How colleges are transforming their EdTech strategy – Best practice and solutions to help you develop your online delivery A webinar series funded by Ufi VocTech Trust
How colleges are transforming their EdTech strategy – Best practice and solutions to help you develop your online delivery
A webinar series funded by Ufi VocTech Trust
TechAbility Standards: Is your digital accessibility crisis ready?
Fil McIntyre & Neil Beck
Assistive Technologists
Natspec TechAbility
Twitter: @Tech_Ability1
Natspec launched the TechAbility service as a specialist Assistive Technology service,
to improve outcomes for people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
in mainstream and specialist colleges and other provision.
Webinars Consultation Events
Who we are…
• Knowing what excellent looks like
• Self-assessing
• Inspiration
• Being ready for inspection
• Knowing where to get help
The TechAbility Standards
Assessment
Access Skills
Delivery
Appropriate Tools
Visual Methods of working
Appropriate Devices
Innovation
Communication Tools
Access to IT Services
Independence
CPD and Training
Considering Transition
The TechAbility Standards
Digital accessibility example
Which Standards would apply?
Trained staff
Standardised assessment of learners
needs
Accessible course
materials
Appropriate equipment
Appropriate environment
Standardised assessment of learner’s needs
Standardised Assessment of learner’s needs• Do we understand why the learner is facing this
barrier? • Is it an issue with processing, physical access, eye
sight or something else? • A standardised assessment will help to
understand what the issues are• If this information is shared and stored,
(especially in an EHCP) it can benefit all professionals who work with the learner.
Which Standards would apply? (1)
Appropriate equipment
Appropriate Equipment
• Ensure that the learner has a device that can carry out the tasks they need.
• It may be:• software to write answers with their voice• a word prediction tool • a keyboard of a different size or colour.
• The assessment will help to find which piece of kit is best.
Which Standards would apply? (2)
Trained staff
Trained Staff
• If we have found the best solution for the learner we then need staff who will support.
• If they can understand the features – but also anticipate issues before they occur – there is a much higher chance of the solution sticking.
Which Standards would apply? (3)
Appropriate environment
Appropriate Environment
All too often professionals are not given support in understanding how to change an environment to accommodate learners.
We should be creating a space where all learners can thrive, not making them adapt and fit our requirements.
Which Standards would apply? (4)
Accessible course
materials
Accessible Course Materials
If a college has all of the above in place, but course materials are not available in an accessible digital format, the learners will not benefit from the other changes made.
Which Standards would apply? (5)
Not just for specialists
The above elements involve a level of knowledge across:
• Tutors
• Learning Support
• SENCos
• I.T. support
• Leadership team.
Leaving the knowledge to “specialists” will not bring about change- all staff must have some understanding of the difference these solutions can make.
So what can we do now?
1. Identify relevant staff and meet to discuss how The Standards could benefit your learners.
2. Audit staff skills and experience. Use this time to skill up staff who may have more time for CPD
3. Take a sample of course materials and see if they are accessible. Word and PowerPoint have built in accessibility checkers, Accessibility Checker for Docs is an add-on for G-Suite
4. Review your digital access assessment process. If this doesn’t exist in a formal manner, create a process and document it.
Get The Standards
Freely available from
https://www.techability.org.uk/techability-standards/
Self assessment tool coming soon so organisations can:
• audit their current practice
• audit their current provision
• identify areas for development
• target CPD for staff
Fil McIntyre & Neil Beck
0115 854 1322
@Tech_Ability1
Contact details