Get reports and photos of the event here

Breaking news:

Sadly both CAC and RM were unable to come at the last minute. The CALL Centre stepped in to take over CAC’s slot in the talks.

Exhibition of the Latest Technology for SEN

The CALL Centre organised a series of one-day exhibitions and demonstrations of hardware and software for pupils with special educational needs by a number of Britain’s leading suppliers. Though the focus of the days was primarily on the use of technology in education, much of the equipment and software on display was also of interest to people who work with adults with disabilities and to parents.

The exhibitions enabled people to view new products and talk to suppliers. In addition, there were a number of presentations by suppliers scheduled throughout each of the three days. Timetable

The Venues

Dundee: Bowes Lyon Hall, Faculty of Education & Social Work, University of Dundee, Gardyne Road, Dundee,  DD5 1NY. Directions

Edinburgh: CALL Centre, Paterson’s Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ. Directions

Dumfries: Cairndale Hotel, English Street, Dumfries DG1 2DF. Venue

Who’s coming?

The following suppliers were invited:

• Cambridge Adaptive Communication (CAC)
• Concept Northern
• Crick Software
• Don Johnston Special Needs
• DreamWriter Solutions
• iANSYST Ltd
• Inclusive Technology
• Liberator
• Penfriend Ltd
• Prentke Romich International
• QED 2000
• RM
• SEMERC
• Sensory Software International
• Sight and Sound
• Widgit Software

Booking a place

At each venue a free buffet lunch will be provided. It is therefore important that people register in advance, rather than just turn up so that we have an idea of numbers before the day. You can register online by clicking on our Booking Form

Acknowledgements

The CALL Centre is grateful for the assistance provided by The University of Edinburgh, Theresa Mungall, Dundee City Council, and John McVie, Dumfries and Galloway Council in organising these days. We would also like to thank the various suppliers who have agreed to attend the event and the Scottish Executive Education Department for their support.

Suppliers

• Cambridge Adaptive Communication (CAC) is the British manufacturer of Cameleon computer-based communication aids. Cameleons can be used for both symbolic and text-based communication. As part of the Possum Controls group, we are able to integrate the infrared remote control available with Cameleon solutions into your local environment allowing you to seamlessly combine AAC, Computing and Home Automation and a wide range of†other life skills. We also supply products from companies such as Words+, Handicom, TASH and Mayer-Johnson.
   
• Concept Northern, based in Scotland, is able to provide a range of solutions to assist those with reading and writing difficulties. We will be demonstrating Texthelp, specially written for dyslexia; Dolphin software including Screen Reader, Screen Enlarger, Text Reader and Braille Translator; Tieman & Ash hardware magnification equipment for domestic, educational and business use.
  
   
• Crick Software produces software for all abilities, focusing on Literacy, Multimedia, Access and Communication. Alongside their award-winning software, Clicker 4, Find Out and Write About and Planet Wobble, they will be showcasing the highly acclamed USB Switch Box. USBKeys2 automatically detects the program and sets the Switch Box up accordingly and is updated at SwitchIndex.com.
   
• Don Johnston Special Needs Ltd. is the leader in learning intervention resources. We provide the high-quality intervention products that pupils with special needs require to achieve literacy. We offer reading, writing, word-study and computer access products, such as our award winning Write:Outloud and Co:Writer programs.
   
• DreamWriter Solutions specialises in supplying portable solutions for individual SEN pupils. We supply AlphaSmart, DreamWriter, HP, Iridium, JVC and Toshiba portable computers and offer comprehensive service and repair facilities for a wide of portables, desktops and computer peripherals. We also sell Franklin Spell Checkers and are an Authorised Microsoft Education Reseller.
   
• iANSYST Ltd are specialist suppliers of computer hardware, software and other technology which can help people with dyslexia. They will be able to give you expert advice about speech recognition programs; text-to-speech; mind-mapping and study skills; and a variety of gadgets including the Quicktionary Reading Pen; portable computers; and electronic dictionaries.
   
• Inclusive Technology are major suppliers of software and equipment for pupils with special educational needs. Recent products include SwitchIt!Weather and MouseSkills early learning programs. Inclusive also provide training in the use of technology for teachers through the New Opportunities Fund programme.
  
   
• Liberator markets hardware and software items for people with special needs. Our core business has always been augmentative communication systems but we also market access technology: everything from switches through to head pointing mouse alternatives and a wide range of software. Liberator markets AbleNet equipment in the UK.
   
• Penfriend Ltd is a powerful software tool for helping dyslexic and physically disabled people to write. It predicts the next word they intend to type, speaks as they write, offers an on-screen keyboard and can read back documents such as their own work or web pages. It is ideal for SEN in special and mainstream schools, and as an accessibility tool for adults.
   
• Prentke Romich supplies Minspeak voice output communication aids worldwide. For spontaneous, independent communication, Minspeak is the most effective AAC language system. For over 20 years, the combination of Prentke Romich communication aids and Minspeak software has given a voice to more than 50,000 people worldwide, with a range of motor skills and cognitive ability. We will be demonstrating this powerful combination with our SpringBoard, Pathfinder and Vantage communication aids.
   
• QED 2000 manufacture and supply innovative products for people with special needs. These include an extensive range of special input  switches, communication aids and mounting systems. We distribute products from Adaptivation, Tash and Ablenet that complement our own range. We will be demonstrating a variety of products that have recently been added to our range, including Quintet - a switch accessible music device, in addition to our latest low tech communication aids, switches and simple mounting systems.
   
• RM is the leading supplier of software, services and systems to UK education. We provide complete Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions to schools, colleges and universities. RM will have a wide range of products and services on show and will be demonstrating how some of the latest technologies will have an impact in the classroom.
  
   
• SEMERC is the leading special needs IT company in the UK and its parent, Granada Learning Ltd, is the leading UK supplier of educational software. For over 20 years SEMERC has provided software, hardware and information for learners with special educational needs in schools and at home. Recent software includes the innovative Just Like Series, software that covers Bullying, loss, disruptive pupils etc.
   
• Sensory Software International specialises in programs for people with disabilities. Our titles include literacy support programs for dyslexic and visually impaired users, communication software for people without speech and extremely powerful mouse and switch driven on-screen keyboards. We also supply complete systems based on special computers for AAC. We have dealers in 20 countries and our programs have been translated into many different languages.
   
• Sight and Sound are leading suppliers of products for the Blind, Visually Impaired and People with Reading/Learning Difficulties. Products include JAWS Screenreading Software, Zoomtext Magnification Software and Kurzweil Scanning/Reading Software. Workshop will be available entitled 'Kurzweil 3000 and Test Taking' to show how the product can be used in the classroom.
   
• Widgit Software will be showing their newly revised and expanded Rebus Symbol Set within version 2.6 of Writing with Symbols 2000 as well as the program's new switch and html features. We will also explain our new symbol-supported web sites, containing a host of free resources. New programs include First Keys 2. This is an exciting new edition of the popular First Keys, developing keyboard skills through text matching, spelling and word blends from picture cues.
   

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