Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Accessibility..whose responsibility is it?

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee This is the learning assistant whod help if she could with a nice yellow filter but cant do much else cos shes scared of PCs This is the tutor who sets an assignment without writing it down cos he mistimed the lesson. This is the learner who wants to do well but doesnt quite know what shes supposed to be doing because her dyslexia makes writing much slower. This is the librarian whos fed up explaining the wonders of Dewey to girls who glaze over and then want to Google. This is the PC which takes her to Google then on to great pages with screenloads of writing she finds hard to read. This is the man who looks after computers but wont install software that complicates systems This is the tutor who marks the assignment. It isnt much good, but Janes not very able.. And the tutors notes were on the VLE but he forgot to say..

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Learners sphere of influence SMT Governors IT team Staff development Quality team Tutor / lecturer / teacher Learning support Library/ LRC Learner The learner experiences PRACTICE informed by TRAINING and mediated by CULTURE.

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Sample tensions Known Unknown TeacherTraditional approachesNew pedagogies and technologies LRC/LibraryPaper based contentOnline collections and assistive technologies Learner support 1:1 support, specific experience E-learning advice, partnership and empowerment IT supportSystem securityUser preferences and needs Staff development CLAIT, ECDLAccessibility essentials, e-learning advantages

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Sample solutions Managing learner expectations Specifically evaluating user experiences Training staff in cross institutional contexts Providing effective routeways of communication Capitalising on a wide range of already available resources

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Expectation / anticipation Accessibility statements –What are the main strategies in place? –What are their responsibilities? What are yours? –How have you arrived at decisions? –Who should they contact if there are problems?

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Evaluation Assistive technologies –How effective are the solutions? –Can you track usage rates? –Do they need additional training? –Do you need additional training? –Can the user suggest improvements or alternatives? End of year evaluations –Include accessibility issues and student suggestions for improvement.

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Training Staff awareness –Training on disabilities and strategies. –Background training in disability / learning related issues, for example TechDis staff training packs. Staff IT training –Built in features of Office and Windows (see wide range of TechDis resources) –Training on key points of specific packages eg text to speech, text to MP3, word prediction, assistive technologies. Visits –Borrowing ideas –Playing with other peoples solutions –Liasing with Regional Support Centre team and AT box.

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Communication structures Provide route ways –Create opportunities for different stakeholders to communicate. Provide a forum –Let disabled learners to contribute to decision making processes. Document & communicate –Note and file key discussions and decisions. –Outcomes of discussions to the relevant stakeholders.

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Resources Acquiring, evaluating, disseminating Adapting Signposting –By level –By media –By accessibility pros and cons Making – simple D.I.Y approaches

Unlocking Potential Sue Harrison / Alistair McNaught TechDis is a service of, the Joint Information Systems Committee Conclusion Accessibility belongs to all Accessible practice is often existing best practice Accessibility guidance needs to be role related – for example teachers need different guidance than web developers or librarians. The TechDis website ( staff packs and accessibility essentials packs provide pragmatic starting points for different roles.