Julia Taylor explains why Technology has a lot to offer learners with high needs. Accessible online delivery can improve access to resources at anytime, from anywhere. It’s easier to find and organise resources and interactivity encourages collaboration and engagement. Digital diversity means people with different learning strengths can benefit from resources created in different kinds of media. […]
Creating an Accessible Organisation starts with policy but this must then translate into accessible practice in order to ensure that support for leaners is delivered effectively. Accessible Organisations should have well-designed systems and clearly documented procedures that efficiently identify, monitor and deliver appropriate support to both students and staff with additional needs. Inclusion goes across the whole […]
We’ve already blogged on supporting reading and using built in browser tools but a question we often get is “What’s the difference between screen reading and text readers (or ‘text to speech’ technology)? Often the terms are used interchangeably but, in reality, they are two different kinds of technologies used in different ways. Margaret McKay helps […]
On the face of it, it would seem a simple elegant accessibility solution to require transcripts for all audio resources on your virtual learning environment and transcript/subtitles for all video resources. However, this is an area where “unintended consequences” can lurk around every corner. For many learners, video IS the accessible alternative format – an […]
It’s easy to think that new publishing formats like EPUB3 have made accessibility issues a thing of the past. James Scholes – an expert screen reader user and ebook tester – suggests there’s still a long way to go… It’s no surprise that the eBook revolution has been a boon to many visually impaired people. For […]
If you’re currently working in a library service and preparing for the impact of changes to the disabled student allowance this blog post is designed to give you a helpful overview of how Jisc can support you. Our three main areas of focus for inclusive libraries has been advocacy, guidance, and case studies. Advocacy: We […]
Top tips for inclusive practice Technology gives a wide range of opportunities to teach more inclusively: digital content can be accessed and personalised in ways that suit learning needs and preferences. It also allows new pedagogical opportunities for working creatively and collaboratively with richer assessment and feedback opportunities. A few key tips can help maximise the […]
Recording of Lectures: examples from Higher Education (HE) Margaret McKay presents a synopsis of different approaches to recording lectures by different HE institutions. It also explores how some organisations have dealt with resistance to recording lectures – an important consideration because lecture recording may be deemed a reasonable adjustment under the Equalities Act 2010. “Lecture […]
Alistair McNaught considers the arguments for and against large scale lecture capture as a disability solution. A jewel in the crown or a cuckoo in the nest? Crowns. Lecture capture is being increasingly seen as a jewel in the crown of accessible mainstream practice. Many organisations are looking at lecture capture as a way of […]
University Mental Health and Wellbeing Day took place on 3rd March 2016. Nurturing our psycho-social as well as our physical health is crucial to our human experience. It impacts on all aspects of our life, including our educational and vocational experience as learners and as employees. In 2013 the NUS carried out a Mental Distress […]