Ian, you're old school computers then. When Microsoft was but a glint in
young Bill's eye. I'm picturing you now with a big bushy beard, tee shirt
and jeans, California-style. Am I close? (probably not!)

I understand what you're saying Tim, but one has to be pragmatic about these
things. If you picked up on every non-accessible practice by colleagues in
our area, you'd go bonkers..

for example, when you reply to this list it automatically copies previous
messages in the same thread into your reply (below it). As the ASASA list
moderator pointed out to me, that's not ideal if you're a screen reader user. 

I subscribed to this list to find other AT trainers (and I have) but I'm
wondering how much cross over there is with the ATinHE list? I'm subscibed
to that as well but havent looked at it for a while. I presume it's quiet
because I don't get any emails into my inbox from it. I suppose on this
list, strictly speaking we ought to be discussing training matters, swapping
training materials and so on. I'd find that very useful.

In that vein, I discovered last week, (I'm 70% sure this is correct) that
the latest 'education version' of Dragon 10 won't install untill the owner
(ie the student) sends off a letter from their institution confirming their
student status to Nuance in the US, and they send back a serial number. So
if you're a trainer who is also doing the install, you need to make sure
that's done before you arrive for the training session!

I'm off to portugal for a couple of weeks, so wont be contributing till i
get back..

adeous

Mike P





To add to what Tim says - just because I am an anorak - the term AT has been 
around for many years. In the late 70s/early 80's it was a term used to
relate to 
anyone 
who used technology of all types (not just ICT) to help people who were
disabled 
or 
elderly. When I was at DISinHE we used the term to relate to those who used 
computer based technology; TECHDIS (as the son/daughter of DISinHE) have 
simply carried 
this on.

I consider myself to be a qualified ATs because I did a UK based one off
academic 
course back in the late 70s. Most would have had to go to America to study as 
there are no courses available in the UK until recently. I do some training but 
mainly these days assess students for the DSA.

I welcome the newly found interest in this forum and urge those who are
working in 
the field of ICT and students with disabilities to stay with us as the few
discussion 
streams that appear from 
time to time are relevant not just to trainers but all including assessors too.

Ian



Quoting Tim Symons <[log in to unmask]>:

> Further to Ian's comment, 'supersize' Tiff images are just not good
> enough, Mike. You NEED to be provided with information in a form you can
> deal with. I would make that plain to your paymasters - especially as
> its an Access Centre. That is just ridiculous.
> 
> Yep, been training for about 8 years, and been assessing for just over a
> year. Work for AS, and also do some private work on the side.
> 
> Our conversation appears to have woken a few up who apparently didn't
> know they were on this list. Well, this list is for Assistive
> Technologists (lovely new term coined by TechDis I think..) or
> Technology Trainers as far as I understand things, in a variety of
> arenas. Personally, Im in HE.
> 
> Anyhoo, I will be trying to pass on other practical nuggets of info
> regarding training the gamut of software usually being offered in HE,..
> i.e. normally SpLD AT, but also the occasional dash of VI AT, with a
> sprinkle of VR.
> 
> Hopefully, not everyone has jumped ship, and also that SOME at least,
> are Trainers like me and Mike.
> 
> Yours
> 
> Tim Symons
> Trainer/Assessor
> Access Summit
> 0161 275 0990
> "...supporting students..."
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Assistive Technology Trainers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Mike Parry
> Sent: 27 August 2009 00:11
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: FW: An easy way to convert PDF's to images, so that RWGOLD
> 3 for MAC can convert to Doc.
> 
> I would say that is certainly the case Doug. You'll need to send an
> unsubscibe email - details will on this site somewhere, hopefully not
> buried
> too deeply.
> 
> I wonder if anyone else will come out of the woodwork, not realising
> they've
> been on this list for years without realising!
> 
> <tumbleweed>.....
> 
> Ian and Tim, thanks for your thoughts. 
> 
> Originally they (the Access Centre we work for) used to send us hard
> copies
> of the reports - of course we moaned and groaned about having to scan
> them
> in and demanded digital formats. We then moaned and groaned about the
> supersize tif files...but not quite so loudly - for fear of alienating
> our
> paymaster - and now we are where we are. Be careful what you wish for,
> as
> the adage goes.. 
> 
> I've thought on about R&WGold being 'clever' and OCR-ing text that is
> the
> wrong way up (tho producing lots of errors in the process). Perhaps it
> is
> actually a straightforward thing for an OCR program to look at text from
> all
> angles and decipher it. Looking at a typical report - they are so full
> of
> tabulated text and numerals and symbols, that maybe you'd get that many
> errors even if the image file was the right way up. 
> 
> BTW - are you guys both trainers? I work at Huddersfield University as a
> trainer, but I'm gradually dipping my toe into the world of freelance
> training. My timing could have been better perhaps..
> 
> Mike P
>