Assistive technology can support individuals with additional educational needs to improve or maintain their quality of everyday life. Although assistive technology is essential for some, the assistive technology tools can be valuable for everyone. When using assistive technology with our ALN learners within our schools they will be able to:
be more independent when completing specific tasks and boost their confidence
communicate with teachers and classmates and take more part in lessons
mastering life skills that lead to a more successful transition to adulthood
Digital accessibility equipment updates training
Name: 'Digital Updates - Accessibility tools' Training (October 2023)
Description: Introduction of the accessibility features within Windows, the digital tools within Office 365 that could be used with ALN learners and how to adjust the accessibility features on Chromebook and on the iPad.
Target audience: Primary and secondary teachers and support staff
(Welsh video only)
Immersive Reader is a free tool to assist with reading comprehension.
You can improve your focus on the text by changing the size and type of writing, looking specifically at a line or lines within the text and changing the background color to a suitable colour. All of these can make the documents easier to read.
An Aspiring Reader can also read text aloud and identify nouns, verbs and adjectives to help your grammar skills. There is also a dictionary for understanding the meaning of specific words within the tools and the ability to translate the text into a wide range of languages. Active Reader can be accessed in Word, OneNote, Outlook, Office Lens, Microsoft Teams, Reading Progress, Forms, Flip, Minecraft Education and the Edge web browser.
The 'Dictation' tool is a free tool that allows you to write content in Office by using your voice to quickly create documents, emails, notes, presentations, or even slide notes.
The tools need a reliable internet connection to work and at the moment these tools only work in English. A similar tool can be found in J2e5 but once again this tool only works in English.
'Seeing AI' is a free app designed for the blind and low vision community to help them with daily tasks.
The app uses the power of AI to read, describe pictures, and verbally identify objects to the user from the world around them.
You can use 'Magnifier' on iPhone, iPad, or iPod to magnify and illuminate objects, apply color filters, change the contrast of the screen and more.
Change the Chromebook's accessibility settings
Windows accessibility tools
In this video Jason Grieves from Microsoft will present how to make text bigger and change the size and color of your mouse pointer to make Windows easier to see.
In addition it will show how to use 'Magnifier' to simplify your experience and keep the pointer in the middle of the screen.
