[access-uk] Re: The Ultracane! I am a convert.

  • From: "Chris Hallsworth" <christopherhallsworth71@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 15:39:26 -0000

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 magnification
feature 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 the
student at all, except to say she uses magnification and the university she 
studies doesn't have any magnification products on their PC's, so for now
she 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 or 
advice 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 canes
have them selves to blame. I had chose System Access for my screen reader 
because 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 statement
in 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 cane
with the sensors to detect upcoming objects below and above waist hight 
giving 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 is 
no 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 broke
off one of the joints. I was ok because I wasn't far from where I was 
going 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 the
Ultracane so I had to use it and I am very glad that I did. I find 
that I can walk much faster because it slides over the groud much
easier because it is top heavy plus the added bonus of the 2 vibrating 
buttons under the thumb to warn you of approaching obstacles. Iwish
I hadstarted using it seriously 3 years ago.



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