TechAbility AT Champions – Do you have a champion?
All Karten Centres are entitled to nominate a TechAbility AT Champion. So why not take advantage of this?
The commitments are flexible, it will give you access to:
- Quarterly meetings, facilitated by TechAbility, in which to share best practice, hear guest speakers, identify the latest updates/tech and open the floor up to queries or to promote what you are doing in your setting
- New materials TechAbility develops
- A community interested in developing the best support for AT users
- Collaboration opportunities on AT projects and partnerships
If you’d like to find out more, please email neil.harrodbeck@natspec.org.uk
AI writing support tools
Helen Nicholson-Benn AI Specialist/Subject Specialist (Assistive Technology) for JISC has created a resource From Typos to Tone: Exploring Current Tools for Writing Support – Artificial intelligence reviewing the writing support features in Microsoft Word, ChatGPT and Grammarly.
You can find out more about how they performed in terms of:
- Identifying and correcting spelling and grammar errors in a paragraph
- ‘Improving’ writing beyond what is spelling/grammatically correct e.g., tone, structure
- Rewriting full sentences
- User experience and personalisation options
It’s great to see a growing evidence base for these kinds of tools.
TechAbility Conference 2025 – Sessions and Accommodation Update
The TechAbility Conference 2025 is taking place on Wednesday 19 November in Nottingham.
Some of the subjects covered include:
- Robotics to support independence
- People with PMLD need access to AAC devices.
- An AI chatbot approach for learners with SEND
- Practical use of 3D printing to enhance educational access
- Adventure playground for sound, noise and accidental music
- From research to practice: An Assistive Technology journey
- Accessible surveys and data collection
- GenAI blurring the lines between personal and tech aids
- Exploring the intersection of AAC and Assistive Technology
Plus
- Amazing interactive musical keynote presentation
- AT Supplier Exhibition
- Hot topics discussions
If you want discounted accommodation, then you will need to book before 22 September. The details for booking hotel provided once you have booked your place and there are a limited number of rooms at discounted rate (£120).
Hope to see you there!
Webinars
Did you miss the Microsoft, Google and Dictation/Voice commands Webinars? They have been uploaded to YouTube so if you have a spare 20-25mins why not find out how this accessibility can help you!
Microsoft Accessibility
Microsoft provide their accessibility features in a number of different areas, we’ll show you how to find them and where to start when making the Office suite more accessible. Microsoft Immersive Reader will be covered and this will serve as an introduction to in-built accessibility settings.
Google Accessibility
In this webinar we will explain how Google approaches accessibility and talk about how to access these accessibility features through a chrome browser or on a chromebook. Expect to learn about common accessibility tools such as text to speech, dictation, visual settings and more.
Dictation and Voice Commands
It has never been easier to write text with your voice, or to use commands to control your digital devices. So where to start? This webinar covers the key solutions for voice input and commands.
We will have a further webinar programme announced soon, so please watch this space…
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- Featured in the Karten Summer 2025 Newsletter
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