It’s been an amazing time! Check out my podcast – The Smyles Podcast – on the tabs or directly from here.
Great talks . Great people and great hospitality. Thoroughly enjoyed myself here. That may sound strange to you who remember that Beirut had many troubles in the 70’s and 80’s and to an extent that hasn’t completely gone away. There are safe areas but also dangerous ones for Westerners.
But the desire in the young to see good disability inclusion and progress in Assistive Technology is encouraging. I feel, given time, and support the will to realistic change is possible.
There is more that connects us in the connected world than divides us . I hope I can come back again in 2024 . And bit by bit build the world they are anxious to see.
For those who don’t know BETT is the premiere exhibition show for educational technology in the UK. Russell Prue is a well-known radio broadcaster at BETT under his business name of Anderton Tiger. I go to his stand and chat with him for about 5 mins every year.
Now he has produced a series of talks called “On the Road to BETT” to wet our appetites for the upcoming show. I feature on the episode below, next to last of the interviewees talking about “The Power of Assistive Technology” film series. Please take a look and watch it.
I will be setting off for my third visit to Lebanon for the ABLE summit on Tuesday this week. It will be great to catch up with Maha and the team and also friends and colleagues Jeremy Seda and Chris Gautlin.
It’s been a busy summer with preparation for the release of the film series “The Power of Assistive Technology,” now due for the 6th October. Also the wonderful visit to North Idaho for the A11y Accessibility Camp. Really enjoyed that event and hopefully there will be one next year.
I did a podcast with Russell Prue about “The Power of Assistive Technology.” That will be published on the 15th September. Along with a webinar I recorded for Succeed with Dyslexia for the 13th September on Assistive Technology Essential Bitesize.
Great shout-out after my North Idaho adventure . Thanks Dax and Chad lovely to meet you again. For the record my last name is Pilling (comes from a marsh name near Lancaster near the Lake District in the UK).
In our increasingly digital world, it becomes important to have your loved ones digital life accessible to you. It was the backdrop of hearing the problems people have when a loved one passes away and the difficulties removing their information from social media. Especially so if it’s a suicide or unexpected death situation.
What is a Digital Will?
It’s a list of all your login details for social media and important bank details and financial information. So that appropriate action can be taken by a partner or loved one or if you have Power of Attorney in the event of you not being able to access these accounts. Everyone should consider this and also to consider updating every year as passwords and logins change rapidly. Spend some time thinking about what should be included as you are the only one who knows what this is! Password protect your file and only let your partner or loved ones know the password. Calling the file “Digital Will “ is not a good idea if someone outside of the family gets hold of it.
What should be included and how should it be stored?
Essentially what is included is up to you but consider the following:-
Online banking
Financial investments
Social Media eg Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube, TikTok
Email accounts
Keep these details either in a book or ideally in an electronic file kept in a secure place – locked cabinet or box . Cloud based solutions are better than hard drives as they can constantly being backed up for failures but if you are unsure about cloud then please use an encryptions software such as Steganos or Bitlocker to keep this information in.
Of course, inform your partner or loved one(s) of the details.
If using a book make sure each entry for an account is on a separate page. Any updates cross-out the previous information so it’s clear what is current.
How often should I review this?
Yearly would be good. But note any changes made during that time somewhere you can access for that review or change it at the time.
Any login changes should be added as this is key for anyone trying to access your details when you are not there to verify. With that is mind please add any security questions –( important for any Apple accounts ). Most of us forget them when we’ve done them so it’s important to note them.
What about facial recognition and two-step verification?
There is a growth in the use of this means of identifying and protection of your identity. There are always alternative ways to access theses accounts. Recovery emails, text messages, emails. Always ensure when setting up these methods, especially for banks, that you have another means of access a loved one or partner can access. If you have any suggestions to make or add to this live document let me know at myles@aas123.com
What is good about this event is the friendliness of it. There is a sense that everyone who is there is buying into the idea of making the best accessibility decisions you can. The three days have flown by. Landmarks were meeting Will Wallace and his amazing mother who travel the world for the conferences like this one. Dan Praedo is an inspirational speaker who definitely makes you have the feel good factor. Then other people and networking opportunities to develop a wonderful network of diverse individuals who are committed to making a difference for the disabled.
Thanks Jeremy its a blast and look forward to the next one which we believe will be in 2025. Two years time.
A range of devices including keyboards to have braille keyboard as well as combos with usb keyboard . Euro braille is a brand new windows OS keyboards. Fully integrated to other software.
Dyslexic + Braille – an interesting tool for Dyslexics
Dyslexia and Dragon Speech Recognition – difficulty with speech. Speech production can be difficult to decipher. First drafts done . Then screen reading.
Many tools out there – to help overcome barriers – high and low tech.
Leslie Gwartney – Supporting Autism in Higher Education
More to less autism is a myth – stereotypes
Menu of different strengths and abilities – different impairments and functioning
Alienation through eye-contact
Social awkwardness – anxiety, language processing, hypersensitivity
Reflective listening
Provide a solution – full list of resources that can provide health and support. A menu of options to work with
Sensory Overload – fabric, sounds, tag in her shirt, clothing.
Intervene before a meltdown.
Creating an inviting open environment
Karina Mason-Rorris – What makes a good leader?
Build relationships
Develop people
Lead change
Inspire others
Think critically
Communicate clearly
Creat accountability
“Don’t Complain, Don’t Explain”
Based on respect and feedback
Over-reaching needs to spot a situation and support their employees
Building a family-type team. Spend time on building relationship in teams.
Employee’s
Trust Compassion Stability Hope
Work to strengths not to our weaknesses. Establish and find a person’s strength. Honour and respect people’s strength
Amy Taylor – Building a Neurodivergent Community
Not every brain/mind are the same
Range of different needs within these divergent brains
time management
emotional regulation
sensory regulation
social network
clear communication – both expressive/receptive
accommodations
Hygiene and health
Deal with sensory issues with environments, organization:-
Providing choices of environments –
Organisation – class
Encouraging to try new things
Accommodations that work for them.
Clear communications and new dates
Emotional regulations:-
Understanding emotional regulation
Lead to stigma and judgment
Create calm spaces
Create communities connection.
Training in emotional regulation.
Partnering with other departments.
Social :-
Include all
Creating quiet spaces
Clear schedules – choose their level of interaction
So it’s the second day for me and I will be on around 3:00pm Pacific time here in Ceour D’Alene at the North Idaho College. Looking forward to an exciting and interesting conference put on by my good friend Jeremy Seda. We just hope everyone shows up. I will write up some of the highlights to you about Accessibility.
Yesterday we studied testing Accessibilty on PDF’s for screen readers using NVDA. It is surprising that so many people get this wrong by not doing the right things at the right time. It’s detailed but worth it. Companies like Nagix actually do bulk transfers on standard templates eg bank statements, bills and other kinds of documents that have a standard feel.
Great presentation by Erin Lucas of Microsoft. It’s about our Accessibility Superpower based on a Japanese philosophy called Ikigai. Here is my Supowerpower chart and my Superhero name ” OldGui” Pronounced “Old Guy” Yodalike so ” Awesome is he. Accessible is he”
AccessAbility Solutions 