TechAbility Conference 2024: Book now!
Building in the success of previous conferences, TechAbility2024 will give you multiple opportunities to learn from leading practitioners in the field of Assistive Technology. As ever, all presentations and workshops will be grounded in practice and research. Alongside this will be opportunities to meet with Assistive Technology suppliers and discuss the solutions they provide.
This year, the conference will take place in Leeds, which has excellent transport links to the whole of the UK. Based on your feedback there will be extra opportunities for discussion among delegates.
Two hot topic sessions will be run by our keynote speaker, Jane Seale, Open University who has a national and international reputation as an expert in the fields of disability, technology and inclusion.
Find out about all the speakers, the programme, the venue and much more on the TechAbility Conference 2024 website.
TechAbility Standards: Developing an AI tool with Open University
Thank you for all those in developing this tool to take the TechAbility Standards and create an audit tool using Artificial Intelligence. The TechAbility Standards are the guide to what good looks like with organisations using Assistive Technology, everything from what tools to use, to how to support transition for users.
We are pleased to announce that the dissemination event for this project has now been shared on YouTube through CALRG (Computer and Learning Research Group) as Using AI and the Techability Standards… (Neil Harrod-Beck, Richard Greenwood and Tim Coughlan). So, if you’d like to know more you can view this in your own time.
You can also hear about our proposed next steps, which include updating the TechAbility Standards and looking at how we roll these out further within the Educational Assistive Technology world.
TechAbility Champions: Karten centres supporting each other
The TechAbility champions program currently has 72 members, nominated from Karten Centres and Natspec Colleges.
At their previous meeting, the champions welcomed guest speaker Robert McLaren, Director of Policy for Policy Connect, who discussed Assistive Technology as a life skill and its potential contribution to the National Standards for Personal, Social and Employability Qualifications.
TechAbility shared their new mobile app cards for Android devices with the Champions getting the first preview, the Apple equivalent is expected over the summer. They also shared various resources, including JISC’s AI essential materials, information on Ofsted’s approach to AI, updates on the AXS accessibility passport, and the use of escape rooms in education.
Members of the program continue to support each other by exchanging information on topics such as Alexa/Google Home devices, job descriptions for new Assistive Technology assistant roles, and tips for using Microsoft Edge keyboard shortcuts to access AI. They are also collaborating on methods for building CVs.
The TechAbility conference is expected to have a strong input from the Champions, demonstrating how the programme improves engagement. Does your Karten centre have a TechAbility Champion, or would you like to know more? Email Neil Harrod-Beck and he will be more than happy to help you.
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