Assistive Technology (AT) – a rapid introductionRohan Slaughter, subject specialist for AT

22 Feb 2020

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Background

A brief background …»Employed by Jisc as a subject specialist from September 2015› Now providing support on assistive technology to all Jisc members

»Worked at Beaumont College for more than 15 years› Developed an integrated Technology service at Beaumont, inclusive of:› Mainstream technology (IT)› Assistive Technology (AT)› E-learning / Technology Enhanced Learning› MIS (Management Information Systems)

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Implementing Assistive Technology

What will be covered:»1. Implementing Assistive Technology› Defining AT› Benefits to students

»2. AT hardware»3. AT software»4. ‘Baked in’ accessibility»5. What support / training / resources are out there?

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1. Implementing Assistive Technology

1. Implementing Assistive Technology

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What does a good AT service look like?

»Why AT?»Assistive technology provision allows students to:› Access the curriculum at all (e.g. a communication aid user)› Access the curriculum at a higher level (e.g. those needing literacy support

software)

»Allows students improved:› Independence› Access to communication› Access to the environment› Access to leisure opportunities, enjoyment and fun!

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Why Assistive Technology

» What is Assistive Technology?› “Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used

to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. (ATIA definition)

» In College contexts we can include:

» Computer access devices› Alternative pointing devices, keyboards, other input devices like eye-gaze or switches› Low or no vision / hearing support e.g. screen readers, amplifiers etc.

» Communication aids› Also known as AAC – Alternative Augmentative Communication, VOCA – Voice Output Communication Aid

» Literacy and numeracy support tools (Read and Write, Dragon, mind mapping tools etc.)

» ‘Baked into the operating system’ accessibility options (e.g. Windows, MacOS, iOS iPhone, iPads etc.)

» Environmental Control Systems (ECS)› Home automation (e.g. media control, lights, heat, windows, doors, blinds etc.)

2. AT Hardware

2. AT Hardware

Mainstream Hardware

» Accessibility is not always ‘baked in’› Cost effective

› Some adaptations needed

Widely available equipment

» Touchscreens› Motivational

› Simple› Tablets / phones widely available

» AV equipment› Cameras

› Digital Voice Recorders› CD Players

Alternative Keyboards

» Are many and varied, here are some examples:

Alternate keyboards

» Where to buy: Inclusive Technology

» Or try mainstream suppliers like: CPC for example order code CS20650 @ £25.79+VAT:

Alternative Mice

» Also many and varied

Alternate pointing devices

»Again, Inclusive Technology has a great range:

»Again try mainstream suppliers, incCurrys / PC world:

Switches

» Lots of options

»Quite expensive

» Specialist suppliers only (almost) e.g. Inclusive Technology

»Require a switch interface box for use with a computer› I like the JoyCable

Logitech adaptive gaming kit

» Logitech adaptive gaming kit at £89.99 is a cost effective way to buy some switches, that may be useful for your ‘assessment kit’.

Head mouse

» Head mouse uses a reflective dot, light emitter and a camera:

Eye-gaze» Eye-Gaze has been very expensive, but the price has

been dropping

» Market leader is Tobii

» PC Eye Mini now (only!) £999.00 (+vat)

Head mouse / eye-gaze

»Eye-gaze has enormous potential for many users»Cost is coming down› Now in consumer laptops and other devices (inc. new iPad Pro)› It has appeared in cars to ensure you keep your eyes on the road

»Head mouse type are cheaper than eye-gaze (£250 / £300)» If you want to know more see:› Inclusive learning curve on the tobii-dynavox website› The Tobii Eye Gaze Learning Curve (as presented by Hector Minto)

AAC devices: low tech

»Low tech:› Stored message devices› Some have layers› Overlays with symbols› Cheap(er)

AAC devices: high tech

»High tech:› Often computer based› Sophisticated› Multiple page sets available› Incredibly expensive› Require specialisttraining to implement› On-going support isvery important

AAC devices: mainstream tablets

»High tech (mainstream devices):»Enter the iPad (now ten years old!)› But not the first, nor the most accessible tablet› Literally hundreds of apps› See: List from Spectronics (Australia)› And: List from Call Scotland› It is also possible to use Windows 10 tablets and Android tablets for

AAC

3. AT Software

3. AT Software

JISC Access Apps / Edu Apps / My Study Bar

»Still available via: http://eduapps.org/›Curated by Craig Mill, Call Scotland›My Study Bar – reading and writing›My Vis Bar – addresses visual difficulties›Access Apps – 60 open source / freeware Windows

Apps

The Grid 3

»The Grid 3› Highly flexible› Communication aid› Operating system…› Supports all methods of access› Excellent customer support

Websites

»‘Mobile’ sites (e.g. m.facebook.com)»Bespoke sites (e.g. http://accessyoutube.org.uk )»Mouseless Browsing (Firefox add-on)»Chrome extensions e.g. Chrome Speak

Clicker

»Clicker, a literacy support tool

» Some free resources are available on the Learning Grids website

Read & Write

» Read and Write

» Toolbar:

» Reading› Text-to-Speech› Screenshot Reader› DAISY Reader› Screen Masking› PDF Aloud

» Reading Support› Dictionary› Picture Dictionary› Speech Maker› Pronunciation Tutor› Translator

» Writing and Self-Editing

› Spell Checker

› Word Prediction› Word Wizard

› Sounds Like and Confusable Words› Verb Checker

› Speech Input

› Speak While Typing

» Study Skills and Research

› Calculator› Fact Finder

› Fact Folder

› Fact Mapper› Study Skills Highlighters

› Vocabulary List Builder

4. ‘Baked in’ accessibility

4. ‘Baked in’ accessibility

Built into the Operating System

» Baked in’ accessibility, most operating systems now have built in or ‘baked in’ accessibility options.» E.g. Windows 10, Mac OS X, iOS and Android have built in accessibility options:› Windows Ease of access centre› Mac – Accessibility options› iOS Accessibility options› Android and ChromeOS (link to Google Accessibility home)» Useful to:› Change things visually› Change access (mouse and keyboard settings)› Audio output – e.g. narrator text to speech» A great place to start is the TechAbility resources webpage› Note that in order for networked Windows machines to retain such changes to user

settings roaming profiles or User Experience Virtualisation (UE-V) are required.

iOS

»Guided Access:› Guided Access is not an app, but a feature from iOS 6

onwards which enables the device to be locked in to one app by disabling the home button. Useful guide from SEN Classroom on how to use it.

»Assistive Touch:› Assistive Touch lets you enter Multi-Touch gestures using

one finger or a stylus

»Switch Access:› Use Switch Control to navigate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod

touch

AT developments

» ‘The last few years has given us:› New access technologies e.g. Gesture control and Eye-Gaze› Baked in accessibility options, e.g. Windows accessibility options

and Apple iOS accessibility› A wide range of accessible software such as Clicker, the Grid 3,

Tobii Communicator

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New and emergent AT developments

»The next few years are likely to include:» AI used more widely for accessibility:

› Seeing AI› Soundscape

» Further commoditisation of recent developments:

› e.g. Eye-gaze integrated into consumer devices› More devices such as the accessible Xbox adaptive controller

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The future of AT

5. What support is there?

5. What support is there?

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Rapid overview of support

»Academic study› Shorter courses› MSc courses»Third sector support› AbilityNet› ACE Centre› CALL»Education sector support, inc.› Natspec TechAbility› Jisc»Vendor training and support

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Useful mail lists

»Digital accessibility regulations:› DIGITALACCESSIBILITYREGULATIONS@JISCMAIL.AC.UK

»Assistive Technology Network:› ASSISTIVE-TECHNOLOGY@JISCMAIL.AC.UK

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Academic study: short courses

»Shorter courses› Inclusive digital technology course - offered in partnership

between the university of Edinburgh and Call Centre.› AAC modules, delivered in partnership between AAC Scotland

and Call Centre.› Evidence-Based Assessment in Complex Communication

Needs – MMU, Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Academic study: MSc

» MSc courses» Note that there are no longer any dedicated assistive technology MSc courses. This list includes

courses that have a link to AT, rather than being centred on AT.» Disability, Design and Innovation MSc - University College London Department of Computer

Science» MSc Augmentative & Alternative Communication - University of Dundee Science & Engineering» MSc by Research (Ambient Assisted Living) - Middlesex University School of Science and

Technology» MSc Design for Healthcare & Assistive Technologies - University of Dundee Science &

Engineering» MSc Digital Health - Bournemouth University Faculty of Science & Technology» MSc Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence - Bournemouth University Faculty of Science &

Technology» Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies MSc- University College London Division

of Surgery and Interventional Science» Special Needs and Inclusion – MA Canterbury Christ Church University, Faculty of Education

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Third-sector training and support 1

»AbilityNet› AbilityNet offer a range of training, primarily on digital accessibility in higher and

further education

»Ace Centre› Ace Centre provide entry level training and academic qualifications that related to

AAC (alternative augmentative communication) that a delivered in partnership with MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University).

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Third-sector training and support 2

»Call Centre› The Call Centre at the University of Edinburgh provides a range of training courses that

are delivered both online and in person.› Training courses› On-site training› Webinars› Inclusive digital technology› Seminars and events› Online workshops

»Natspec TechAbility› Direct support from TechAbility› Local support from TechAbility centres of excellence

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Vendor training 1

»General AT training from commercial vendors› Barry Bennett› Cricksoft, makers of Clicker and DocsPlus› Diversity and Ability› Dolphin Computer Access› Iansyst› Learning Support Centre› Microlink› Sight and sound technology› Sonocent› TextHelp

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Vendor training 2

» AAC and high-tech AT› Abilia / Gewa / Toby Churchill› AssistiveWare› Inclusive Technology› Liberator› SmartBoxAT› Techcess› TherapyBox› Tobii-Dynavox

» Environmental control systems› Abilia / Gewa› DH2 solutions› Possum› Steeper

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Online Resources 1

» Open University› Assistive technologies and online learning – a very basic introduction to assistive technology, whilst quite

dated note that the references section may be useful.

» AbilityNet› Free to access resources inclusive of› Factsheets› Webinars› My computer my way (help with making a device easier to use, describing the baked in accessibility options

that may be found in a range of equipment).› Digital accessibility resources› Workplace adjustments› Other useful links – mainly to other third sector organisations.

» Call Scotland› Call Scotland information pages› Call Scotland downloadable resources

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Online Resources 2

» Others› EduApps – the collective name for the AccessApps, LearnApps, TeachApps and MuStudyBar, as curated

by Craig Mill of call Scotland.

» Communication Matters resources, AAC related resources that include:› Online resources, inclusive of eResources, a Glossary and the Communication Matters journal

› Publications

› Evidence, Communication Matters commissioned research to establish the evidence of need for AAC in the UK. We host the archive AACKnowledge website, designed to help researchers and others access robust evidence about AAC.

› Policy and standards, Policy documents on the use of communication aids, including National Standards for AAC services for children and adults.

› AAC e-learning resources› Information on AAC projects throughout the world

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Support from Jisc 1

Jisc members can access a range of supportJisc member Colleges, inclusive of specialist colleges and mainstream general further education colleges can access the subject specialist team for support in various areas:» Support on accessibility and assistive technology: Rohan Slaughter and Kellie Mote› Accessibility landing page› Accessibility regulations - what you need to know› List of accessibility and assistive technology related guides› Accessibility drop-in clinic webinars

»Wider support with strategic use of technology, infrastructure and assistive technology: Rohan Slaughter, and the infrastructure team» Integrated digital technology strategy: Mark Ayton and Allen Crawford-Thomas» Support for teaching, learning, assessment and the ‘digital student experience’:

Chris Thompson and the digital practice team

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Support from Jisc 2

Jisc members can access a range of support»Direct support and assistance› Consultancy services

»‘Diagnostic support’ is included in Jisc membership, e.g.› Infrastructure review› Digital strategy review

»General advice and guidance and critical friend support is always available to Jisc members on request, via your account manager

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Support from Natspec TechAbility

»Natspec Colleges and Karten Centres can access a range of support from TechAbility, others can access the service for a fee.»TechAbility is an assistive technology and information technology

(AT/IT) service to improve outcomes for SEND learners in mainstream and specialist further education.»Now supported by Karten Trust› Neil Beck and Fil McIntyre appointed as Assistive Technologist for the

project, support visits taking place now

»Services include training, direct support, inclusive of assistance with complex AT assessments

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jisc.ac.uk

Thank you – any questions?

Rohan SlaughterSubject SpecialistTwitter @rohanslaughter

M 07468 727047rohan.slaughter@jisc.ac.uk