assistive technology – Page 2 – AccessAbility Solutions

Voice control on the Amazon Fire Cube

Posted on May 19, 2020May 23, 2020 by AccessAbility Smyles

This is a demonstration of the Amazon fire cube using the voice control feature

https://youtu.be/3E8SxgW48a0

Assistive Technology for free

Posted on April 25, 2020 by AccessAbility Smyles

Here is an ongoing list for those who might find this helpful:-

AbilityNet has a set of useful advice suitable for different conditions

Voice control for Chrome – extension from the chrome store

Chrome Store – lotts of extensions for Chrome

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

Google Keep – for remembering and storing information

Grammarly- online support for writing

https://www.grammarly.com/?q=brand&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand_f1&utm_content=229881030226&utm_term=grammarly&matchtype=e&placement=&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz4Duza2E6QIVVOvtCh3ivwLpEAAYASAAEgLy8fD_BwE

Google Docs – on the tools menu voice typing is a good aide to writing

Microphone in www.google.co.uk gets overlooked as an access tool

Typing Assistant – word prediction tool

https://www.sumitsoft.com/

NDVA – screenreader – https://www.nvaccess.org/

Look also at Ease of Access (Windows 10) – list of adjustments to make your computer more accessible. ( see powerpoint “Accessibility in Windows 10)

AppWriter Cloud – text to speech, word prediction, pdf reader and overlay writer

Dwell Clicker – not free £12 but for those who can’t click on a mouse. Download for free

https://thinksmartbox.com/download-dwell-clicker-2/thank-you-for-downloading-dwell-clicker/

ACE pointers for older systems eg Windows 7 does what ease of access does for windows 10

WordTalk – free text to speech for older microsoft word

https://www.wordtalk.org.uk/download/

Apps

Remember the Milk – https://www.rememberthemilk.com/

Mindmeister – free mindmapping software

https://www.mindmeister.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk_en_search_brand&utm_content=mm&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwNGc4K-E6QIVmpntCh1rsgGgEAAYASAAEgKCNvD_BwE

ClaroSpeak – text to speech, word prediction – free download both android and iOS

ClaroSpeak iOS

Mozilla has some good assistive technology features such as zoom which expands all the text and makes the browser more accessible.

Opera Browser – has a clear interface and therefore easier to navigate

Safari (on an Ipad) – there is a text screen on this which is great for studying and research students.

Texthelp – have an add-on to google docs to aid studying – show highlighting tools.

Episode 4 – Scanning Pens

Posted on December 8, 2019 by AccessAbility Smyles

www.podbean.com/ei/pb-sy2d4-ca7b7b

This weeks episode is dedicated to Scanning Pens. A useful pocket sized hardware that helps pupils read. Useful for dyslexic users.

Webinair -“Making the workplace accessible”

Posted on March 14, 2016April 15, 2016 by AccessAbility Smyles

If you missed the free webinair then don’t dispair! I have made a recording for you to see the main points and listen to. It lasts 35 mins so pull up a chair, a coffee ( or glass of wine if you prefer!) and listen to and learn from Myles as he explains what “making the workplace accessible,” means. Click on the link below.

“Making the workplace accessible -webinair”

Accessibility and Office 365

Posted on February 29, 2016April 15, 2016 by AccessAbility Smyles

Microsoft have on their blog shared some interesting news about what they intend to do in 2016 regarding accessibility. Take a look at:-

https://blogs.office.com/2016/02/22/accessibility-in-office-365-progress-in-2015-and-plans-for-2016/

AAS on hub pages

Posted on February 25, 2016 by AccessAbility Smyles

Take a look and widely publicise this hubpage to potential users of our consultancy service.

http://hubpages.com/@accessaability4u

Sonocent app and audio notetaker

Posted on February 17, 2016February 25, 2016 by AccessAbility Smyles

I have made an 8 minute video of the above app and software to go on my dyslexia youtube channel. Please share this as I think its a wonderfully practical app in the right circumstances. Encouraging active listening and could be used in a wide range of contexts to make recording easier. On digital
learning day this is something worth looking into!

Useful ICT for Dyslexics

Posted on February 6, 2016February 25, 2016 by AccessAbility Smyles

Wyvern training portal do some excellent training videos on ClaroRead and Dragon
Dictate
http://wyvernportal.co.uk/

A new product I saw at BETT was ClaroScanPen which converts PDF into spoken
text, Forget app is also useful for remembering events and lists,etc
http://www.claro-apps.com/claro-scanpen/

Tools to record is AudioNote taker by Sonocent and their is app called Sonocent
as well. Records and you attribute its importance so you have a visual of what
you need.
https://www.sonocent.com/en-us/audio-notetaker

If you want to keep up to speed with what is going on in the world of Special
needs I can suggest signing up to Special World http://specialworld.net
and my new intelligent website which designs the look and feel itself.

https://thegrid.ai/accessability-solutions/

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