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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.

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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

techability@natspec.org.uk

0115 854 1322

@Tech_Ability1

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