Accessing the curriculum 
Video CALL Scotland
Presenter Dr. Stuart Aitken
Transcript
Malcolm has significant physical challenges. All his books need to be provided in an accessible format. That format should aim to improve performance in independent reading, and writing which is affected by poor motor control resulting from cerebral palsy.

He is included in a mainstream classroom and follows a standard mainstream curriculum. Technology available is basic. He will need assistive technology in order to benefit from any accessible materials.

Assistive technology support includes Windows On-Screen Keyboard and a specialised joystick. Click-N-Type was used to create a specialised number grid to reduce keystrokes. Together these help to raise his performance to a level nearer to his competence.

The tasks, of reading, writing, drawing and maths, each and together, present formidable obstacles. For example, maths requires him to open the book, go to the correct page, navigate to a question, read it, write a (number), answer and go to the next page. 

His maths books are published in Adobe PDF format. The digital version is our starting point. For each question, answer boxes (form fields) are added, tab keys set to allow quick navigation and a number of parameters set.

Improving the environment, combined assistive technology and a format accessible to him allows him to demonstrate his true competence. Attainment improved remarkably quickly. Not only were other physically disabled learners helped with this format, so too were pupils with a visual impairment and with autistic spectrum disorder.

Work continues to add many more books to make them available through a secure portal to all teachers in Scotland. The results have gone mainstream. Changes to the law and policy have effected significant improvement.