Thanks for your help Barry. I have forwarded it to my support worker (she gave me permission to).
-- Chris Hallsworth e-mail: christopherhallsworth71@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx MSN: ch9675@xxxxxxxxxxx Skype: chrishallsworth7266----- Original Message ----- From: "Barry G" <lister@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 2:38 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.
Hi Chris - assuming that the student to whom you refer is studying a HE level course, I would urgently suggest that she contact the disability services department of her university and find out about the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) and, if they don't know about it, which would appall me, she should contact her LEA. This will fund a technical needs assessment and, following that, and assuming that assistive software is recommended, will also fund that, plus computer equipment, other equipment, non-medical helpers and other allowances, as long as they meet specific study-related and disability-related needs and are recommended by the Access Centre to which she will be referred.The university also has an obligation under the SENDA regulations (now part of the DDA) to make reasonable adjustments and, in most universities, this includes providing some sort of access software, although it will generally be limited to only one screen reader, one screen magnification package etc. I have known the DSA to fund installation of assistive software on university machines under some circumstances.Feel free to contact me off list if you want any more info, I'm a DSA technical needs assessor...All the best, Barry G----- Original Message ----- From: "James Scholes" <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: "Chris Hallsworth" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 2:17 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.Hi Chris,That is disgraceful. I thought a place offering education would be the first to offer students with what they need. Windows Magnifier? That would be like my school saying, "hey, use Narator, it works, because we think JAWS is pointless". Disgusting.James Scholes http://www.jls-radio.com -----Original Message----- Sent by Chris Hallsworth on Monday, February 02, 2009 at 12:38 PM I have a question regarding System Access. How good is the magnificationfeature compared to that of ZoomText or SuperNova or even Windows Magnifier?I'm asking on behalf of my support worker's student. I don't know thestudent at all, except to say she uses magnification and the university shestudies doesn't have any magnification products on their PC's, so for nowshe uses Magnifier. She was hoping they'd install ZoomText, but I guess due to money, or the lack of it thereof, they don't see the point. Any help oradvice would be greatly appreciated. -- Chris Hallsworth e-mail: christopherhallsworth71@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx MSN: ch9675@xxxxxxxxxxx Skype: chrishallsworth7266----- Original Message ----- From: "Saqib" <saqib500@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 12:12 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.I'm afraid people who choose to part with large amounts of cash just to buy an expensive screen reader which charges for SMA's and Ultra caneshave them selves to blame. I had chose System Access for my screen readerbecause it's quarter of the price of Jaws and does everything that I expect it to do. Plus they have killed off SMAs and that is an statementin its self. If you want to hear the announcement regarding this news then go to www.serotalk.com where you can find their latest news and podcasts. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Beasley" <pjbeasley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 11:44 AM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.Yes it certainly was expensive! I bought mine secondhand from someone on the recycle-it list and from memory I paid £290 which is stil not cheap,but unfortunately what technology for us blindies is. Take jaws as one example.----- Original Message ----- From: "Eleanor Burke" <eleanorburke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 1:49 AM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.Oh my goodness but that was very expensive. Can't imagine many blind people affording that type of price.Eleanor----- Original Message ----- From: "Dean Wilcox" <wilcoxdean@xxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 10:13 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.Yes of course we need canes but it wasn't cheap. No it was the canewith the sensors to detect upcoming objects below and above waist hightgiving feedback through vibrating buttons on the handle. It is also known as the batcane and I think cost around £500.At 20:34 01/02/2009, you wrote:Well Dean us guide dog owners do need canes also. That is a pity it isno longer available. Is it the one with spring or something to prevent snagging on the pavement. Why has the company ceased trading or manufacturing it? Prresumably there must have been a problem with it.Eleanor ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dean Wilcox" <wilcoxdean@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 8:13 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.I am a Guide Dog user but I'm convinced I would have tried the ultra cane if I was a full time cane user. People often knocked it because of its price but the short time I spent with someone elses left me impressed. It is a shame they're not in production any more as the company that makes them are no longer trading as from last summer, unless things have changed.At 19:59 01/02/2009, you wrote:I bought one of these secondhand over 3 years ago. And, although I used it a few times, last Monday someone who was looking up in the clouds - or behind him, got himself intangled with my cane and brokeoff one of the joints. I was ok because I wasn't far from where I wasgoing and someone helped me there, and I managed to get a lift back home when we had finished. The only other usable cane I had was theUltracane so I had to use it and I am very glad that I did. I findthat I can walk much faster because it slides over the groud mucheasier because it is top heavy plus the added bonus of the 2 vibratingbuttons under the thumb to warn you of approaching obstacles. Iwish I hadstarted using it seriously 3 years ago.** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq-- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. 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Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/lenThe Professional version does not have this message** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq __________ NOD32 3818 (20090202) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com James Scholes E-mail: james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx MSN/Windows Live Messenger: jamesscholes@xxxxxxx AIM: JamesScholes000 Skype: james.scholes Website: http://www.jamesscholes.com Blog: http://www.jamesscholes.com/blog Radio station and TeamTalk server: http://www.jls-radio.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jamesscholes Find me on Facebook! 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