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Craig Mill

Using a phone's telephoto lens as a distance camera

Posted by Craig Mill on the 15th April, 2022

Most modern phones, including Android and iPhones, have good quality cameras for taking close up and distance snaps. A telephoto lens on a phone can be used for capturing information on flyers, posters, and content on the class whiteboard. Using the free app Microsoft Lens, ...

Read Aloud in Edge Browser - a great addition to support reading

Posted by Craig Mill on the 7th April, 2022

I’m writing this article in response to a query I recently received. I was asked for some advice on reading online news articles for someone with a visual impairment and struggles using a mouse. They had tried using the free Natural Reader (a text-to-speech tool) but the process of s...

Apps to convert printed text to digital format - which one is best?

Posted by Craig Mill on the 31st March, 2022

A question we often get asked at CALL is about converting paper or printed worksheets to digital format that can be read aloud using text-to-speech by a device such as an iPad or Android. Digital readable formats can be helpful to learners who have literacy difficulties, who are print disa...

Looking for a simple but effective text reader?

Posted by Craig Mill on the 24th March, 2022

It’s life Jim, but not as we know it, so goes Spock’s famous Star Trek phrase (and song). But for the purpose of this blog, I’m referring to a text reader, but not a text reader as we know it! While preparing for a recent workshop on using ‘Technology to Support Learners with...

Online spelling checkers - which one is best?

Posted by Craig Mill on the 24th March, 2022

I’m a touch-typist but I’m forever making typos (and the odd genuine spelling mistake) so I find spell checkers invaluable. Online spell checkers such as Grammarly and Ginger claim to use artificial intelligence (AI) to check spelling and grammar and offer alternative suggestions to mist...

Using Microsoft Word to support learners with Additional Support Needs (ASN)

Posted by Craig Mill on the 14th January, 2022

Small changes can make a big difference! In this new resource 'Using Microsoft Word to support learners with Additional Support Needs (ASN)' a series of short video guides explains how you can make small changes using Microsoft Word’s built-in tools to support learners with literacy di...

How do I make my slide presentations accessible for my learners?

Posted by Craig Mill on the 5th November, 2021

I’ve had a few queries recently asking how to make PowerPoint accessible, particularly for learners with a visual impairment who use a screen reader. We have lots of resources on making Word accessible for example the YouTube video playlist on 'Creating Accessible Documents' and the po...

Looking for an exciting and innovative course in technology and ASN?

Posted by Craig Mill on the 5th November, 2021

If so, then look no further. CALL Scotland, in partnership with Edinburgh University’s School of Professional Learning, will be running a 10-week introductory course, starting in February 2022 on technology to support additional support needs in education. The focus of the course will highligh...

Controlling the iPad with your voice!

Posted by Craig Mill on the 12th October, 2021

We all know that Siri on the iPad is good for lots of things such as asking about the weather, solving maths questions, dictating messages and writing documents, but are you familiar with Voice Control, a lesser-known tool in Accessibility that can do so much more than Siri? With Voice Control, you ...

Can mind mapping help to support learners with writing difficulties?

Posted by Craig Mill on the 2nd September, 2021

“I know what I want to write, I just can’t get it down on paper”. Does this sound familiar? I meet lots of learners who have great ideas, plenty of stories to tell, but struggle when it comes to the physical act of writing. A blank page whether it be paper or a word processor can b...

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