Understanding the Why

Learning skills and workplace engagement

The Assistive Technology Specialists team is committed to delivering inclusion through technology to our students at Western.

The National Disability Strategy highlights the need for focussed support for those who are disadvantaged in education and in the workforce –noting the significant gap for students with disability completing training qualifications, and participating in university studies.

The facts:

  • 2.1 million Australians of working age (15-64 years) have disability.
  • People aged between 15 and 64 years with disability have both lower participation (53%) and higher unemployment rates (9.4%) than people without disability (83% and 4.9% respectively).
  • Over one third (35.1%) of women and over one quarter (28.1%) of men aged 15 years and over have avoided situations because of their disability.
  • Global research has found that when employee health and wellness is managed well the percentage of engaged employees increases from 7% to 55%.
  • Around half of people with disability have used aids or equipment to help with their disability.

Finding a solution:

Everybody's situation is unique to them. In order to help guide our support choices, we keep in mind the goal a person wishes to achieve, then take into consideration physical, cognitive, sensory, neurological and immunological needs. These are paired up with prior experiences, preferences, limitations, time-frames, support networks and other factors that may affect the success of our plans.

Our goal is to build an inclusive and supportive environment by providing access to and training in traditionally classified Assistive Technologies, such as Sonocent Audio Notetaker, along with modern educational and workplace technologies, like Microsoft OneNote and Planner. We aim to improve staff and student independence and provide them with knowledge and skills as to how they can support themselves that will serve them well as they move on from the University.

Explore and learn:


Physical conditions

Facts:

  • The majority of people with disability have a physical disability (83.9%).
  • Only 4.4% of people with a disability in Australia use a wheelchair.

Examples:

Physical disability includes amputation and deformity, arthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatism, reduced dexterity, muscular dystrophy, repetitive stress injury (RSI), tremor and spasms or quadriplegia.

AT supports may include:

Voice or gaze control of computers, speech to text (dictation), customised input devices like modified or alternate keyboards, joysticks, switches and trackballs, even touch screens can be considered an assistive technology.

Raise your awareness:

Watch the following video to see how Voice Control technology can assist people with accessing technology and participating more easily in life.

Sensory conditions

Facts:

  • At least 1 in 20 children experience sensory processing sensitivities that interfere with their everyday life. This can persist into adulthood.
  • 1 in 6 Australians are affected by hearing loss. Projections indicate that 1 in 4 Australians will have hearing loss by 2050.
  • Vision Australia estimates there are currently 357,000 people in Australia who are blind or have low vision. They project that the number of Australians who are blind or have low vision will grow to 564,000 by 2030. (Refractive error not included).
  • Colour blindness affects approximately 1 in 12 men (8%) and 1 in 200 (0.5%) women around the world.

Examples:

Sensory conditions include colour blindness, low vision, blindness, deaf-blindness, deafness or other hearing loss, and heightened sensitivity to sounds, touch and movement.

AT supports may include:

Methods of sound amplification, methods of reducing sound, magnification software and hardware, keyboard and display customisation (e.g. high contrast or reduced animation), screen reading and text-to-speech software, touch screens, concept mapping programs, organisation and time management programs, virtual reality and augmented reality environments.

Raise your awareness:

Watch the following videos to get an idea of what what hearing can sound like through hearing aids and FM units in the classroom and see what vision loss can look like with a range of different conditions.

Colour blindness

A comparison of colours when seen with different types of colour blindness.

Normal vision sees a range from Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Blue to Purple. Protan and Deutran see a similar range of colour that includes a red being interpreted as a brown, green a mustardy brown through to grey, and purple as blue through to grey. Tritan sees reds, oranges and yellows and purples interpreted as a series of pink hues, with greens and blues being more aqua toned. Monochromacy sees all colours interpreted in greyscale.
Click on image above to enlarge.

Neurological, learning, mental health, and behavioural conditions

Facts:

  • 11.3% of people with a disability have a mental and behavioural disability.
  • 4.8% of people with a disability have an intellectual or developmental disability.
  • 45% of Australians aged 16–85 years, experience a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety during their lifetime.

Examples:

Conditions that stem from brain function can include Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, depression and anxiety, memory impairments, multiple sclerosis, and seizure disorders.

AT supports may include:

Note taking programs, particularly with video or audio recordings for later revision as required, calendars, organisation and time management programs, speech-to-text (dictation) and text-to-speech (listening) functions, display customisation including font type, size and colour, spelling and grammar checkers, visual organisation including concept mapping, and even mindfulness and meditation apps.

Raise your awareness:

Watch the following video to get an idea of how dyslexia can affect students in the classroom, and hear how Assistive Technology can help them achieve in the education environment.

Health Conditions

Facts:

  • The number of people who face a wide variety of chronic health conditions is hard to define.

Examples:

There are a wide variety of health conditions that can impact on a person's ability to engage with learning and working activities. These range from asthma, allergies, and arthritis to Crohn’s disease, Lyme disease, lupus, diabetes and colitis. From cardiac conditions, migraines and cancer to chronic fatigue or seizure disorders.

AT supports may include:

Hardware and software customisation, touch screen, speech-to-text (dictation) and text-to-speech (listening) functions, note taking programs, virtual reality and augmented reality environments.

Sources: