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
>
--
Ian Webb
Centre Manager ATOP LTD
Disability Adviser/Assessor
MNADP
|