Looks extremely useful, although I wouldn't want to tell my DSA students
that they could use it as an MP3 player!!
_____
From: PossAble Consultancy [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 July 2004 15:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Texthelp etc
Has anyone recommended the Book Courier for students with Dyslexia? I
am regularly recommending it for students with a visual impairment, but
am now occasionally recommending it for students with Dyslexia...
Barry G
----- Original Message -----
From: Parrott, Daniel <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: Texthelp etc
The major advantage of Texthelp 7 Gold vs standard is the
additional functionality to take a doc from paper to text to audio in
one interface. This works really nicely in conjunction with a digi
player. I think that the extra functionality is worth the money in the
case of a DSA, but you will have to weigh up which you can afford for
general use. I am trying to go for Gold for us.
I like the point about de-ghettoising assistive software and
making all staff and students aware of its benefits. Marketing strikes
again!
Daniel
_____
From: CAMPBELL R.G. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 July 2004 13:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Texthelp etc
I too have just started as an assessor, but previously to this I
was the IT tutor for the Disability Office.
I agree that textHELP is an invaluable program to have. Rather
than use the Gold version, we use textHELP v7 standard, and use OmniPage
Pro for machines with scanners attached. This also tends to be what is
recommended through Needs Assessments.
We have Inspiration on machines across campus, and it has proved
very popular with many students - not just those with dyslexia, but the
wider student population too. Again, Inspiration is commonly recommended
in reports.
With Mavis Beacon, we have had mixed results. Students find some
of the letters onscreen confusing - for instance, 'i' looks the same as
'l'. Also, depending on which version you have, there are a couple of
bugs: in the beginners level lesson 1, it throws in words such as
'autumn,' which it hasn't taught you to type, and if you fail the lesson
at the end of the beginner level, the program crashes.
However, we have also had students who have found the program
very helpful. We tend to recommend Accutype instead, but I personally
have no real preference for either.
Becky
----------------------
Becky Campbell
Assessment Officer, Disability Office, University of Wales
Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP.
Tel: 01792 513000 Minicom/text: 01792 513100
Fax: 01792 513200 Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/disability/
-----Original Message-----
From: Parrott, Daniel [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 July 2004 11:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Texthelp etc
Hi,
I have just started as a Disability Needs Assessor too.
Hope you are having fun!
As far as Texthelp is concerned, we have a site license
and I believe it is worth the money. We have some large 250PC IT suites
and without Texthelp, there are some students for whom the contents of
these rooms would be so many pointless whirring boxes! If you are pushed
for cash, you could buy texthelp standard for the site license and get
individual copies of Gold for scanner PCs (though I think only Gold has
the useful text to audio file feature, which is a pity. There is also a
free download on the texthelp site (called browsealoud) that will read
back enabled web pages, but this relies on the web designers to have
bought the development end of the package when designing their site
(google, msn and bbc have, if you want to try).
As far as usage is concerned, we regarded the purchase
as anticipatory, so that any student can just walk in and go to work
without worrying. However, usage will depend on how well the software is
marketed....this is a problem for us at the mo, as the responsible
department is not particularly strong in this respect yet, but we are
working on it! We also had problems with Texthelp 6 being a bit quirky,
but hopefully v7 will be more mature.
Daniel
_____
From: Paul Smyth [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 July 2004 11:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject:
Hi to all,
I asked a question previously about IT equipment in
colleges and lots of you kindly responded.
As a new Disability Officer I am at present trying to
purchase some equipment for the college.
I have decided on the following: Texthelp R&W Gold,
Inspiration and Mavis Beacon.
Before I go ahead, I just wanted to check that for those
of you with this equipment, do the students actually use these
packages!!!? Is the feedback positive?
Also, has anyone tried the Txt Help GOLD? It is very
expensive and i do not want to waste college money.
Thanks, Paul (DO Richmond College)
