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Case studies
- MS Holiday Centre, Scotland
- Whitehawk Inn Training Centre, Brighton
- MS Therapy Centre
- Citizens Advice Bureau, Boston
- Access Learning Centre, Kingston
- Cathy – West Street Resource Centre, Derby
- Article - Access all Areas in Public Servant The NHS Posture and Mobility Group Newsletter – Spring 2006
1. MS Holiday Centre, Scotland
At the Leuchie House, MS holiday centre in Scotland, Carol Wicker heads up a nurse-led ‘Cybercafe’ for guests and is delighted with the results:
“Using a computer, often for the first time, is really exciting and fulfilling for our guests. The AbilityNet Accessibility Kit enables us to cater for the wide range of disabilities that they present and adapt the technology to each individual. Exploring e-mail and the Internet, playing challenging games, getting in touch with long lost friends and creating photo albums of their stay are just some of the activities guests undertake with our help. We are primarily nursing staff, but with AbilityNet’s support, computers have added a whole new dimension to life at Leuchie.”
2. Whitehawk Inn Training Centre, Brighton
The Whitehawk Inn Training Centre in Brighton, an IT open learning centre for the local community, welcomes a group of students with acquired brain injury on a weekly basis.
Says Sara Callarman, Tutor (Equal Opportunities):
“The AbilityNet Accessibility Kit enables us to cater for all kinds of disability and adapt the technology to the individual. Through gaining computer skills, our disabled students have increased in confidence and enjoy using e-mail and the Internet. Some are even thinking about undertaking some IT qualifications.”
3. MS Therapy Centre
Mike explains
“I am a tetraplegic MS sufferer with no movement below my neck. In 2003 I needed voice recognition software and an accompanying training package to continue producing a bimonthly magazine for the MS Therapy Centre. AbilityNet provided a first-class service for me, providing and installing the software on my laptop, and offering training at home. Using my computer is now simple and easy, and I'm able to complete tasks quickly and accurately. In fact, my computer skills are now better than they've ever been - hands or no hands.
I was able to learn about Dragon NaturallySpeaking quickly and easily, thanks to expert AbilityNet tuition. After the initial session I was already able to dictate text, and control of the remaining computer functions was learnt by the end of the second tuition morning. The third and final training session was just about 'fine tuning'. By that stage, I was confidently navigating all the PC functions.
The ability to use this software has given me a huge boost. Because I can no longer turn pages, write or use a mouse, my physical activities are extremely restricted. I cannot use a computer in the conventional fashion. AbilityNet has opened the door for me - and now the World Wide Web is no longer just a name. Internet access, e-mail, writing and poster designing using Dragon NaturallySpeaking has fundamentally changed my life.
The MS Therapy Centre has benefited as well. Not only can I now continue producing their magazine, but I also design signs and posters for use around the Centre, all made possible with voice recognition software.'
4. Citizens Advice Bureau, Boston
Maggie, Bureau Manager explains:
“Three of our volunteer advisers were assessed by AbilityNet in 2003. During their very comprehensive assessments they were able to try many different keyboards and mice and were amazed at the difference the appropriate equipment made. Two had feared that they would have to give up being advisers because they found it so difficult to use conventional IT equipment. Their posture and chairseat height were also carefully assessed and appropriate recommendations made. All were recommended different equipment.
Diane's case is detailed below.
Diane has rheumatoid arthritis and this affects her wrists, fingers and ankles. She is unable to handwrite and experiences pain using a standard keyboard or mouse. Diane's needs were assessed and she tested several different kinds of keyboard and mouse. The best choice for her was a Goldtouch Ergonomic Keyboard which has a lift and split action. The addition of two gel wrist supports was also suggested and these made her more comfortable. She now uses a large Logitech cordless mouse which supports her whole hand whilst her thumb controls the trackball - frequently used in her work as a CAB adviser when searching the information system. The AbilityNet assessor also demonstrated word prediction software which saves key strokes. Whilst Diane did not feel that she would use it yet she felt she would be interested if her condition worsened. A conventional typists chair was fine but the height needed to be adjusted carefully and a footrest added.
Diane has obviously benefited from her assessment, and the Citizens Advice Bureau has continued to benefit from Diane’s considerable expertise
5. Access Learning Centre, Kingston
The Access Learning Centre in Kingston is a unique facility in the south west London area which will offer training, advice and information on all issues relating to access for disabled people. The Centre aims to provide a training and information environment that is a model of excellence in terms of its accessibility to all people, and will be the first stop for signposting service providers, employers and other professionals for information and advice concerning accessibility for disabled people.
Through a grant from the ChangeUp capital fund, the Centre is now fully equipped with assistive technologies to offer local voluntary and community organisations training and best practice information on the use of specialised ICT equipment and software, in order to develop workforce development opportunities (volunteering and paid employment) for people with disabilities. The Centre will also showcase assistive technologies to clients and members of community and voluntary organisations, providing a facility where individuals can come and try out specialist equipment to find something that will increase their access to ICT. The Superhighways project will use the fully accessible venue to provide ICT training to voluntary and community organisation’s staff and volunteers.
The Centre is a partnership initiative between Kingston Voluntary Action, the Superhighways project and Richmond and Kingston Accessible Transport. Consultancy from AbilityNet was key to sourcing a good range of assistive technologies from screen reading software to alternative input devices such as switches and joysticks. AbilityNet also gave a presentation at the Centre’s well attended open day on December 1st 2005.
Chris Guinness, Supported Needs Co-ordinator from Kingston Volunteer Centre who attended said
“The Centre will be a great resource for my project. I will be able to refer both the organisations I am targeting and the individuals with disabilities wishing to volunteer to the Centre for information and advice. Through raising awareness, training and one-to-one support we will be able to increase volunteering opportunities for people with a range of disabilities.”
Other groups attending the launch included Kingston Centre for Independent Living and PAMS (Positive Action for Multiple Sclerosis).
The Access Learning Centre steering group is currently fundraising for a dedicated Centre Manager and a website is under construction and due to be launched in March 2006 – see www.accesslearningcentre.org.uk
6.Cathy – West Street Resource Centre, Derby
Cathy is a service user at the West Street Resource Centre which offers learndirect courses through Support into Work in Derby. Through the Disability Champions project Cathy was assessed by AbilityNet for a cost-effective portable head pointing system which could be used by the West Street Resource Centre. This technology is often used by people who have limited or no ability to use their limbs.
During an assessment with AbilityNet Cathy successfully tested a highly cost effective head-pointing device. Using infra red technology, it detects the movement of reflective material which is attached to the users head and moves the mouse pointer accordingly. Cathy had already designed a headband for this purpose which she was using with her home system.
SmartNAV was used in conjunction with an on screen keyboard. Using this system Cathy will be able to surf the internet, use Microsoft office products, undertake learndirect courses and talk using speech emulation whilst attending her day centre. As a result of the success of this equipment, Cathy is able to assist the Centre by typing the minutes of the committee meetings.
Article - Access all areas
Article in Public Servant at http://www.publicservant.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=53.
Public Servant is the dynamic public sector national news magazine launched in May 2004 for senior civil servants and other key public sector decision-makers.
Access all areas (Friday, June 23, 2006)
The government’s ambitious commitment to “improving accessibility to technology for the digitally excluded and ease of use for the disabled” is to be applauded and there are compelling moral and legal arguments for improving ICT access. We are obliged by the Disability Discrimination Act to cater to the whole community, and a digital challenge fund has been launched to encourage local authorities to establish “universal local access to advanced public services delivered through and powered by information technology”.
AbilityNet has been at the forefront of progress towards inclusive ICT, working with local authorities, University for Industry, Learndirect, work-based learning providers and adult and community education on provision for disabled users, including tailored training courses, equipment supply, on-going support, accessibility reviews and individual assessments.
Working to budget is always an issue. Finances are often culled from other revenue streams or obtained from an external funding source, and we often have to recommend interim strategies that can be implemented while awaiting further funds to be unlocked. The pressure is on to make the right decisions and find access solutions that really work, as well as fulfilling the legal demand to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
The choice on the market is confusing to many. Our aim has been to demystify the issues around universal ICT access so that disability is never seen as a barrier. With time at a premium, it is easy to make expensive mistakes and succumb to manufacturers who may oversell their products.
But how do we promote inclusivity? How do we select equipment from the vast array available in the most cost-effective way? How do we equip staff to deliver the solutions the user needs? And perhaps most importantly, how do we encourage people with disabilities to make use of the facilities once they are available?
Many changes can be effected easily and inexpensively and the benefits are not necessarily confined to disabled users. Elderly customers, for example, also gain from simple adaptations and training staff to adjust computers to their requirements. What could be simpler than a change in font size or screen resolution to enlarge text and pictures? The addition of a keyguard (less than £40) can prevent people with a tremor from hitting the wrong key and also offers extra support for those with weakened muscles.
There is a huge choice of software and hardware solutions for those with physical and visual disabilities, as well as conditions such as dyslexia and repetitive strain injury. These range from the accessibility options within Windows – like stickykeys which allows the user to press keys in sequence rather than simultaneously (for one-finger or mouthstick typists) – to the more sophisticated end of the spectrum such as voice recognition or screen-reading technology.
At AbilityNet we often refer to the “pyramid of disability” – a diagram depicting the most severely disabled at the top and the vast majority lower down. Many organisations trying to provide for people with disabilities invest most funds at the top of the pyramid, where there are fewer potential end-users, rather than in equipment and staff training with wider application and a real pan-disability approach.
The answer for many public access centres has been the Accessible IT Kit – a collection of the most commonly used adaptations, which facilitates access for around 75 per cent of disabled users. The kit includes different sized keyboards, mouse alternatives, lap trays, wrist rests, a screen magnifier, a full screen reader, dyslexia and literacy software, a document reader and voice recognition technology. Equally important is training and support, especially for frontline staff with limited experience of adapting PCs for non-standard users. Staff can also be trained on basic no-cost techniques, such as those offered by the accessibility options in Windows.
Organisations can implement a passport system for their users, which saves time and effort for all concerned. Once a disabled customer’s needs are assessed and the appropriate adaptive solution identified, they are equipped with a “passport” detailing their special settings. All the customer needs to do is hand over this document and a PC can be set up without wasting time re-establishing their requirements.
Awareness is the cornerstone of success. If people do not know help exists, they will not venture in. Warwickshire libraries involved local disabled people from the outset and invited them to contribute to discussions on how to spend the authority’s limited funding. The message from the pan-disability focus group was loud and clear; in contrast to a “high spec” approach, the end-user sample opted for universal provision involving simple, low-cost options.
At least one computer per principal and town library has been equipped with a 21-inch screen, a talking web browser, a trackball instead of a mouse and keyboard skins, designed to help visually impaired users see the keys, plus adjustable tables and chairs.
Government’s hopes to transform service delivery through technology will depend, at least in part, on ensuring universal PC access. Failure to provide the adaptations will deprive many people of the opportunity to make an active contribution in this digital world.
by Jo Greenwell is head of public access at AbilityNet