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

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  • Doris_Scope
    Doris_Scope Scope Family Services Posts: 183 Family Services
    edited August 22

    Hi

    @Seanchai

    ,

    I know what you mean about the subtitles.  They can sometimes be awful!

    I'm not sure how TV channels input their subtitles but if you watch online, the BBC iPlayer may have a better option.

    Below is the link to their website which explains what they do.

    Hope this helps.  Subtitles can be tiring at their best without having to decipher what they are saying  :)

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/how-to-guides/accessibility/using_subtitles

  • Ryan_Scope
    Ryan_Scope Scope Posts: 14 Contributor
    edited August 22

    @Seanchai

    Hi as Doris_Scope

    has just mentioned, don’t know how the subtitles are created for different TV channels.I think your best path to follow is looking at the BBC and ITV websites and see if there is anything available on the sites. Also giving them an email to their accessibility departments may be a pathway to have communication directly with the team, as this may be something that they are not aware of and your views and opinions may help them in the future.Please do let us know how you get on.Kind regards,Ryan Kennedy

  • Doris_Scope
    Doris_Scope Scope Family Services Posts: 183 Family Services
    edited August 22

    Hi

    @Seanchai

    ,

    Have looked up how subtitles are done and apparently a lot of it is someone verbally repeating everything that is said.  Apparently it is really hard and they have to talk like a robot to be understood and tend to have to speak a lot.

    I know that doesn't make much difference to your situation but thought you may like to know.  

    Best of luck,

    Doris

  • Seanchai
    Seanchai Community member Posts: 396 Pioneering
    edited August 22

    Thanks guys....Especially to you Doris. I will follow this up but your explanation sounds about right Doris... it can be very hard to follow on TV ( although I am grateful for subtitles ) ...thanks to all who looked at my question ?

  • CrazyWorld
    CrazyWorld Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Andy_Assistive said:

    Hi

    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.  

    Hi Andy, 

    I am looking to sell some new and unused Assistive technology equipment that we're purchased by my brother but his eyesight deteriorated before he used them and they will no longer be of benefit.

    I am struggling to locate the best place to list these. This website lists companies to sell disablity equipment but I seems to be more physical stuff like wheelchairs etc and not technical equipment. Does you know the best place to list them?

    They were expensive and need to re-coup some of that money back ?

    Thank you ?
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,447 Championing
    Hi @CrazyWorld :) You might find this Scope page on selling used disability equipment helpful. Although it's focused on selling used equipment, some of the tips could be useful in your case. 

    Have you tried listing on those websites that mainly sell equipment? What kind of assistive tech are you looking to sell? 
  • CrazyWorld
    CrazyWorld Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Tori_Scope said:
    Hi @CrazyWorld :) You might find this Scope page on selling used disability equipment helpful. Although it's focused on selling used equipment, some of the tips could be useful in your case. 

    Have you tried listing on those websites that mainly sell equipment? What kind of assistive tech are you looking to sell? 
    Hi Tori

    I haven't yet because i wasn't sure if it was the correct place but i will give it a go.

    Its for reading books and using a computer with visual impairments... if that makes sense? :)
  • Andy_Scope
    Andy_Scope Scope Posts: 47 Contributor
    edited June 2021
    Hi @CrazyWorld
    The links mentioned by @Tori_Scope are usually good.
    Another option is to talk to the local society for visually impaired people / blind society and see if they have a buy and sell list or share offers of kit for sale via their social media outlets.



  • peteofherts
    peteofherts Scope Member Posts: 16 Connected
    @Andy_Assistive @Ryan_Assistive

    I have Dragon Pro Individual 13.  I started using it with TalkingPoint (talkingpoint.uk.com) well over 10yrs ago. TalkingPoint runs alongside DPI editions.  It is supposed to help minimise the 'effort' associated with DPI - eg when you say 'New Mail Message' it runs a macro i guess, whereby you are prompted, step-by-step, to enter Recipient, Subject, Message, send.  You can set up Regular Items: Names, Documents, Phrases and many many more things.  It never really worked very well and I stopped Talking to the Computer years ago. 

    I started again last year to see whether TalkingPoint had improved (it is under constant review and upgrades).  It has not improved for me. The upgrades are specifically for the medical community.  The company have apologised to me and currently do not charge me an annual fee.  They have been honest with me and said they do not have time to focus on Special Needs issues.  I like their honest, and the do try to help within their self-confessed workload.

    Do you know of any speech dictation + pc control programs that run alongside DPI, or indeed any standalone programs for handsfree operation of a PC?

    Currently I use a headpointer and have two touchscreen monitors (for extended or duplicate use).  My PC Spec is

    NUC special build
    PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ i7-6770HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz
    MEMORY: 16GB
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit)

    My speech is understandable.  My telephone + computer talking voice are clearer as I know I need to raise the level of clarity.  I have CP so the quality of voice is not the same each and every day.  I never talked to the computer on a bad day!

    I think I have given you enough info, but please do not hesitate to ask further questions of me.

    Kind Regards, Pete.
  • TartanTeapot
    TartanTeapot Community member Posts: 14 Connected
    Hi Andy and Ryan-
    I have hEDS (amongst other things) which basically manifests as sore joints from activity. My 17 yr old has come down with the same thing and they are really suffering in school.  They can't write, type for any length of time, hold a book open to read it or hold a camera or telephone to take photos (currently about to start Y13/ second year of 6th form. A levels in English, Media and Photography, we thought photography would be less writing but think that has backfired a bit).
    The school is ready to help but not really sure how to.  
    30 years ago I got very cross with Dragon Dictate and haven't used it since.  
    Please could you help in terms of-

    is there a way to "drive" the computer verbally (there must be) which works across word and adobe/ photographic software??

    I found voice recognition software really hard, presumably it has improved? What would you recommend? 

    We have a couple of gadgets to take the weight of a camera but the 17yrold can't even manage to pick up the phone to fit into the kit...

    Any/ all advice welcomed with gratitude.
    Thank you
  • Glitter_Dodo
    Glitter_Dodo Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Hello friends! 
    Wishing everyone a happy festive season ☺️

    I have a question regarding hearing aids, if that’s alright? I seem to have lost mine (a really wonderful NHS one) and I’m not really sure how to go about getting a replacement? I thought I knew where it was packed in my belongings, and it seems to no longer be there.

    Is there any advice for a situation such as mine?

    Thank you so much in advance,

    A xx
  • yanni
    yanni Community member Posts: 92 Empowering
    @Glitter_Dodo
    If you contact the NHS Audiology /Hearing aid department that issued you with your hearing aid they can issue a replacement. If you search online most audiology departments have an email address to contact them if you can't hear on the phone without your aid.
    My NHS area charges £50-£100 for a replacement so be prepared to have to pay towards a replacement aid. 
  • Glitter_Dodo
    Glitter_Dodo Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Great, thank you so much!
  • Andy_Scope
    Andy_Scope Scope Posts: 47 Contributor
    Hi @Glitter_Dodo
    @yanni's advice is exactly the same as I would give and there's nothing I would add, your local NHS audiology department is your best option.
    Andy

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Community member Posts: 2,211 Championing
    edited January 2023
    Hi,
    Would you know whether C-BRACES (https://nrtimes.co.uk/how-the-c-brace-is-opening-up-a-new-world-of-possibilities/) Are available on NHS or only for those who can afford to buy them privately ?

    I have a full length KAFO leg brace (foot plate to thigh) which took many years to obtain - but it weighs a ton, I am unable to fit it myself, it throws my hips out and causes bleeding on my calf and thigh ..........
    I am immobile, without any aids !


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