Free/Open Source Enabling Technologies

Enabling Technology Timeline Accessibility for specific students Personalisation benefits for many Productivity for everyone Some free, often portable and also web based too. Initially regarded by many as being useful only for people with disabilities. Recognition of their benefit to a wider audience in personalising what people access on their computers. Increases productivity for everyone. Growing range of free and more recently portable resources. Increasing number of web based assistive technologies also.

Enabling technologies can make a significant difference to wide Literacy support Employees Older users English Language School & College Students Disclosed/non disclosed Disabilities Dyslexia Enabling technologies can make a significant difference to wide range of people. Not only people with disabilities! This Means Access Everyday, Everywhere and for Everyone! Enabling technologies can make a significant difference to wide range of people. Not only people with disabilities!

Benefits and Risks of free software Free from fear of wasting money Not as complex as commercial systems Available to all Risks No support Malware and Viruses Limited functionality For further information follow the following link: Fostering Independence with free portable software tools

http://eduapps.org Eduapps Collections of free software to support anyone using a computer http://eduapps.org

MyStudyBar How to get MyStudyBar www.eduapps.org > Download > MystudyBar Download a ZIP folder Click on the Zip folder and select Extract all files Copy all the extracted files and folders onto an empty USB Stick Further instructions available via www.eduapps.org

Tools to Support Vision and Reading Sonar mouse ring Magnifier VuBar T-Bar SSOverlay Rapidset

Apps Sonar http://tiny.cc/MSBar- sonar VuBar http://tiny.cc/MSB-VuBar

Rapidset - http://tiny.cc/MSB-RapidSet Apps Rapidset - http://tiny.cc/MSB-RapidSet

Opening MyStudyBar Insert your MyStudyBar pen drive into the USB Slot on your computer. Click on ‘My Computer’ which will either be on your start menu or on your desktop. Select the folder called ‘MyStudyBar_Win7’

Opening MyStudyBar Select ‘MyStudyBar’ application. MyStudyBar will appear on your screen as a toolbar.

Available for staff and learners in Scotland via: Heather Stuart Text to Speech Voices Scottish Voices Available for staff and learners in Scotland via: http://www.thescottishvoice.org.uk Heather Stuart

Text to Speech Apps Orato Balabolka Lingoes Talking Dictionary

Apps XMind Lingoes Talking Dictionary   Lingoes is an easy-to-use talking dictionary. Who would benefit? Lingoes can help individuals with literacy or language support needs. Main features: Easy-to-use powerful word search. Customise colour and font settings. Text-to-speech. Works with web applications such as Google, Wikipedia, and Wiktionary etc.

Case Studies Using VU Bar with students on Supported Learning programmes - http://youtu.be/TVPTkje7ibg Using Mind Mapping Software to Plan Graded Units at City of Glasgow College - http://www.rsc-scotland.org/?p=2720

Using RapidSet - http://youtu.be/IRaKrH-GrL0 South Lanarkshire College offers MyStudyBar across the college - http://www.rsc-scotland.ac.uk/case_studies/CaseStudies.htm#SLanark3

Case Studies Free applications assist dyslexic media student at Stratford-upon- Avon College - http://tinyurl.com/ycbv4hy Free mind-mapping supports visual learners - http://tinyurl.com/39s7q2f Visually impaired student achieves positive results through the benefit of accessible resources - http://tinyurl.com/vison Coatbridge College students identify which resources meet their learning needs - http://tinyurl.com/395xe9h

Free/Open Source Enabling Technologies