Our websites:

Our social media sites - YouTube, Twitter and Facebook

YouTube X Facebook Instagram
70

Blog

using the ipod / ipad to support reading and writing

Posted by Allan Wilson on the 20th April, 2010

We have featured a number of apps for the iPod Touch and the forthcoming iPad over the past few months, including apps for communication (see blogs on 18th January and 6th April) and for more general educational purposes (see blogs on 18th January and 24th February). These devices also have pote...

learning to read - structured phonics products [updated 9/12/10]

Posted by 4 on the 14th April, 2010

In the wake of growing evidence in favour of a 'return to phonics' for example from Tommy Mackay's Scottish Executive funded West Dunbartonshire Literacy project, a burgeoning market has emerged that offers a number of products, not just for early readers but also targeted at pupils who have diffi...

Communication Apps for iPhone, iPod and - NEW - iPad

Posted by 14 on the 6th April, 2010

This blog has mentioned before the growing range of communication Apps for iPhone and iPod Touch. You can download an updated CALL Information Sheet reviewing different communication Apps, (and even a Nintendo DS app). Times are changing - many of these Apps are (much) cheaper than a roll of Ve...

quick guide to free / low-cost software

Posted by Allan Wilson on the 26th March, 2010

We have updated our quick guide to Low-cost / No-cost Software Tools for People with Dyslexia. This provides information about a selection of mainly free programs that can help people with reading and writing difficulties to access text on a computer. The guide is not intended to be a comprehensiv...

free text to speech options for the mac

Posted by Allan Wilson on the 23rd March, 2010

We are often asked if there is an Apple Macintosh version of WordTalk, the free text-to-speech add-on for Microsoft Word. Unfortunately, there isn't, and, due to differences in the way that PCs and Macs handle sound, there is unlikely to be a Mac version. There are a number of free text-to-speec...

eBook accessibility

Posted by Paul Nisbet on the 18th March, 2010

Alistair McNaught, Senior Advisor at JISC TechDis leads the Right to Read Alliance working group on eBooks and his latest report to the Alliance identifies several very promising developments in the area of accessible eBooks. JISC RSC commissioned research by Shaw Trust into the accessibility of...

Useful resources about making accessible resources from JISC RSC

Posted by Paul Nisbet on the 18th March, 2010

Craig Mill, e-Learning Advisor at the JISC Regional Support Centre NE in Edinburgh, has written a very good guide to creating accessible Word and PDF documents which you can download from the RSC NE e-Inclusion web site. The Guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution which means you ca...

Free exhibition: ICT and Inclusion 2010

Posted by Robert Stewart on the 17th March, 2010

CALL Scotland has been organising the FREE annual ICT and Inclusion (originally called ICT/SEN Update) roadshow since 2001. It provides people with an opportunity to see and compare the latest software and technology to support students with additional support needs from most of the leading UK co...

eBooks becoming more accessible?

Posted by Paul Nisbet on the 16th March, 2010

eBooks have been around for some years now without making much impact but recently there has been a lot more buzz about them. There are a lot of interesting possibilities with eBooks for people with print disabilities but the main one is access to books: if accessible eBooks could be purchased dir...

\'The Language Stealers\' video about AAC in schools

Posted by 14 on the 16th March, 2010

Inventive and thought provoking video on Youtube to make the point about augmentative communication (AAC) in schools (or not...) made by a project by/with/around a young lad in County Durham. Michael Reed. Check it out!

Newsletter: join thousands of other people

Once a month we'll send you an email with news, research and thoughts, as well as training courses and free webinars you may wish to attend.