The massive £24m Home Access assistive technology programme is underway despite delays and the abolition of Becta, the education technology agency that devised the programme.
Some 29,000 low income families have been sent letters with information about the 12,000 grants available for computer equipment that disabled pupils can use to study and access the internet at home.
Leadingdisability charities including AbilityNet, Whizz-Kidz and the National Autistic Society have urged families to apply as soon as possible to be sure of getting a grant.
The assistive technology scheme will end either when the 12,000 mark has been passed or when the money runs out, probably by January 2011.
“It is my belief that this is the biggest assistive technology contract awarded arguably anywhere in the world,” says Ian Litterick, chairman of iansyst, the company that is procuring the assistive technology.
“The fact that the children have the equipment at home means so many more children are going to have an opportunity for learning.”
Successful applicants will receive a laptop, assistive software, hardware, free internet access and support for a year, worth up to £2,000.
In the first weeks of July, Becta says it received 6,000 forms and approved 1,500 applications.
Alternative equipment on offer to children with physical or learning difficulties will include switches, touch screens and adapted mice.
Children with a severe learning or literacy difficulties will be offered symbols or picture software to support writing, reading or curriculum access.
The programme will also fund so-called ‘cause and effect’ software for improving targeting skills, hand-eye coordination and aiding children with learning difficulties, together with associated access devices.
Children with a visual impairment can obtain specialist hardware and software to access screen content, while sound amplification hardware will be offered to those with a hearing impairment.
The scheme is open to children at state schools in years 3 to 9 who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs, receive a Disability Living Allowance, or whose school can certify they have assistive technology needs. Their parents must be in receipt of at least one from a list of seven possible benefits.
Evaluations of each applicant’s needs are carried out over the phone by a team of trained assessors. The equipment that children may already use at school will be taken into account, although the scheme is not meant to replace technology that should be supplied at school.
The scheme should have started several months ago, but was delayed when assistive technology suppliers struggled to satisfy government requirements that sensitive personal information should be kept securely.
Application forms can be obtained by phoning 0333 200 1004 or visiting http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/.
What is available from Home Access?
Software
Text to speech software: for learners who prefer to have pages of text read out loud.
Text prediction: (similar to ‘texting’ on a phone) which helps to speed up writing. This is very useful for younger writers or those who lack confidence with written English.
Mind mapping: helps children to structure, visualise and classify ideas. Children can use this to aid study, problem solving, decision making and writing.
Screen magnification: this enlarges the content on the computer screen and is particularly useful for learners with impaired vision.
Hardware
Adapted keyboard: useful for children with sight or physical difficulties. Alternatively, the package could include a compact keyboard for a child with limited movement.
Keyboard stickers: enables visually impaired children to see the keyboard characters more easily.
Specially designed mouse: for children who may find it difficult to hold and move a standard mouse.
Assistive technology for children with severe needs
Screen reader software: provides full speech access to every part of the computer, including documents, menus, dialogue boxes, tables, web pages etc. This ensures that learners with no vision at all can still use a computer.
Impaired hearing hardware: provides a direct connection between a learner’s hearing aid and a computer by giving them a direct input shoe that will provide audio through the headphone or line out sockets on the computer.
Switch access hardware: useful for learners unable to use a mouse or a keyboard because of physical motor difficulties, due to Cerebral Palsy for instance. Switch access solutions enable learners to interact with a computer using a standalone switch, or button, to make on-screen selections of letters or words from a grid of choices. Switches are also particularly useful for learners with cognitive difficulties who may not make the connection between what they do with the mouse and keyboard and what happens on the screen.
Touch screen hardware: useful for learners that can’t use a standard keyboard, mouse or trackball, this enables them to have direct, intuitive interaction with the activity they are controlling.
Symbol software: for children with poor literacy or learning difficulties, this delivers the capability to display symbols that match what is being written, as well as allowing learners to select words or phrases from symbol-supported on-screen word banks.
Special access methods: such as mouth-controlled joysticks, a head-controlled mouse or light-operated mouse and keyboard combinations.