id360593530
Read&Write – £free – https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/readwrite-for-google-chro/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd
Claro Speak – £free with in app purchases https://apps.apple.com/us/app/clarospeak-literacy-support/id977258467
Claro PDF – £free with in-app purchases – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/claropdf/id666770153
Remember The Milk – £free – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/remember-the-milk/id293561396
Widget Writer – £0.89 – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/widgit-writer/id1142926801
Glean Notes – £free app but with subscription as well – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/glean-notes/id1498045022
Claro ScanPen – £8.99 – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/claro-scanpen/id994933713
Popplet Lite – £free – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/popplet-lite/id364738549
Speaking Email – £free with in-app purchases – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/speaking-email-voice-reader/id991406423
Book Creator – £2.49 – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/book-creator-for-ipad/id442378070
Easy Dyslexia Aid – £2.49 https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/easy-dyslexia-aid/id1088194043
Correct Spelling – £free – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/correct-spelling-checker/id1481028375
Timetable – £free – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/timetable-studies-and-tasks/id309048319
My Study Bar – suite of tools that may be useful in exam conditions. Free and can sit across any application to be used.
Voice Typer – provides speech recognition into any app or browser. A bit slow and as a weird way of hiding the menu. Just found this recently and still seeing its potential. No training required.
The following software may be helpful in helping you child/pupil/student have structured maths experience. Most research points to careful coaching and building on previous learnt maths skills. If the building blocks have been missed then it’s difficult to progress
• IXL Maths – IXL | Personalised skill recommendations
•Dynamo Maths –
•Splash Learn – Math Games for Kids Online – SplashLearn
•Equatio –
This also applies to any third party apps being used on a device as well.
Just been with a client today using a Synapptic Tablet. She had trouble with her emails which we eventually found out was caused by Google blocking the email function on her tablet.
Solution:–
Need to go Security settings on the google account concerned and do the following
– setup two factor authentication which will need a smart phone or mobile phone for a text message
– next go to security and go to “Third party apps with account access” and add “Synapptics” to the list
A 16 digit code will be generated which needs copying down or taking a photo of. It’s a one-time code that you type into Basic Email Settings of Synapptics ( synapptics doesn’t allow pasting into the password area !) under Password.
I used IMAP settings with port values Incoming 995 and SMTP port settings of 465. You can find these on the web if needed. I set them in Synapptics under the “Advanced settings” in Email.
Looks like useful training for complex needs and AAC users
https://www.callscotland.org.uk/blog/online-courses-for-august-december-2022/
Dogs make great companions for many people. For people who have disabilities, service dogs can be invaluable for mobility, health, and companionship. You may be considering giving a service out if you have any type of disability. However, having a service dog is slightly different than having an animal companion that does not work for you. From Accessibility Smyles, here are three things you need to know before you get a service dog.
1. Certain Breeds Make Better Service Dogs
Ultimately, it comes down to the individual temperament of a canine to determine whether or not it will make a good service animal. However, certain breeds make better service animals than others. Even within these breeds, up to 70% of dogs are chosen to work as service animals to not complete the necessary training, according to one study. You should carefully consider your specific needs to choose the right service dog for you.
2. Service Dogs Can Help With Many Types of Disabilities
When you think of service dogs, you probably think of guide dogs that help blind people navigate the world when they are out in public. This is only one example of a service dog. Some service dogs are trained to recognize low blood sugar and other health hazards so that they can help their owners live life to the fullest. Other service animals provide anxiety relief. Some simply provide companionship for people who are grieving. There are many types of service dogs, so it is crucial to choose one that is specifically trained to help with the area you struggle in.
You also need to remember that service dogs need a yard to run in, just like non-working animals. Having a fence is important for keeping your new pet safe. If you don’t have a fence, you can speak with contractors in your community to get a quote that falls into your budget. Make sure you read the reviews on various companies before you decide which one to use for fence insulation.
3. There Is an Adjustment Period When You Get a Service Dog
Whenever you bring a dog home, it disrupts your family’s normal routine. There is always an adjustment period, and many experts say that it takes up to three weeks for a dog to completely settle into its new home. The experience is no different when you bring home a service dog. Not only does your new companion have to adjust to a new environment, but he also has to get used to working closely with you and providing you with the services you need to thrive.
It’s important to take measures to reduce stress around your home while your new service dog adjusts. Eliminate as much stress as possible and spend time bonding with your new companion. Lots of treats, love, and affection can help your dog adjust more quickly.
It also helps to have important supplies on hand to help your furry companion settle in more quickly. You need to have basic supplies such as food, bedding, and toys, whether you have a service dog or a non-working animal. Your dog’s trainer may also recommend specific supplies to help your new pet thrive. Regardless of which products you purchase, make sure you look at reviews to ensure they are high quality.
Getting a service dog is a great way to maintain your independence and care for your health when you have any type of disability. Before you get a service dog, make sure you understand these three things to ensure you are ready for the responsibility.
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s5z2n-1297fb4
Thoughts after speaking at this event. Worth the 6 hours of travelling by all air from New York
On the second day, we continued the work that had begun on the first day. More accessible format skill sessions, but also some unusual ones such as a surfer! I did a session on “We can make a difference – how to change lives one person at a time.” This was the passion thread for the conference and I wanted to show that individuals can make a difference. It seemed to go well by all accounts. The day finished with a panel session where all of us speakers were grilled for our opinions on things such as what was our biggest assistive technology achievement.
The conference was a success and I have been invited back for next year. Its a shame it is so far away fore me. It will take place on the 2nd & 3rd of August 2023. Make a note in your diary and if you are stateside consider making a visit I am sure you will not be disappointed if only for the lakeside position of the college!
And the beautiful scenery
All set to go and it’s looking good! All of the speakers are here and Jeremy has put on a great programme for the delegates. We have our badges and look forward to some exciting presentations ( not mine!). I will try and report as we go.
Dan Prado is an inspirational speaker and he inspired us to “think better than we are”. I also attended a seminar on Adobe InDesign looking at how Accessiblity can be done to PDF’s using this subscription based product. It comes at a cost but worth it if you are a university , college or company looking to make your information accessible to the blind.
My session on “Making Accessibility Work” went well with contributions from the audience and a wide range of material discussed.
Dax and Chad run a Podcast worth subscribing to called “CHAX Chat Podcast – Accessibility Unraveled ” You can also search A11Y with Dax Castro and Chad Chelius . Here is the link enjoy! Finally,do pay a visit to my Podcast “The Smyles Podcast” and learn about the trip to Lebanon for the ABLE conference I did early this year you will find it on my website Accessibility Solutions
Finally, Maha Zouwayhed who gave a passionate talk on “Lebanon, the happiest depressed people in the world” Explaining what they have all been through and how dancing and a positive attitude can help you win through.
Finally, we all ending up at this beautiful spot for a network meal. What a way to end the day! You should come to this event if you interested in Accessibility and you live in the states.
