COMMUNICATION WORKS

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

Just spoken about “The Power of Assistive Technology” at the above event at the New Bridge Academy School which is a large special school of 380 pupils with complex needs. The talk was well received and a number of useful connections made and I noticed many people used the QR Codes to download both the films and access to Teachers for AT.

So what else did I see? Well a shoutout to CanDle who are doing a great job in helping pupils with AAC use their devices. They are covering the nation with partnerships to enable AAC to be used effectively with the individuals.

Also Scanmarker Pen which is reader pen have produced this simple and effective guideline ruler that will help to keep your pen inline as you scan. This is a simple but very effective way to make a good scan for reading a line of text at a time.

Lastly, my good friend and colleague Rohan Slaughter was speaking at the event about the MSc EduAT course at the University of Dundee. Watch out for the work that he and his colleagues are doing with DFE on AT Assessment. This will be a thorough job and much needed in the profession as it takes a long time to get a complex assessment down.

Alison Tootil , Headteacher , gave me a tour of New Bridge Academy and it was very impressive to see the range of work being done there and in using technology to access the curriculum,. Thank you for sparing the time to show me around.

Now , on to the next event which will be the TPEA conference again in Manchester. What is it about Manchester that is making all the conference events happen there!? Let’s hope the weather improves. It has not stopped raining since I got here.

Episode 77 – Communication Works

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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-safij-161eea1
In this episode I am talking about the great event put on by ACE Centre and CENMAC called Communication Works.

GAAD today

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

Global Accessibility Awarness Day is big in the states but not as well known over here in the UK. Today I am celebrating with Historic Environment Scotland by doing a session on Microsoft Accessibility. What are you doing to commerate the day?

Really looking forward to this!

What’s really important to sy is that assistive technology is for everyone and if we can show just one little item or service someone didn’t know it would help their work situation.

More from The National SEND and Disability Conference

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As I write this on the journey back from Manchester I reflect back on a really good day. Made some useful contacts and saw some useful SEN resources too.

EHCP Plus is an online service that cuts the time down from writing EP’s from hours to an hour. Useful for academy trusts and LEA’s this might help standardise the process.

KAIT solutions have a smart pen that shows exactly how a pupil/student writes. Michael JH Won uses this to give accurate data to inform about the users writing difficulties. We sometimes lack evidence to back up what we know as teachers the problem is. Tools like the pen may inform us to intervene successfully.

Every Cherry is a unique children’s book company incorporating a range of accessibility from dyslexia friendly fonts and paper to symbolised and sensory books to tell stories in a sensory way

In search of careers advice? Need to plan your strategies for transfers between school/college and work? Then the Resource Directory from the Careers and Enterprise group might be what you are looking for. There are SEND resources as well.

Limio is a resource that is free for the first 10 lessons before you pay but allows users to access interactive lessons on an interactive whiteboard but also on their mobile devices.

The National Special Educational Needs Conference – Manchester – 8.5.24

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On my way to the above conference as an attendee not a speaker. Felt I needed some CPD of my own so that I can receive and not have to worry about presenting.

Never been to an event like this but think it will be interesting. Run by a governement sponsored organisation and the programme looks interesting. Should learn loads but will see and let you know.

May is a busy speaking month with engagements in Leeds and Oldham as well. The Yorkshire Dyslexia Festival on the 18th May where I am speaking on “The Transformative Power of Assistive Technology” and Oldham where I am speaking at Communication Matters ( a long standing and important conference) on “The Power of Assistive Technology” and “Teachers for AT” initiative. Both events are a passion so it should be good. If you are going to any of these events please in introduce yourself to me!

Body implants

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

Recently I was involved in a car crash as I fainted at the wheel of my car and drifted across the white line into an oncoming car. No one, including myself was hurt which is amazing,

As the medical profession invested the cause I have been fitted with a sub-dermal heart monitor to keep an eye on my heart rhythms. This was decided in a few minutes so had little or no time to think about it.

Since that has happened some really interesting thoughts have been happening and felt it useful to share chance any readers face a similar situation.

Here are some of my initial questions:-

“Will it blow up inside my body?”

“Can they switch me off remotely?”

“Can the government track my location through it?”

“Will it get infected inside my body?”

Some questions are irrational. No it won’t blow up in my body or I won’t be switched off. Third parties do have access to the data for the purpose of improving their product but who controls the data? No, the government can’t track my location as it’s monitoring my heart beat not using GPS. Perhaps the only thing of concern is infection as it’s a foreign body under my skin but not inside my body.

I could ring the hospital and discuss my questions with them. I think that should be part of the process in any case for any implants as it;s invasive to the person and requires a minor 10 minute operation to complete with local anaesthetic.

“How long will it be there? Surely, it’s temporary till they sort the problem out?”

Well no, it will be there for at least three years. That’s the life span of the device. Which means the sending unit I will have to do everyday now. The heart monitor has to be scanned to a unit which sends the information off to the hospital via a 4G phone signal. When I am out and about and have a dizzy episode or God forbid another fainting episode I can send the details off via a remote pickup device.

What is the company doing this? Medtronics.

The Dyslexia show 2024

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Friday 15th March

I am doing a workshop at The Dyslexia Show to show ways to encourage your child if they have dyslexia. The link below will take you to the information I will be sharing.

 Encouraging your child to achieve using assistive technology

Saturday 16th March

On Saturday I am speaking to educationalists on the subject of our film series which is free to download and use to promote the use of AT in the UK and beyond. Go to the website link and fill out a short form and within 24 hrs you will have the films. They are wonderful even though I say it myself!

The Power of Assistive Technology

https://bataonline.org/impact

Nasen AT Miniguide

As a follow on if you are a teacher or SENCO you might want to download the nasen miniguide that Julia Clouter and myself wrote this year. Great advice to share with your school or setting. A guide on how to do it.

https://nasen.org.uk/atminiguide

Encouraging your child to achieve using assistive technology

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

One of the most important ways you can help your child is to encourage them to use the assistive technology that is available to them. In this short article there will be some resources you can use that may help that goal.

First of all – relax. I know it sounds trite but kids soon pick up the anxiety of their parents and it stresses them, which I know is the last thing you want. So be a good actor and convince them you know, you listen and you empathise. Kids want to fit it and anything that makes them different means they will stand out from the crowd, which may be the last thing they want to happen.

What Assistive Technology is out there to help?

For many children with dyslexia the main barrier is the words on the page. If they struggle to read them it makes life difficult in our text-rich schools. It’s everywhere from the text on the walls to the books in the school library. How can we make this less threatening?

Try different fonts – here are some suggestions and links:-

Download Lexend from Google Fonts https://fonts.google.com/download/next-steps

Download Open Dyslexic from https://opendyslexic.org/download

Claro Scan Pen –£9.99 on iTunes App Store –https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/claro-scanpen/id994933713 – I know mobile phones are not encouraged to be used in school but maybe an alternative such as iPad may be allowed. This tool can enable any printed or screen to be read back to them.

Scanning Pens £274 on Amazon gives an in-your-pocket solution that your carry around with you. Discreet and with a set of ear plugs totally personal.

Immersive Reader in Microsoft 365 this can really help a child to decode the text in a classroom setting. You can also put it on the Home toolbar to make more accessible as this video explains.

Lastly, for some children with Dysexia getting it down on paper is the issue. Having great ideas but just can’t get it spelt correctly and my handwriting is so messy. So the following may help

Google Voice Typing in Google Docs on the Tools menu can help – Free with a Google Account

Dictate on the Home Tab in Microsoft Word, and in Powerpoint and OneNote – part of Microsoft 365

Read Aloud – The Edge Browser

Grammarly – free add-in for Microsoft Office https://www.grammarly.com/microsoft-office

Finally, from the talk here are links to the apps mentioned

Clicker Writer – £free https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/clicker-writer/id1487619204

Post-iT £free https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/post-it/id920127738

Glean – subsciption – https://glean.co/

Cantoo Scribe – £free in the Microsoft Store – https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9mv9zfv2rn3k?hl=en-us&gl=GB

iOS app £free with in-app purchases – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/cantoo-scribe/id1583463899

TextAid – Subscription – https://www.readspeaker.com/solutions/text-to-speech-online/readspeaker-textaid/signup/

TextHelp ReadWrite – subscription & free – https://www.texthelp.com/en-gb/products/read-and-write-education/

Goodnotes 6 -£free – in-app purchases – £9.99 a year £29.99 one-off purchase – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goodnotes-6/id1444383602

Speaking at the dyslexia show march 15th & 16th

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Next week I have a fantastic opportunity to spread the word about our films and the mini-guide as well as the ” Teachers for AT” initiative. Here is a taster to show you what I will be talking about

Thursday Thirty @ CENMAC

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www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cenmacs-thursday-thirty-the-power-of-assistive-technology-at-miniguide-tickets-798202855227

Thirty minutes explaining why we did “The Power of Assistive Technology .” Book at the link above. It’s completely free . That’s happening tomorrow Thursday 14th March art 3:30 – 4.00pm