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Accessibility and assistive technology Student Experience and Wellbeing Teaching and Learning

Assistive Technology For All

Rohan Slaughter points to a range of useful assistive technology resources that are likely to be suitable for students with a range of support needs.

tablet pc used with The Grid software
tablet pc used with The Grid software

From mainstream to specialist assistive technology (AT)

Covid19 is challenging all of us to think and act differently, this is true in education as in all other areas of life and work. Many of us working in education have been switching from in person delivery to delivering learning remotely. This can present additional challenges for users of assistive technology.

This post has been prepared to assist those new to supporting students with assistive technology. We aim to explain why AT should be used, what AT actually is, and how you can start with undertaking assessments for AT provisioning. We continue into an overview of AT tools inclusive of more mainstream AT, such as that ‘baked into’ the technology we all use. We will also cover the more specialist AT such as AAC (alternative augmentative communication) and eye-gaze. We close with links to sources of AT related resources and further support.

I would like to thank my colleague Kellie Mote and the Natspec TechAbility team (Fil McIntyre and Neil Beck) who have supported the creation of this resource. This resource has been produced quickly, it is not aiming to be complete, and will be iterated. if you have any feedback please do contact me.

Why use 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!

Defining AT

  • 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
  • Impairment based support, g. technology to support visual impairment or hearing impairment etc.
  • 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) for home automation (e.g. media control, lights, heat, windows, doors, blinds etc.)
Tablet PC mounted on a wheelchair
Tablet PC mounted on a wheelchair

Assessment for AT

For people with even mild to moderate needs assistive technology assessment should be undertaken by an appropriately qualified and experienced individual. For students with complex needs, it is unlikely to be possible to undertake a realistic or useful AT assessment without access to appropriately qualified staff. The SETT framework as originated by Joy Zabala may be useful when developing your approach to AT assessment. For those who are more familiar with AT selection, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) may also be useful.

However, we are living in challenging times, and we have been asked to provide some guidance on an assessment process:

  1. LISTEN. Most users of AT will be able to tell you what works for them, start by listening to the user and go from there!
  2. READ. Some users of AT will have an ‘AT passport’ or ‘communication passport’ (the latter in the case of an AAC user) that has been prepared by the student’s school or college. In other cases, (e.g. students with specific learning difficulties or sensory impairments) alternative documentation may be supplied.
  3. TRIAL. Try out an access method with the student, ask them if what you are trying makes things easier, if it doesn’t try something else! This may need to be tried over days/weeks and in context.
  4. REVIEW. Something might work initially or for a while. If you don’t check this you won’t know whether what you have put in place is still working. Ultimately, if it isn’t working, change it!”
Camera control grid in The Grid 2
Camera control grid in The Grid 2

A continuum of support

We see assistive technology as offering a continuum of support from mainstream technology that has ‘baked in’ accessibility features at one end, to specialist assistive technology such as high-tech AAC (alternative augmentative communication) / AT at the other end of the spectrum.

This document is intended as a starting point for anyone who might benefit from assistive technology support. It does not focus only on mainstream tech, whilst that would address the needs of a larger number of students it would leave out those students who attend specialist colleges and special schools and in some cases these students can derive most benefit from the use of AT. We have seen examples of high-tech AT / ACC used in mainstream schools by high achieving students, who are physically disabled, and these students are doing very well as a result. In some cases, physically disabled students who are cognitively able are not given the optimum ‘working medium’ that would enable them to excel. This group of students cannot access the curriculum at a sufficiently high level without having a functional ‘working medium’. That can only be achieved via high quality AT assessment, provisioning and ongoing review / support.

AT tools

‘Baked in’ or mainstream AT

Specialist AT hardware

two high contrast, big keys keyboards
Two high contrast, big keys keyboards

AT Software

Here are a handful of examples:

  • Eduapps (free), is still available via: Eduapps as curated by Craig Mill at Call Scotland, includes:
    • My Study Bar – reading and writing
    • My Vis Bar – addresses visual difficulties
    • Access Apps – 60 open source / freeware Windows Apps
  • The Grid 3, Highly flexible, (communication aid, mediated operating system and supports all methods of access)
  • Clicker, a literacy support tool, some free resources are available on the Learning Grids website
  • The ClaroRead and Read and Write software packages are both well featured literacy support tools

Mounting and positioning equipment

Don’t forget that for users with a manual dexterity impairment (and for some others with other impairments) that where any input equipment or the device to be controlled are located will be critical to success. Consider the following:

Additional support needs

Rather than re-invent the wheel we are linking to the excellent reference from CALL Scotland who provide a set of useful guides covering a range of additional support needs that technology to support people with:

AT resources and support

Jisc support

Jisc member Colleges, inclusive of specialist colleges and mainstream general further education colleges can access the subject specialist team for support in various areas:

Natspec TechAbility service support

  • Natspec Colleges and Karten Centres can access a range of support from TechAbility (a Natspec service supported by the Karten Trust), others can access the service for a fee
  • The TechAbility Standards may be used in the following ways:
    • As a starting point to improve technology use
    • As an audit tool or inspiration in an understandable format
    • Understanding how TechAbility can improve educational outcomes​ by encouraging targeted and needs-led interventions
    • To support quality assurance or inspection​ and to measure excellence with technology focused on learner outcomes
  • Direct support from TechAbility
    • Assistive Technologists Neil Beck and Fil McIntyre now providing direct support
  • Local support from TechAbility centres of excellence
    • TechAbility is an assistive technology and information technology (AT/IT) service to improve outcomes for SEND learners in mainstream and specialist further education
    • Services include training, direct support, inclusive of assistance with complex AT assessments

Other third sector support

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