University of Dundee, Disability Services 1

See the ability not disability, image by Korean artist inspired by UNDP's work in Kazakhstan

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University of Dundee, Disability Services 2

The role of an Assistive Technologist in needs assessment

Andy McMahonIT Disability Support Specialist

University of Dundee, Disability Services 3

University of Dundee

• Regional Access Centre– Generally DSA referrals from NE scotland– Complex assessments referred from local HEI’S

& FE’s for students on HE courses– Conduct almost all DSA assessments for

University of Dundee students

• 6 assessors (4 of which are Disability Advisors, IT Disability Support Specialist, 1 Manager)

• Some Access to Work assessments

University of Dundee, Disability Services 4

• Knowledge• Supplier & equipment management

– AT evaluation– Training of assessors– Maintaining assessment

equipment– How AT is part of a solution– Assessment participation

Knowledge

Supplier & equipment

management

AT evaluation

Training of assessors/CPD

Maintaining assessment

and loan equipment

Solutions, not technology

Assessment participation

University of Dundee, Disability Services 5

Supplier & equipment management

• Suppliers will push equipment which attracts greatest margin of profit

• Ensure you have an account manager at the supplier(s)

• Have more than one supplier to avoid complacency and encourage

competition

• SAAS auditors require value for money. This does not mean cheap, but

assessors/sector need to justify total cost of ownership

• Computer & AT evaluation – define criteria (battery length, weight,

screen size, warranty, durability)

• Several ATANET institutions evaluate laptops for each academic year

• Technical support for yourself

Supplier & equipment

management

University of Dundee, Disability Services 6

AT evaluation

• Trade shows, be selective but essential to attend– Sight Village, ATANET conference

• Invite suppliers to demonstrate and leave equipment for testing

• Test in real world, claims are often overstated• Be wary of “functionality coming” statements

AT evaluation

University of Dundee, Disability Services 7

Training of assessors/CPD

• Essential assessors feel confident in using frequently recommended equipment

• Push boundaries/preconceptions of how the equipment is used or could be used

• Monthly sessions, plus 1to1 sessions at Dundee

• Invite suppliers to provide training and equipment demonstration on regular basis

Training of assessors/

CPD

University of Dundee, Disability Services 8

Maintaining assessment equipment

• Equipment should be serviced regularly and checked prior to needs assessment

• Sample materials to aid demonstration• Help sheets• Take away demonstration copies of

software• A reasonable and varied supply of

equipment for a range of learning needs

Maintaining assessment equipment

University of Dundee, Disability Services 9

Solutions

• AT should increase independence and reduce the need for human support

• Assistive Technology is rarely the solution on its own, consider– Individual learning styles– AT integration with academic study skills– Students’ individual training requirements– Requests to academics to adapt teaching styles– Requests to Schools to adapt teaching and learning resources

Solutions

University of Dundee, Disability Services 10

Assessment participation

• During the assessment– Effective demonstrations– Effective questioning, tasks analyses, goals– Draw on experience

• Post assessment (complex cases)– Research solutions– Challenge SAAS rejections on new uses of

technology and AT

Assessment participation

University of Dundee, Disability Services 11

Knowledge

• You need time to become confident user of technology and AT• Provide/undertake AT Training to maintain product knowledge• Test AT in your own environment, across subjects areas to

evaluate effectiveness • Hands-on equipment evaluation • System accessibility testing

– Simulate AT use on your own systems (email, VLE, library)

• Test AT with teaching material, become knowledgeable about inclusive teaching – AT can only bridge the gap from own side of the river. Practices and

attitudes build from the other side

Knowledge