E.A. Draffan

University of Southampton · Department of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS)

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...

Recent studies into the evaluation of automatic speech recognition for its quality of output in the form of text have shown that using word error rate to see how many mistakes exist in English does not necessarily help the developer of automatic transcriptions or captions. Confidence levels as to the type of errors being made remain low because mis...

The phenomenal increase in technological capabilities that allow the design and training of systems to cope with the complexities of natural language and visual representation in order to develop other formats is remarkable. It has made it possible to make use of image to image and text to image technologies to support those with disabilities in wa...

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...

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...

In recent years, there have been significant developments in the education of people with disabilities. These developments have gone hand in hand with substantial legislative and technological changes that support the development of inclusive education in several European countries and globally. In order to support education environments in managin...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications are usually built on large trained data models that can recognize and label images, provide speech output from text, process natural language for translation, and be of assistance to many individuals via the internet. For those who are non-verbal or have complex speech and language difficulties, AI has the...

There has been a proliferation of automatic web accessibility checkers over the years designed to make it easier to assess the barriers faced by those with disabilities when using online interfaces and content. The checkers are often based on tests that can be made on the underlying website code to see whether it complies with the W3C Web Content A...

Recent developments in Information Communication Technologies and digital map services have empowered aspects of digital inclusion, which can benefit people with disabilities with an increasingly wider range of information regarding accessible travel. However, accessibility data collection and management is one of the grand challenges in the area o...

Recent developments in Information Communication Technologies and digital map services have empowered aspects of digital inclusion, which can benefit people with disabilities with an increasingly wider range of information regarding accessible travel. However, accessibility data collection and management is one of the grand challenges in the area o...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications are usually built on large trained data models that can recognize and label images, provide speech output from text, process natural language for translation, and be of assistance to many individuals via the internet. For those who are non-verbal or have complex speech and language difficulties, AI has the...

There has been a proliferation of automatic web accessibility checkers over the years designed to make it easier to assess the barriers faced by those with disabilities when using online interfaces and content. The checkers are often based on tests that can be made on the underlying website code to see whether it complies with the W3C Web Content A...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for at least 70 years, as have digital technologies and yet the hype around AI in recent years has begun to make some wary of its impact on their daily lives. However, in this special thematic session authors will be illustrating how increased speed of data crunching and the use of complex algorithms hav...

OpenCourseWare (OCW) has become a desirable source for sharing free educational resources which means there will always be users with differing needs. It is therefore the responsibility of OCW platform developers to consider accessibility as one of their prioritized requirements to ensure ease of use for all, including those with disabilities. Howe...

The special thematic session on eLearning for accessibility and assistive technologies is made up of a wide range of papers that illustrate a variety of approaches to teaching and learning that comes under the title ‘eLearning’ such as gamification, use of apps, online presentation tools and MOOCS. Successful inclusion of those with disabilities as...

The ‘massive’ and ‘open’ nature of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can provide powerful dissemination tools to raise awareness of topics in need of public attention, such as digital accessibility and its impact on assistive technology users. The subject is a wide-ranging one when taught from the point of view of those who may have sensory, phys...

This paper reflects the ‘Inclusive Teaching and Learning in Higher Education as a route to Excellence’ published by the Disabled Students Sector Leadership Group’s (DSSLG) in January 2017 and highlights actions that may be required to attain the goals set out in the report. Here we link Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles with the Social...

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 paper presents a gap analysis between crowdsourced functional accessibility evaluations of ebooks conducted by non-experts and the technical accessibility standards employed by developers. It also illustrates how combining these approaches can provide more appropriate information for a wider group of users with print impairments.

Accessibility guidance for the development of web-apps for users with cognitive disabilities is sorely lacking despite the availability of extensive web content accessibility standards. This paper examines additional requirements suggested by specialists in the field, in order to further aid developers looking to create accessible interactive web e...

Accessibility guidance for the development of web-apps for users with cognitive disabilities is sorely lacking despite the availability of extensive web content accessibility standards. This paper examines additional requirements suggested by specialists in the field, in order to further aid developers looking to create accessible interactive web e...

Accessibility guidance for the development of web-apps for users with cognitive disabilities is sorely lacking despite the availability of extensive web content accessibility standards. This paper examines additional requirements suggested by specialists in the field, in order to further aid developers looking to create accessible interactive web e...

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...

Report on a workshop that explored common challenges to assistive technology practice across a wide range of service providers and AT disciplines. The authors examine whether a lack of common terminology was hindering cross-sector cooperation.

The aim of this extended abstract is to demonstrate a framework that provides a novel solution for evaluating the mobile web accessibility of electronic text for print impaired people in Higher Education (HE). The current framework explores over 500 device settings. Furthermore, the scope of this research is outlined alongside two research question...

The number of universities in Saudi Arabia has increased dramatically in the last two decades. As a result the number of their websites has also increased without any clear guidelines regarding accessibility, which may hinder some of their disabled users from benefiting from their content. Internationally, a number of initiatives have been implemen...

This paper presents a new framework for localised web accessibility guidelines for university websites in Saudi Arabia. The main purpose of this framework is to provide the basis for the development of localised guidelines. Applying these localised guidelines on Arabic websites would enhance their accessibility for Arab people with disabilities. Th...

Graphic symbols can be used as an alternative way of communication. Translating from a message composed of symbols to a fluent sentence will enable symbol users to be understood by those who may not be familiar with the use of symbols. Symbol messages may not match the target language in terms of order and syntax. This paper describes an attempt to...

The importance of note-taking in face to face teaching and learning situations is well understood in terms of successful outcomes for the majority of students. Outcomes from interactions with online learning and the use of videos as a way of revising has been less well researched, in particular with disabled students. This paper aims to introduce t...

Purpose – A number of participatory research methodologies can be used to assist with developing assistive technologies. These methods vary in the amount that users lead and contribute to the work. Selecting the correct method can be important to ensure the overall success of the project and the engagement of users. The purpose of this paper is to...

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...

James, Abi; Draffan, E.A.; Cudd, Peter; Bentley, Claire: Terminology, understanding AT and practice. T4I Communications 1, T4I2016 – Knowledge Transfer, Nov 2016. Figshare. A workshop explored common challenges to assistive technology practice across a wide range of service providers and AT disciplines. The authors examine whether a lack of common...

Presently, Arabic AAC users in Qatar are mainly supported by English speaking therapists and specialist teachers using westernised symbols. As a result cultural, social and environmental considerations for young AAC users who are using symbols not developed in their own country have been neglected [1]. Additionally, the impact of bilingualism (Arab...

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...

This paper aims to highlight some of the issues that arise with the uptake of assistive technology as found in the literature across four different domains: Telehealth; Telecare; Augmentative and Alternative Communication; and Education. The authors were not looking so much at service delivery models as user centred experiences and key words that w...

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...

This paper aims to highlight some of the issues that arise with the uptake of assistive technology as found in the literature across four different domains: Telehealth; Telecare; Augmentative and Alternative Communication; and Education. The authors were not looking so much at service delivery models as user centred experiences and key words that w...

Developing resources for online learning in its many guises and more recently for MOOCs has been discussed across the educational sector, usually by individuals working for one institution or organisation. Rarely are there discussions that highlight the issues of collaborative working on content that is delivered over a period of weeks for a wide r...

There are several commercial or freely available symbol sets for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) use; all these symbol sets have the same issue when trying to use them in a multiple lingual setting. Symbol Dragoman is a Web based application that aims to allow the user who has no spoken language and uses pictograms or images to com...

This paper explores the development of a freely available online Arabic symbol dictionary that will have a wide range of culturally, linguistically and environmentally appropriate symbols leading to an increase in Arabic language skills for those dependent on communication devices and encouraging greater cultural understanding by those therapists w...

This paper describes mobile enhancements to Synote, the freely available, award winning, open source, web based application that makes web hosted recordings easier to access, search, manage, and exploit for all learners, teachers and other users. Notes taken live during lectures using Twitter on any mobile device can be automatically uploaded into...

Over the last ten years there has been an expansion in the number of symbol sets available to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, their therapists, teachers and carers. They have tended to be developed in USA or Europe with English or European language word lists, although some have other language options including Arabic. The p...

Over the last ten years there has been an expansion in the number of symbol sets available to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, their therapists, teachers and carers. They have tended to be developed in USA or Europe with English or European language word lists, although some have other language options including Arabic. The p...

Evaluations undertaken for digital materials and technologies that consider accessibility and ease of use for the type of resource – device, software or digital content – tend to be assessed in isolation. In doing so they exclude the importance of the interrelated aspects of accessing eBooks, failing to support the needs of those with print disabil...

The evolution of any product is usually in response to perceived benefits; either for the workflow, cost-benefit or for the end users. The development of accessible digital print resources at source of publication is uniquely advantageous in many ways. A system with improved accessibility for humans also enables content to be machine read[1]. Altho...

This paper aims to highlight some important pointers to improving the provision of assistive technologies (AT) and their support, based on an online survey carried out between September 2011 and February 2012 with results from 841 students in receipt of the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). The students overwhelmingly felt the technologies prov...

This paper is a report of some of the results from an on-line survey of disabled students conducted between September 2011 and February 2012. The respondents claimed the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) between 2006 – February 2012. Respondents were asked 28 questions about what support they received and their opinions on the usefulness and eff...

Initiatives to enhance Web accessibility have previously focused on the development of guidelines which apply on a global basis. Legislation at national and international levels increasingly mandate conformance with such guidelines. However large scale surveys have demonstrated the failure of such approaches to produce any significant impact. We re...

Synote Mobile has been developed as an accessible cross device and cross browser HTML5 webbased collaborative replay and annotation tool to make web-based recordings easier to access, search, manage, and exploit for learners, teachers and others. It has been developed as a new mobile HTML5 version of the award winning open source and freely availab...

Synote Mobile has been developed as an accessible cross device and cross browser HTML5 webbased collaborative replay and annotation tool to make web-based recordings easier to access, search, manage, and exploit for learners, teachers and others. It has been developed as a new mobile HTML5 version of the award winning open source and freely availab...

This paper reports on research investigating the current ability of HTML5 to play video in mobile browsers. Smartphones and the Mobile Internet are rapidly becoming an important platform for access to information anytime and anywhere. HTML5, the new HTML standard incorporates features like video playback that have been previously dependent on third...

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

Previous studies using digital pens to analyse handwriting have tended to deal with whole pages of writing or individual characters that are captured within single frames or boxes. English cursive script does not lend itself to this type of analysis. Words and individual letters vary enormously; adult handwriting has a personal style that is not ea...

With the fast growth of Linked Data, many datasets have been made available for public access. However, with an increased number of elderly and people with disabilities becoming technologically knowledgeable, it has been noted that few applications have been developed for this population group using Linked Data. In this paper, we present RailGB, a...

This paper describes three tools that have been developed to help overcome accessibility, usability and productivity issues identified by disabled students. The Web2Access website allows users to test any Web 2.0 site or software application against a series of checks linked to the WCAG 2.0 and other guidelines. The Access Tools accessible menu hel...

In this study, two software development projects were introduced to support timekeeping and reading for students with cognitive disabilities using mainstream mobile technology. In the first project, two versions of a countdown timer were developed that showed the remaining time graphically, by the area size. A unique feature was added to the develo...

Objective To initiate an experiment to see if an online tool can facilitate creation of new Assistive Technology (AT) through open innovation that engages the public (primarily end users and carers), prescribers, innovators and manufacturers. The final results and conclusions of the funded project which focus on AT relevant to access and use of Inf...

Objective To explore and resolve any philosophical differences and pragmatic implementation issues to make the best of open innovation and end user participation in the Assistive Technology(AT) field. From this inform the design of the REALISE online open innovation community tool. Main content Open innovation and user participation methodologies i...

ABSTRACT With reference to 71 educational and specialist establishments in the USA, this paper examines how various aspects of multimedia computer technology can help and encourage those with specific learning disabilities. Research into the assessment of differing learning styles is beginning to result in specialist software and an awareness that...

In this paper, we describe three tools that facilitate 'crowdsourcing' open source development to help overcome accessibility, usability and productivity issues identified by disabled students.

Objective To initiate an experiment to see if an online tool can facilitate creation of new Assistive Technology (AT) through open innovation that engages the public (primarily end users and carers), prescribers, innovators and manufacturers. The final results and conclusions of the funded project which focus on AT relevant to access and use of Inf...

Objective. To explore and resolve any philosophical differences and pragmatic implementation issues to make the best of open innovation and end user participation in the Assistive Technology(AT) field. From this inform the design of the REALISE online open innovation community tool. Main content. Open innovation and user participation methodologies...

Four short articles making up a section in the Employment and Dyslexia Handbook 2011 offering those who have dyslexia an insight into the sort of technology based strategies that could help in the work place.

Objective. At present, pupils, teachers and parents struggle with the lack of textbooks and supporting materials in accessible formats that can be used by pupils with visual or print impairment including specific reading difficulties such as dyslexia. Independent projects in Japan and the UK were conceived to assess whether the provision of textboo...

Formative eAssessment can be very helpful in providing high quality higher education assignments. When a university is encouraging the uptake of formative eAssessment internally it is useful to have case studies from academic schools detailing how academics enthusiastic about formative eAssessment have used it in their modules with the assistance o...

Formative eAssessment can be very helpful in providing high quality higher education assignments. However, there are obstacles restricting the uptake of formative eAssessment in higher education including both cultural and technical issues. When a university is encouraging the uptake of formative eAssessment internally it is useful to have case stu...

This paper illustrates how problems with accessibility and ease of use of electronic formative assessment tools can be overcome by the judicious use of assistive technologies and presentation modes to enhance teaching and learning for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Where formative assessments are u...

Formative eAssessment can be very helpful in providing high quality higher education assignments. However, there are obstacles restricting the uptake of formative eAssessment in higher education including both cultural and technical issues. When a university is encouraging the uptake of formative eAssessment internally it is useful to have case stu...

Digital inclusion in higher education has tended to be understood solely in terms of accessibility, which does little to further our understanding of the role technology plays in the learning experiences of disabled students. In this article, the authors propose a conceptual framework for exploring digital inclusion in higher education that attempt...

This paper illustrates how problems with accessibility and ease of use of electronic formative assessment tools can be overcome by the judicious use of assistive technologies and presentation modes to enhance teaching and learning for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Where formative assessments are u...

In 2007 the Joint Informations System Committee (JISC) introduced the second phase of the “Learner Experiences of e-Learning” research projects. These projects were designed to “review and investigate how learners experience and participate in learning in technology-rich environments” (JISC, 2007) as well as (amongst several other aims) make recomm...

Issues of accessibility and usability in relation to interactive multimedia Web content are discussed; in particular applications producing animation on the Web, such as Flash movies. The barriers that these types of technologies cause to some assistive technology users is mentioned, but it is stressed that with a pragmatic and proactive approach a...

Introduction Mobile Technologies Working on the Internet Conclusion Acknowledgements Resources

This article provides an overview and initial findings of the LExDis project which is exploring the e-learning experiences of disabled learners within a UK university in order to increase understanding of the many complex issues and interactions introduced by disabled learners’ requirements for accessible e-learning, compatible assistive technologi...

The LEXDIS Project was funded under phase two of the JISC e-learning pedagogy programme. The overarching aim of the study was to explore the e-learning experiences of disabled learners within the University of Southampton in order to increase understanding of the many complex issues and interactions introduced by disabled learners’ requirements for...

The JISC funded LexDis project, in participation with a group of disabled students at the University of Southampton, has strengthened the views of the authors for a more holistic model of accessibility as proposed by Kelly, B. et al (2007). However, without some guidance those developing frameworks for content may not know which procedures offer ea...

The JISC funded LexDis project, in participation with a group of disabled students at the University of Southampton, has strengthened the views of the authors for a more holistic model of accessibility as proposed by Kelly, B. et al (2007). However, without some guidance those developing frameworks for content may not know which procedures offer ea...

In recent years a number of studies have explored disabled learners experiences of using specific technologies with a view to producing accessibility related guidelines. Whilst these studies, to some extent, capture the “learner voice”, none of them have attempted to engage disabled learners as co-researchers in the project, where participation is...

There is a need for more in-depth exploration of the e-learning experiences of disabled learners in higher education, taking into account the complex relationship between learners (skills, knowledge and beliefs), their assistive technologies and the e-learning contexts in which learners are required to operate. Participatory methods appear to have...

This report describes and evaluates the methods used in a JISC funded project called LEXDIS. The overarching aim of the LEXDIS project is to explore the e-learning experiences of disabled learners within one institution, the University of Southampton in order to increase understanding of the many complex issues and interactions introduced by disabl...

This paper provides an overview and initial findings of the LExDis project which is exploring the e-learning experiences of disabled learners within a UK university in order to increase understanding of the many complex issues and interactions introduced by disabled learners’ requirements for accessible e-learning, compatible assistive technologies...

The mantra "One World, One Web" has a strong appeal to Web developers. They think of it as a design philosophy based on use of internationally agreed open standards for providing universal access to networked resources and services available on the World Wide Web. But does the available evidence show that practices match this philosophy? How would...

This presentation is aimed at those teaching or working with students in the post-16 sector who may need to use assistive technologies with e-learning materials.

This presentation is aimed at those teaching or working with students in the post-16 sector who may need to use assistive technologies with e-learning materials.

To identify the types and mix of technology (hardware and software) provided to post-secondary students with dyslexia under the UK's Disabled Student Allowance (DSA), and to determine the students' satisfaction with, and use of, the equipment provided and to examine their experiences with training. A telephone survey of 455 students with dyslexia w...

Purpose. To identify the types and mix of technology (hardware and software) provided to post-secondary students with dyslexia under the UK's Disabled Student Allowance (DSA), and to determine the students' satisfaction with, and use of, the equipment provided and to examine their experiences with training. Method. A telephone survey of 455 student...