Welcome to our programme of access technology training activities. Here, you will find details of a wide range of access technology courses and training services. Most of the courses on offer are aimed at professionals working with blind and partially sighted people. However, there is also information for anyone looking for training in the use of access technology, as well as information for web developers.
What is access technology
Blind and partially sighted people use specialist software and equipment in virtually every employment and education setting.
Access technology is a primary information and communication tool, and makes a crucial difference in opening up education and employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people, where the production of and access to written information is often the primary activity. The use of ICT coupled with a working knowledge of their appropriate access technology software plays a fundamental role in that person's ability to work and to learn.
In most cases, access technology involves a computer that has been adapted using specialist screen reading or magnification software. It also includes hardware devices that have been explicitly designed, adapted or found to be useful for blind or partially sighted people.
About access technology training
Training in the use of access technology is a vital component in a person's ability to work and study. Training is important, not only for the person using the technology, but for support and other staff involved with a blind or partially sighted person's work or learning.
RNIB and Action for Blind People offer the following types of access technology training:
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A programme of short, one-day, courses that are open to everyone, and are delivered at one of our national network of training centres. Choose from the range of open courses outlined in this booklet.
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Commissioned training courses that can be tailored to the needs of organisations or companies, that can be delivered at a venue of your choice, or at one of our training centres. Choose from any of the range of courses outlined in this booklet, and call one of our national training teams to discuss how we can tailor to your individual requirements.
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One to one training for individual blind or partially sighted people engaged in employment or education. This training is delivered in situ, and normally attracts statutory or private funding.
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ICT and access technology training for blind and partially sighted people able to attend one of our training centres. If this is not possible, we can help people to find a local training centre or facility that can help.
Training for blind or partially sighted people
Our national network of access technology specialists offer training on any technology equipment or software that helps blind or partially sighted people for work, study or leisure.
For people who are in work, this training can be funded by the Access to Work scheme, which provides grants to employers to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.
For people in Higher Education, the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) provides funding for equipment and training. The cost of training can be claimed out of the non-medical helper component of the DSA.
RNIB are also engaged in strategic partnerships with a number of FE colleges throughout the UK /GB / England. There are also a number of local societies and specialist colleges for blind and partially sighted people that offer training in ICT and access technology.
Several RNIB centres have ICT training facilities for helping blind and partially sighted people learn about access technology. For example; Scotland, Bristol and RNIB College at Loughborough.
To find out how best to get training in access technology in your local area, please visit our regional contacts pages, which give you details of your local RNIB or Action Centre, where one of our access technology specialists will be able to advise further.
Course listings
These open course are offered at selected RNIB / Action training centres. They can also be commissioned and tailored for your organisation, to be delivered at a venue of your choice, or at one of our training centres.
Contact details
To book a place on any of these courses, or to discuss your training requirements in more detail please follow the links above or contact one of RNIB / Action's training centres.