David P Banes

• M.Ed
• Managing Director at David Banes Access and Inclusion Services

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) implementation at any level is a multifaceted process that requires selection of relevant and appropriate systems to suit individual users who may have complex communication needs and other co-occurring difficulties. Careful and systematic action may be required to develop skills and abilities in the...

According to the Global Report on Assistive Technology (2023) [1] more than 2.5 billion people require one or more assistive products - a number that is expected to grow to over 3.5 billion by 2050 due to the aging of our societies. Over the past decade, the design of products that empower people with a disability has shifted from specialized and d...

This article reports on work undertaken by AAATE researchers in the framework of the EU-funded TRIPS Project. The project (2021-2023) has aimed to contribute to transforming public transport in Europe and beyond toward more inclusive models, leaving no one behind. The reported findings refer to a specific aspect of the transformation process that h...

BACKGROUND Do-it-yourself technologies such as 3D printing offer interesting opportunities for creating custom-made assistive devices for people with disabilities. Although these opportunities are increasingly acknowledged, it remains unclear how 3D printing technology should be implemented in assistive devices delivery processes. OBJECTIVE In thr...

Estimates by the World Health Authority suggest that 1 billion people do not have access to the assistive technologies they require. Over the past decade, the design of products that empower people with a disability has shifted from specialised and dedicated products designed only for those with a disability to features and functions integrated int...

A collaborative ecosystem that encompasses the use of open-licensed augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions and systems has the potential to provide positive outcomes for children with severe speech and language difficulties. This has been shown through a project that highlighted the willingness to provide a considerable amount o...

This STS explores contributions to the independent mobility of persons with disabilities. Mobility is often cited as a requirement of people with a disability seeking to increase opportunities for full access to education, employment and daily living. Recent innovations in assistive and accessible technologies suggest new ways in which navigation,...

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies, training and support have benefitted from significant emerging trends in recent years to cope with the changing environments experienced by many users. The landscape of inclusion, whether it means different forms of digital accessibility, tele-support or more built-in assistive technolo...

Introduction The impact of assistive technology use on the lives of people with disabilities has long been demonstrated in the literature. Despite the need for assistive technologies, and a wealth of innovative, afford-able, and accessible products, a low rate of assistive technology uptake is globally maintained. One of the reasons for this gap is...

Digital technologies are having a profound impact upon all phases of mobility for persons with a disability. In this paper, the different stages of travel are reflected upon their potential pain points for travelers with a diverse range of needs. Furthermore, solutions in which emerging digital technologies are offering solutions to historic barrie...

This paper defines and summarises the contemporary concept of Frugal Innovation. As a novel approach to address market-shaping, investment and supply, Frugal Innovation is highly relevant to developing and developed countries or regions, particularly in resource-constrained environments. Frugal Innovation has a close relationship with disruptive mo...

The purpose of this paper is to assist Ministries of Education, their donors and partners, Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs), and the practitioner community funded by and working with USAID to select, pilot, and (as appropriate) scale up ICT4E solutions to facilitate the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), with a particular e...

This commentary explores the issues raised in the original article and seeks to suggest how the systems and processes that the professionals utilize shape the challenges and issues they face. Furthermore, it asks the question as to the extent to which self-determination in the selection of many forms of assistive technology would address and resolv...

Increased awareness, interest and use of assistive technology (AT) presents substantial opportunities for many citizens to become, or continue being, meaningful participants in society. However, there is a significant shortfall between the need for and provision of AT, and this is patterned by a range of social, demographic and structural factors....

The use of an online voting system has been developed to enable democratic choices of newly designed symbols to support speech, language and literacy skills in a localisation situation. The system works for those using and supporting Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) symbols on electronic systems by the provision of simplified scales...

NRV is an online community space which aims to empower researchers to support each other, share their work and contribute to a better understanding of the world we live in. This platform aims to connect researchers, publish research articles and interviews with researchers and academics to promote norm-challenging, sensitive and innovative research...

When we speak of the challenge of refugees and forced migrants from the middle east, it is difficult to comprehend the scale of the issue. Estimates suggest that there are some 15 million Arabic speaking refugees and internally displaced persons currently. It is suggested that the average duration of major refugee situations has increased from 9 ye...

The service delivery of Assistive Technology for access to information and communications technology is frequently fragmented and inconsistent as evidenced by experience in the US and much of Europe (AAATE 2012). AT users can experience hiatuses in their access to appropriate assistive technologies as they transition from home to education, to empl...

The service delivery of Assistive Technology for access to information and communications technology is frequently fragmented and inconsistent as evidenced by experience in the US and much of Europe (AAATE 2012). AT users can experience hiatuses in their access to appropriate assistive technologies as they transition from home to education, to empl...

The use of an online voting system has been developed to enable democratic choices of newly designed symbols to support speech, language and literacy skills in a localisation situation. The system works for those using and supporting Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) symbols on electronic systems by the provision of simplified scales...

This article explores the increasingly global dimension of the advent of disruptive technologies into the assistive technology industry

The use of Open Educational Resources (OER) has grown over the years and includes not only text based learning materials but also the use of images. The latter are particularly important when working with those who have communication difficulties and are symbol users or require extra support when gaining literacy skills. This support may come in th...

This guide addresses the key issues in seeking to implement Assistive Technology into Educational Organisations such as schools

This paper aims to illustrate how an innovative voting system has been developed to allow AAC users, their therapists, carers and families show their degree of acceptance for newly developed symbols and their referents. The approach, taking a participatory model of research, occurs via an online symbol management system using a set of criteria that...

This paper discusses the development of an Arabic Symbol Dictionary for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, their families, carers, therapists and teachers as well as those who may benefit from the use of symbols to enhance literacy skills. With a requirement for a bilingual dictionary, a vocabulary list analyzer has been develo...

The purpose of the Arabic Symbol Dictionary research discussed in this paper, is to provide a resource of culturally, environmentally and linguistically suitable symbols to aid communication and literacy skills. A participatory approach with the use of online social media and a bespoke symbol management system has been established to enhance the pr...

In this guide we explore some of the reasons why training in access and technology fails to transfer to other languages and cultures. Recommendations based upon effective practice are identified and shared

In this paper the authors explore the issues of developing assistive technologies to meet the needs of Arabic speakers, key principles and practical examples to achieve a successful outcome are included

This paper discusses the research undertaken and challenges met when localising an open source browser-based toolbar in an environment and language not known to the developers. It shows how a framework can be created, based on an inclusive design process that results in a set of criteria to support the development of this type of technology in othe...

Background and Objectives: Mada, Qatar's Center for Assistive Technology, is a non-profit organization that strives to empower and enable people with disabilities through ICT. During late 2011 and early 2012, Mada conducted research to identify barriers to accessibility in Qatar Methods: In the survey, the key groups of respondents were identified...

In this article, David Banes examines the impact of Microsoft Surface on how people with disabilities interact with technology and information. Microsoft Surface is a dynamic multi-touch environment offering direct interaction with data without the need for a keyboard or mouse. These new forms of interaction offer new opportunities to reduce the di...

The next 10 years will show an increasing demand for personalisation and customisation of ICT systems by users. Throughout Europe the population is ageing and there is increased life expectancy and lifetime expectancy for disabled people. Organisations such as AbilityNet are assuming that there will be exponential growth in demand as these demograp...

David Banes, Headteacher, and Richard Walter, IT co-ordinator, describe ways in which the Internet has been used by a group of pupils with complex needs at Meldreth Manor school. The rationale, some teaching techniques and methods of evaluating the experiment are discussed, and a range of issues requiring further investigation are identified.

A partnership between Widgit Software and Meldreth Manor School, a residential school for pupils with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties, is aiming to produce a new suite of software programmes. These programmes enable pupils to use an extensive vocabulary of Rebus symbols for extending language and communication skills, as well...

Should pupils with severe learning difficulties be introduced to history in the National Curriculum? Views are divided. David Banes, teacher, Rainbow School, Bedford Education Authority, and a member of the National Curriculum Development Team (SLD), and Judy Sebba, coordinator, National Curriculum Development Team (SLD), Cambridge Institute of Edu...