Skip Navigation | ANU Home | Search ANU | Students | Staff

Description of Project:

Background: Recent technology developments, particularly computer hardware and software, have produced significant opportunities for improved access to information and education for people with a disability. The use of Assistive and Mainstream Technology has provided opportunities for increased independence and the development of more marketable skills, as people are now more readily able to address the effects of various disabilities. Unfortunately, the rapid advances in technology have also produced a number of difficulties in the processes of acquisition, implementation and use of technology in the various education sectors and institutions. Choosing which technology to acquire, matching the technology to particular students' needs, providing effective training and support in its use, maintaining and updating hardware and software, all require specialist knowledge and skills. Universities and other education providers are often reluctant to commit limited resources to new technology without appropriate evaluation, advice and support, or technology may be introduced, and its effectiveness restricted by a lack of understanding, skills and experience from students and staff.

Aims: To provide a means of independently trialling and evaluating a range of Assistive Technology for students with a disability, reporting the findings to people involved in the provision and use of disability support services in Australian education, and providing a source of informed, practical, independent advice, training and support in the acquisition, implementation and effective use of such technology by students with a disability.

Proposed Outcomes: This project will enable the Project Team to evaluate the use of a range of Assistive Technology in a range of situations and institutions with people with a range of disabilities and needs. It will concentrate on the practicalities of the use of the technology in the education environment, and will provide the Australian education community with a source of independent advice and support in developing the effective integration of Assistive Technology into existing disability support services. Individuals and Institutions planning to acquire and implement new Assistive Technology, or improve the effectiveness of existing technology, will have an avenue for accessing information and advice from the Project Team. The most significant outcome will be more appropriate and effective access to education for students with a disability.

The Project will be of national significance since its outcomes will be available and distributed across Australia. By encouraging the independence and skills of students, their employment prospects on graduation should be enhanced. Certain aspects of the project will be ongoing, in that contacts will be established, many of the resources will have already been obtained, and will require only minor upgrading to continue. This project will establish guidelines and criteria for effectively evaluating new Assistive Technology, and increase the knowledge and skills of disability support staff in this field.

Project Team:
Trevor Allan, Disability Liaison Officer, The Australian National University: (Project Co-ordinator) - Student Trials, Assistive Technology Testing, Evaluation, Report Writing, Supervision of Project & Budget, Contact for Advice, Information.
Trevor Wilks, Manager, Adtech Centre, The University of Newcastle: Student Trials, Assistive Technology Testing, Evaluation, Report Writing, Contact for Advice, Information.
Hazel England, Disability Liaison Officer, The University of Wollongong: Student Trials, Assistive Technology Testing & Evaluation.
Murray Spriggs, Disability Consultant, The State Library of NSW: Assistive Technology Testing, Evaluation, Report Writing, Contact for Advice, Information.

The Project Team is a combination of Assistive Technology Specialists and experienced Disability Support Staff, with access to equipment and facilities. All Team members currently work with students with a disability, and/or are closely associated with Disability policies and procedures across education sectors. The existing Team members, will provide administration and technical support plus contributing to the development and maintenance of the Web site. Management Committee:

The Project Management Committee will consist of:

• Project Co-ordinator
• The Australian National University Representative
• The University of Wollongong Representative
• The University of Newcastle Representative
• NSW RDLOs Representative

The representatives will be nominated by their institutions, and will meet 6 monthly. A progress report will be circulated to the Committee Members by the Co-ordinator each 3 months the Project continues.

Summary:

The very nature of the Project requires it to be flexible and responsive to needs and developments. Procedures and contacts will be developed to track developments as they occur, and appropriate evaluation and reporting measures developed.

The appropriate evaluation and use of Assistive Technology is a common issue across sectors and across the country. This Project will provide a means of improving access to this technology in a practical manner that should result in more effective and cost-efficient use by students with a disability. The NSW RDLOs Voice Recognition Project has established an effective model of delivering support in the introduction of new and existing technology. This Project builds on that success, and broadens the scope of the technology evaluated to establish access to independent expertise on Assistive Technology, its acquisition, training and effective use. This Project will provide information, advice, training and evaluation, enhancing the potentially valuable role of Assistive Technology in facilitating the educational opportunities and independence of people with a disability as well as providing a far more cost-efficient and effective means of delivering appropriate disability support services in universities.

Trevor Allan,
Disability Liaison Officer,
The Australian National University
Project Description