Empowering Technologies

NADP Annual Conference

The program, abstracts of presentations for the workshops and notice of the AGM are available on the event web pages. Directions to the event and the conference booking form are aslo available for download as MS Word files.

If you require any further information, please contact Beverley Fraser at the NADP Administration Office on 01604 497933 or admin@nadp-uk.

Study skills using on-line videos with screen grabs from Office tools and search techniques.

The tabs at the top of the Aspire strategies web site lead to a series of short videos on linked subjects with voice over and text as well as views from computer programs or plain coloured slides with text.

The subjects covered are:

Research
Composition
Proofreading
Note Taking and
Time.

Many of the screen grabs illustrate the use of Microsoft Office 2007 tools on a Microsoft Vista computer system which may help those moving from Office 2003 to 2007.

"Microsoft announces DAISY XML for people with sight problems"

The Guardian blog starts by providing us with the good news "Microsoft has announced a new free Save as Daisy XML add-in for Word 2007, Word 2003 and Word XP, to support the Daisy standard for creating texts for blind and partially-sighted users. "

The translator can be downloaded from Open XML community. This site has useful instructions and links to other Daisy related sites.

Some people may have been using Dolphin EasyProducer which is a one button MS Word solution and works with EasyReader to make navigable audio books. Dolphin offer an FAQ on the Daisy XML add-in.

These solutions require the document to be set up correctly with the use of style sheets, headings etc and Jayme Johnson (Assistive Computer Technology Instructor High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges) added this advice in a recent e-mail to the Altmedia mail list also sent on to ATHEN members:

"...the Save as DAISY XML plugin is an intermediary step in producing a DAISY book, you will still need to take some steps to get a finished DAISY book. The advised solution from the DAISY consortium is to use the DAISY Pipeline, a free application that has been in development for some time.
There is a section of the DAISY consortium website where you can find out more about these tools:
http://www.daisy.org/projects/save-as-daisy-microsoft/"

BBC exposes Facebook flaw

There have been other reports about Facebook security issues such the members' picture problem highlighted by Times Internet Limited in March 2008. Now the BBC's technology programme Click has exposed another security flaw in the social networking site Facebook which is linked to the applications, as was mentioned by Chris Soghoian on a Cnet blog in March 2008.

As we value interaction and communication on-line it seemed worth adding a shortened and slightly adapted version of a check list for safer Facebook use provided by Mari�ve Inoue.

Set the security settings of your profile to 'Only my friends'�
Don't include phone numbers or addresses in your profile.
Ignore a request if you don't actually know the person who sent it.
Don't put up pictures of yourself that you would not be happy to see the next day!
Do monitor the pictures that other people put up of you with a tag (tag: square around your face on a photo; displays your name and links to your profile).
'Untag' yourself from pictures you have any concerns about.
Take care to make checks about the Facebook applications you are using.

Enoucer on-line interactive display for experimenting with a communication aid

Enouncer, "is a web-based VOCA that will allow potential users to experiment with VOCA technology, without having to come up with the several thousands of pounds necessary to own one."

The speech therapist who has developed the Enouncer Dynamic Display Emulator aims "to produce a site that professionals who work with this group can use to assess and teach their users, whilst building up a good body of evidence to support a funding application."

There is a blog and it is hoped people will add ideas and comments about the project. Some web pages do not work but if you use a keyboard or mouse to activate the cells on the communicator you can see how may levels are available and the types of symbols used. Eventually users will be able to add more items.

CALL Centre all day training sessions Summer 2008.

The CALL Centre is holding a series of workshops in the coming months. Some are free,

29 May 2008
Software Awareness Day (Crick Software)
Crick Software are the developers of Clicker, Cloze Pro and other award winning software. This day will have an in depth focus on their Clicker Phonics products which can be used with any phonics scheme to help pupils struggling with reading. Other new programs will be demonstrated. Free

12 Jun 2008
Speech Recognition Update
This course will examine recent developments in speech recognition software, including the latest version of NaturallySpeaking and the new SpeakQ program, and will consider a number of issues relating to its use in an educational setting. �85 inc. Lunch

T.B.A
Postgraduate Course in ICT and Additional Support Needs
CALL will be running a course on ICT and Additional Support Needs (ASN) as part of the postgraduate Additional Support for Learning Programme at the Moray House School of Education in the University of Edinburgh. The course can be taken by professionals undertaking the full Diploma or Masters degree, or as a single, stand-alone course. It introduces the range of ICT resources available and develops ICT skills of course members in their use. The course covers ICT to support learners with physical disability; language and communication impairment; sensory impairment; and specific and general learning difficulties.

T.B.A
Personal Communication Passports Symposium
It is hoped to convene the first UK-wide/international Passports Symposium of people with in-depth experience to share