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Hi, we are Andy and Ryan, ask us a question about Assistive Technology

Andy_Scope

I’m @Andy_Assistive I’m the Head of Assistive Solutions at Scope and I work across the whole country. I have experience of working in IT and Assistive Tech for disabled people in employment, education and daily living for all ages.

I’m @Ryan_Assistive and I am a Regional Assistive Solutionist at Scope. My role is to develop, support and maintain disabled peoples independence to a maximum level through specialist communication devices, low tech communication support, home adaptions and environmental controls. I have experience in the Adult Health and Social Care sector with a good understanding of many NHS services, including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and AAC provision.

If you have a question about technology just ask, Ryan and I will do our best to help.

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Comments

sarahsmum

Hi both. My daughter goes to a mainstream school but uses eyegaze to access. She is coming up to GCSE age and I am very concerned they they are not doing enough for her to allow her to take as many exams/qualifications as possible. Could you help me in advising where we stand legally about them not doing enough for her, or what we can do to get them to work with organisations to learn how to support her. She is incredibly bright but I just worry she is being left behind because it's hard work for them. Thank you

Andy_Scope

Hi
Have you put your concerns in writing to the school asking them to justify their approach?
The other questions is are they supporting your daughter to get enough qualifications to go on to do what ever she wants to do next?
The reason I ask is that if she needs say 6 good grades to go on to A-level and she's getting support for 8 subjects that she will do well in, would 11 GCSEs be of any benefit in going on to college. If they were only supporting 4 then they'd need to justify why this is the case. (hope that makes some sense).
Andy

sarahsmum

Hi Andy,
Sorry perhaps I should have been clearer, we would like to know our rights and our daughters rights before we take this to the school. We have expressed concerns and nothing has been done so we wanted this information from assistive technology experts before going further.

In terms of where she goes on after GCSE's that's something we intend on looking at in the future. For now we just want to know what our rights are.

Thank you

RSISolutions

Hi Andy, I have a friend who is dyslexic and is about to embark on learning the Legal edition of Dragon. How many hours of training do you recommend she gets? She has never used Dragon or any other assistive technology before.

Andy_Scope

Hi
Assuming that your friend is competent using the computer she could choose self study which is available for the standard version of Dragon 13 and includes 1 hour of video tuition its available from Nuance distributors for under £20 http://shop.nuance.co.uk/store/nuanceeu/en_GB/pd/ThemeID.874200/productID.306204900/Dragon-NaturallySpeaking-13-Training-Video-Getting-Started-with-Dragon-Speech-Recognition
I'd then put in some one to one training tailored to suit her requirements and depending upon the progress already made with the self study
If she's a complete novice I would suggest 2 1/2 day training sessions totalling 8 hours, the first session covering PC use and setting up and getting basic input and control with Dragon, the second one to cover the features of the legal version. If the self study is really effective then I'd cut it to one 4 hour session covering the second half of the study.
There are a lot of variables so this is a best guess and depends very much upon what type of training suits the individual.
Andy

sarahsmum

Any response for my problem?

Sam_Alumni

sarahsmum said:

Hi Andy,
Sorry perhaps I should have been clearer, we would like to know our rights and our daughters rights before we take this to the school. We have expressed concerns and nothing has been done so we wanted this information from assistive technology experts before going further.

In terms of where she goes on after GCSE's that's something we intend on looking at in the future. For now we just want to know what our rights are.

Thank you

@Andy_Assistive can you help?

Andy_Scope

Hi @sarahsmum
@Sam_Scope

Thanks for the clarification, please correct me if i am wrong, the issue is about getting your daughter's rights than about technology that she is using.
If it is we need to move this discussion to the EHCP group.
https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/ask-a-question-about-educational-health-and-care-plans

Kim_AssistiveTech

sarahsmum said:

Hi both. My daughter goes to a mainstream school but uses eyegaze to access. She is coming up to GCSE age and I am very concerned they they are not doing enough for her to allow her to take as many exams/qualifications as possible. Could you help me in advising where we stand legally about them not doing enough for her, or what we can do to get them to work with organisations to learn how to support her. She is incredibly bright but I just worry she is being left behind because it's hard work for them. Thank you

Hi @sarahsmum

It might be worth having another assessment from your local authority. With that formal assessment (from Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy etc) they can write a recommendation that upon your request can be added to their IEP. It's an easier way of having your daughters needs revisiting I suppose!

In terms of legal rights should they continue to not do enough despite the assessment there is a great section on the Disability Rights UK website that can give you more information on the Equality Act 2010

Adjustments for disabled students - Disability Rights UK

Good luck

sarahsmum

Kim_AssistiveTech said:

sarahsmum said:

Hi both. My daughter goes to a mainstream school but uses eyegaze to access. She is coming up to GCSE age and I am very concerned they they are not doing enough for her to allow her to take as many exams/qualifications as possible. Could you help me in advising where we stand legally about them not doing enough for her, or what we can do to get them to work with organisations to learn how to support her. She is incredibly bright but I just worry she is being left behind because it's hard work for them. Thank you

Hi @sarahsmum

It might be worth having another assessment from your local authority. With that formal assessment (from Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy etc) they can write a recommendation that upon your request can be added to their IEP. It's an easier way of having your daughters needs revisiting I suppose!

In terms of legal rights should they continue to not do enough despite the assessment there is a great section on the Disability Rights UK website that can give you more information on the Equality Act 2010

Adjustments for disabled students - Disability Rights UK

Good luck

Thank you @Kim_AssistiveTech

scienceforall

Hi

I am working on a voluntary project that brings important ideas about biomedical science to the wider community. I am planning an activity about technology and its impact on health. I do not have a physical disability and would like to include technologies that are important for people who do have disabilities. I was wondering if you could please introduce me to some key technologies that I could include as, forgive my ignorance, I am not clued up in this?

The basic premise of the activity would be to get a group of twenty people together and discuss how modern technology is impacting our lives, and to design a "technology schedule" which would allow participants to think about how they can best use different technologies in their daily routines to optimise health.

I would like the activity to be as inclusive as possible to anyone with a disability, so any technology suggestions or feedback on the format would be greatly appreciated. I would also be open to discussion on a more detailed level if you would be available, if not any suggestions would help.

Many thanks!

wheelybabe

Hi my name is Nicola John, I was diagnosed with Fredricks ataxia when I was seven years old and now I am 27, I am a really independent woman the only one option that I am struggling I was wondering if there is some sort of technology or Bad out there that could help me please let me know and please keep in contact?

Andy_Scope

Hi @wheelybabe (Nicola)
I'll need a bit more info if you dont mind.
What is is it that you'd like to be able to do that tech might help with and is Bad a typo for bed?
Thanks
Andy

wheelybabe

Hi am on able to turn on my side and my parents tell me then can I have my bed presents down at night when I need tonight and was hoping that there was a bed out there that could turn me automatically.

At present I live with my parents and they provide my care in the evening and throughout the night. As you can appreciate both my parents are getting older and finding it hard to maintain the level of care I need.

Andy_Scope

Hi
I'm sorry beds are not the kind of technology that I can help with, items like beds come under another thread of disability aids and equipment here is a link to the page. I hope you can find your answer there.

https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/technology-and-equipment

GeoffBosworth195661

Hi Andy, I have a question that has stumped me and software main companies Microsoft etc. How to communicate independently is the main aim unfortunately prior to using dragon 13 speak everything worked fine. Now, this as become obsolete due to the condition he has got. Now the situation is and updated Sevier blind, deaf, mute, part paralysed. The brain sensory ( ataxia ) as affected all the body mechanism and now lipread by lipreader types. His right middle part of the palm is the only part that uses communicate alphabet. Have you anything that comes to mind to solve this unknown technology. Andy the person wants to get back into education.

Andy_Scope

Hi @GeoffBosworth195661
if you could email me at andy.hall@scope.org.uk I might be able to put you in touch with someone doing some experimental technology work that might prove helpful.
thanks.
Andy

GeoffBosworth195661

Hi @Andy_Assistive That is excellent news if this works thousands in the UK will have the benefit from this increasing decease. I will go over to email for the update of this complex situation. Thank you Andy,

_emily_

Hi Andy and Ryan,

I am a product design student at the University of Leeds and for my final year project I am hoping to look into assistive technologies that aid a child with Cerebral Palsy in walking.

I know that there are quite a few types of aid out there, ranging from walkers to canes etc, however I was wondering at what stage a child would maybe move from one to another and if it would be reasonable to expect that a child may adapt/improve enough to have to change their device whilst still younger than around 15.

I realise that you may not necessarily specialise in this area but I would be extremely thankful for any help you can give me.

Thanks!

Seanchai

Hi guys.....maybe I should be writing to the relevant TV channels but I thought I would ask you guys first .
I am deaf and use subtitles (when available.)...sometimes it hard to follow subtitles ( although I do appreciate they are there) . I just wondered If you knew ....are the TV subtitles made by machine or are they human typed. The likes of the news , they have so many accents from different areas on the news I wondered if the subtitles are done by computer as the speech can be way out from what they are saying . Eg. Last night on the news the weatherman said "tere will be mist and fog " ..the subtitle read "there will be Mrs Fog" ...ithat was pretty straight forward to see where the mistake was ...but try doing that for a few hours tired the brain out ??
Thank you for any assistance and lifting Mrs fog from my brain ?