Learn about using voice as a method to control computers and electronic devices. This online course will consider the range of equipment available and the vocal, cognitive and visual skills that are required to use it reliably. This is a self-directed online study course. You can work through the activities in your own time, and it will be available for 3 months.
Course aim:
To summarise different ways that voice can be used to provide control of computers and electronic devices for typing and environmental controls. You will be introduced to the range of solutions available and how they can be used.
You will learn:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The latest technology available for using speech to control devices</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">A brief overview of the skills required to use voice efficiently</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">What speech can and can&#8217;t do across the most popular devices</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">How to use voice-controlled devices if you use augmentative &amp; alternative communication (AAC)</li>
</ul>
Course includes:
Interactive online activities, videos and signposting to further information.
Suitable for:
Anyone wanting to learn more about alternative access methods that may enable independent control of activities for people with physical disabilities. This online course will enable you to work towards the following:
IPAACKS competencies:
Identifying Needs
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Aware of the role that technology can play in supporting education and participation</li>
</ul>
Implementation
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Knowledge of a range of different access methods</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Aware of the underpinning knowledge required by the person using AT</li>
</ul>
Facilitating Learning
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Aware of what AT is and that it can help people who have access and learning support needs</li>
</ul>
Special requirements:
You will be required to use one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Safari or Safari Mobile
Cost: £30

On-demand course

Our courses focus on the use of Assistive Technology to enable independence, access to education, learning and leisure activities, and communication.

Online course

Exploring access and control of technology using adaptations to standard equipment.

Access

Access Methods – Voice

Discover more about mouse control as an access method. This course will introduce solutions that can improve accuracy and control when using a mouse. This is a self-directed online study course. You can work through the activities in your own time and it will be available for 3 months.
Course aim:
To introduce Mouse control as an access method and adaptations that can enable the user to improve their control.
You will learn:
<ul>
<li>What skills are needed for mouse use</li>
<li>Adaptations that can help to improve mouse skills</li>
<li>Hardware and software solutions that help with some difficulties using the mouse</li>
<li>To recognise mouse alternatives that are available</li>
</ul>
Course includes:
Interactive online activities, videos and signposting to further information.
Suitable for:
Anyone wanting to learn more about adaptations that can be made to mouse control to make it easier to use for people with physical difficulties. This online course will enable you to work towards the following:
IPAACKS competencies:
Identifying Needs
<ul>
<li>Aware of the role that technology can play in supporting education and participation</li>
</ul>
Implementation
<ul>
<li>Knowledge of a range of different access methods</li>
<li>Aware of the underpinning knowledge required by the person using AT</li>
</ul>
Facilitating Learning
<ul>
<li>Aware of what AT is and that it can help people who have access and learning support needs</li>
</ul>
Special requirements:
You will be required to use one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Safari or Safari Mobile
Cost: £30

Access Methods – Mouse

Learn about switch control as an access method. This course will introduce you to the different types of switches available and how these can be used to independently control a range of activities. This is a self-directed online study course. You can work through the activities in your own time, and it will be available for 3 months.
Course aim:
To introduce switch control as an access method and consider what and how it can be used.
You will learn:
<ul>
<li>To recognise a switch and what it can be used for</li>
<li>To identify different types of switches</li>
<li>To recognise different ways that switches can be used and activities they can control</li>
<li>The skills required to use a switch and how to teach them</li>
</ul>
Course includes:
Interactive online activities, videos and signposting to further information.
Suitable for:
Anyone wanting to learn more about alternative access methods that may enable independent control of activities for people with physical disabilities. This online course will enable you to work towards the following:
IPAACKS competencies:
Identifying Needs
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Aware of the role that technology can play in supporting education and participation</li>
</ul>
Implementation
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Knowledge of a range of different access methods</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Aware of the underpinning knowledge required by the person using AT</li>
</ul>
Facilitating Learning
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Aware of what AT is and that it can help people who have access and learning support needs</li>
</ul>
Special requirements:
You will be required to use one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Safari or Safari Mobile
Cost: £30

Access Methods – Switch

An introduction to using eyegaze as an access method. This course will introduce you to the types of eye tracking technology available and the skills required to use eyegaze as a control method. This is a self-directed online study course. You can work through the activities in your own time, and it will be available for 3 months.
Course aim:
To introduce switch control as an access method and consider what and how it can be used.
You will learn:
<ul>
<li>Why eye tracking technology has become so popular in the past decade</li>
<li>A brief overview of the skills required to use eye gaze efficiently</li>
<li>The types of eye tracking technology that is currently available and the features of this tech</li>
<li>Examples of considerations you might want to make when seeing if eye tracking technology will work for you or someone you know</li>
<li>How we can develop our eye gaze skills to make the most out of eye tracking</li>
</ul>
Course includes:
Interactive online activities, videos and signposting to further information.
Suitable for:
Anyone wanting to learn more about alternative access methods that may enable independent control of activities for people with physical disabilities. This online course will enable you to work towards the following:
IPAACKS competencies:
Identifying Needs
<ul>
<li>Aware of the role that technology can play in supporting education and participation</li>
</ul>
Implementation
<ul>
<li>Knowledge of a range of different access methods</li>
<li>Aware of the underpinning knowledge required by the person using AT</li>
</ul>
Facilitating Learning
<ul>
<li>Aware of what AT is and that it can help people who have access and learning support needs</li>
</ul>
Special requirements:
You will be required to use one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Safari or Safari Mobile
Cost: £30

Access Methods – Eyegaze

Discover more about touch control as an access method. This course will introduce solutions that can improve accuracy and control when using a touchscreen. This is a self-directed online study course. You can work through the activities in your own time, and it will be available for 3 months.
Course aim:
To introduce Touch as an access method and adaptations that can enable the user to improve their control.
You will learn:
<ul>
<li>How touch as an access method fits in with other approaches used by people with disabilities</li>
<li>To recognise the different skills needed for touch, and how you can improve them</li>
<li>To identify useful equipment that can support people with disabilities to access touch computers</li>
<li>To name free features that are built in to devices that make it easier to use touch to interact</li>
</ul>
Course includes:
Interactive online activities, videos and signposting to further information.
Suitable for: Anyone wanting to learn more about adaptations that can be made to touch control to make it easier to use for people with physical difficulties. This online course will enable you to work towards the following:
IPAACKS competencies:
Identifying Needs
<ul>
<li>Aware of the role that technology can play in supporting education and participation</li>
</ul>
Implementation
<ul>
<li>Knowledge of a range of different access methods</li>
<li>Aware of the underpinning knowledge required by the person using AT</li>
</ul>
Facilitating Learning
<ul>
<li>Aware of what AT is and that it can help people who have access and learning support needs</li>
</ul>
Special requirements:
You will be required to use one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Safari or Safari Mobile
Cost: £30

Access Methods – Touch

Course aim:
Explore different ways to access an iPad and provide control. Discover the different accessibility features available within iOS 13 (or above) to meet a range of physical, learning and sensory needs.
This self-directed online course will demonstrate how and why different features are used and who they are suitable for. A particular focus will be on the interaction with the touch screen via touch, voice and switch control and consideration of hearing, visual and learning requirements.
You will learn:
To select accessibility options on an iPad to meet an individual’s abilities and needs 
To understand how an iPad can be set up for different types of physical access and learning needs 
To modify accessibility options to meet an identified need
Suitable for:
Practitioners who support individuals with complex physical, sensory and learning needs. This course will enable you to work towards the following:
Assistive Technology (AT) competencies:
<ul>
<li>Implementation</li>
<li>Aware of the fundamental skills required in order to use an AT solution</li>
<li>Review</li>
<li>Knowledge of how to adapt AT solutions to meet the changing needs and abilities of an individual</li>
<li>Able to make adaptations to an existing AT system as required, and where possible, to meet changing needs and abilities</li>
</ul>
Course includes:
3 Months enrolment to online learning with instructional videos, handouts and activities to enable you to learn about iOS accessibility features.
Special requirements:
You will need to have access to an iPad with iOS 13 or above

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