Useful Links and Resources

TechDis

JISC Techdis aims to be the leading educational advisory service, working across the UK , in the fields of accessibility and inclusion. TechDis aims to enhance provision for disabled students and staff in higher, further and specialist education and adult and community learning, through the use of technology.

BRITE

BRITE stands for Beattie Resources for Inclusiveness in Technology and Education. The Initiative was established in 2001, with funding from the Scottish Executive and Scottish Further Education Funding Council, on the recommendation of the Beattie Committee.

The BRITE Initiative was set up to inform, train and assist the staff in Scotland 's colleges who work to include and support students, often through the effective use of enabling technologies.

BRITE have produced excellent informative resources to support students with disabilities, for example deaf students and dyslexic students.

The 'Guide to Support Deaf Students' is an interactive resource which has been developed for students who are deaf, or have hearing loss, and the people who work with them. View the BRITE interactive resource to support deaf students.

Guide to Dyslexia is an online resource which tackles the subject of dyslexia in an informal but informative way.

AbilityNet

AbilityNet is a charity that advises disabled people every year, ensuring that they can access IT.

AbilityNet also provide a number of very useful fact sheets which are now available on-line.

Skill: National Bureau for Students With Disabilities

Skill is a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK. Find out more on the SKILL web site.

Sign on Screen (SoS) from Deaf Connections

Sign on Screen (SoS) is a new remote interpreting/communication service from Deaf Connections. Deaf Connections is a voluntary organisation delivering specialist services to deaf people.

As an additional model of support which can augment existing communication support services currently on offer in colleges, universities, libraries and places of employment, SoS offers the opportunity for d/Deaf people to use an on-line video interpreting service as a means of communicating more easily with the hearing world. This service can support people who are BSL users, who have cochlear implants or indeed those who do not see themselves as part of the Deaf community but need communication support.

This model of communication may help provide an additional model of support in accessing BSL interpreters on a face to face basis, help manage the high costs of face to face BSL support or indeed assist in providing communication support in a varied and ever changing college or university timetables.

SoS is a resource, which would be of significant value in a learning environment but would also be a useful resource for libraries, reception desks and student services areas in colleges and universities and in community settings to ensure that they are making anticipatory arrangements in supporting d/Deaf customers and learners.

Watch a recording of our webinar about Sign On Screen.
Download a copy of the powerpoint presentation used in the webinar.
Download a transcript of the webinar(pdf).

Open University: Making your teaching inclusive.

Using a selection of short video case studies this site has practical advice about teaching inclusively providing an insight into what study is like for disabled students, and how educational establishments can make a difference. View the OU case studies.

Skills for Access

The Skills for Access web site provides a comprehensive resource on issues relating to multimedia, eLearning and accessibility. Whether you're new to eLearning, want to know more about specific accessibility issues, or are an expert multimedia developer, you'll find information relevant to your needs.

Skills for Access also provides a range of video case studies of disabled students using technology to assist with eLearning.