Visual Impairment and Computing - webinar slides 9 June 2015

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Visual Impairment and Computing

AbilityNet Webinar

9 June 2015

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Visual Impairment and Computing

At home, at work, in education

How can technology help?

What are the options?

Who can it help?

What are the costs?

Your questions

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Welcome

Mary Steiner

AbilityNet

Mark Walker AbilityNet

Robin Christopherson AbilityNet

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Helping disabled people

• At Home

• At Work

• In Education

• On the Web

My Computer My Way

Tech4Good Awards

AbilityNetAdapting Technology. Changing Lives.

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Understanding Visual Impairment

• Almost two million people in the UK live with sight loss

• Includes those that have uncorrected refractive error or cataract that may be reversed

• Includes around 360,000 people registered as blind or partially sighted who have severe and irreversible sight loss

• Sight loss affects people of all ages but especially older people

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Impact of Visual Impairment

Hidden disability

• Not always clear who may need help

• Symbol canes

Practical issues

• Eg mobility, reading

Emotional response

• Social issues and isolation

• Sense of independence

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Impact on Common Tasks

• Reading documents

• Browsing the web

• Producing a letter or report

• Sending messages

• Making a call

• Working on a spreadsheet

• Data entry

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Making Reasonable Adjustments

Not just an IT issue

Employers have a responsibility

Legal risks if they are not pro-active

• Duty of care

• Not specifically about disabled people

• Could be linked to Equality Act 2010

• Reasonable Adjustments

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What Support Is Available?

At Work

• Access to Work

At Home

• PIP and DLA

• More accessible mainstream devices

In Education

• HE: Disabled Students Allowances (DSA)

• School/FE: Disability adviser

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What are the options?

• Specialist Software

• Specialist Hardware

• Built In Options

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How Technology Can HelpInput To The Computer

Touch typing

Large print and hi-vis keys

• NB keys themselvesare standard size

And sometimes…

• Speech recognition

… although usually not relevant because it can be more complicated

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How Technology Can HelpOutput From The Computer

Large monitor and/or monitor arm

Better contrast, reduced glare, better colours

Magnification software eg ZoomText

Magnifier and reader software

Screenreader outputting to speech and/or Braille display eg Jaws

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How Technology Can HelpReading Printed Materials

Large print, hand held magnifiers, lighting

Video magnifiers, sometimes called CCTVs

• Desktop and portable

• Some include speech output

Scanning and OCR, then read using computer

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One Size Doesn’t Fit All

For example:

Magnifying things on the screen of your computer

• Hardware options: eg large monitor

• Software options: eg ZoomText

• Built-in Options: every computer

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Learn more on YouTube!

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Who It Can Help?

Robin Christopherson

• Head of Digital Inclusion

• No sight at all

• Guide dog user

• Busy job – lots of travelling

• Works from home and from the office

• Reports, emails, phone calls, presentations, videos, etc

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Examples of what Robin uses

• Speech output – Jaws, VoiceOver

• Reading – try to avoid paper!

• Apps – KNFB Reader, Talking Goggles, Apple Maps

• iOS8 + VoiceOver

• Bluetooth keyboard

• Mac and PC

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Jack

• Mid-30s

• Call centre in a travel agent

• Booking holidays

• Congenital but progressive condition

• Needs high level of magnification

• Reading brochures and using database for bookings

• Bad back – may be related?

What we recommended

• Large monitor and monitor arm

• ZoomText Magnifier Reader

• Desktop Video Magnifier for reading brochures

Who It Can Help

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Training

• Learn new tools – hardware and software

• Customise the software

• Adapt your workflow

• Adapt your workplace

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How to Adjust Your Computer

www.mycomputermyway.com

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Visual Impairment and Computing

One size does not fit all!

• Could include built in solutions, specialist software or specialist hardware

• Could be mobile or desktop

• Depends on preferences, context, tasks, budget, etc

• Look for specialist advice and support

• Training, trial and error, regular review

• Especially as tech changes fast

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Questions?

Next AbilityNet webinars

Dealing with hearing impairment in the workplace, 1pm, Tues 7th July

www.abilitynet.org.uk/webinars

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Contact Us

sales@abilitynet.org.uk

+44 (0)1926 465 247

@abilitynet

Next AbilityNet Webinars

Dealing with hearing impairment in the workplace, 1pm, Tues 7th July

Sign up at www.abilitynet.org.uk/webinars