Accessibility & Inclusion - information and resources

Topic outline

• General
  

  General

  Accessibility and Inclusion - How technology can help

  

  We all need to be more aware of making everything more accessible and inclusive for everyone, whether it be having information available in a number of alternative formats or providing specialist equipment to make using a computer easier.

  This area is intended to provide you with information, resources and links that help you to understand the issues of accessibility and the important role technology can play in making learning more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

   

  
• About accessibility and assistive technologies
  This topic
  

  About accessibility and assistive technologies

  Here are a selection of documents, presentations, videos and links you may find useful in helping you to understand the issues of accessibility and how using technology (assistive technologies) can overcome these issues.

   

  • Accessibility
  • Accessibility & Inclusion - user needs ... from JISC TechDis URL
  • Equality / Special Educational Needs and the legal side of things Page
  • Assistive technology
  • Supporting accessibility and inclusion - technology matters - from JISC TechDis URL
  • Video from JISC about the value of assistive technology in a college File
  • Getting help
  • Accessibility in learning - the JISC TechDis Approach URL
  • What is it like to have a disability? ... simulator from Sim Dis URL
  • Accessibility Essentials - making your computer, Word documents, presentations and pdfs more accessible ... from JISC TechDis Page
  • Staff Development resources for accessible eLearning for teachers ... from JISC TechDis URL
• Resources for improving accessibility and inclusion
  

  Resources for improving accessibility and inclusion

  When choosing assistive technologies (technologies designed to improve accessibility) there are a number of factors, which should be taken into account:

  The academic requirement and demands of a learner’s course The ICT skills and competencies of a learner The learner’s strengths and weaknesses The learners preferred learning style and study strategies The training of staff and learners that may be required The reinvestment in maintaining and updating the technologies (from JISC TechDis)

  

  Below are links to more information about a wide range of assisitive technologies

  • AccessApps (part of EduApps) - portable resources Book
  • Other assistive technologies Page
  • Create your own accessible learning objects ... with Xerte URL
• Other useful accessibility and inclusion weblinks
  

  Other useful accessibility and inclusion weblinks

  There is a lot of information available on the web about accessibility, assisitive technology, making your resources more accessible, resources to buy, organisations that can help ... etc, etc. Here is a list of some of the weblinks we have found most useful:

  

  • AbilityNet Page
  • Excellence in inclusivity - case studies from RSC Yorkshire & Humber URL
  • Accessible features in Microsoft products URL
  • Accessible Technology - a guide for educators ... from Microsoft File
  • Making your computer accessible ... from the BBC URL
  • RNIB guidance on making technology more accessible for blind and partially sighted people URL
  • 'WatchWords' - Deaf awareness resource for teachers URL
  • Dyslexia and how technology can help ... from the British Dyslexia Association URL
  • Mobile learning and accessibility ... from JISC TechDis URL
  • Guide to obtaining textbooks in alternative formats ... from TechDis URL