Home Access Pilot Program: Disabled Students Achieve Potential

Author: iansyst and XMA | Home Access Pilot - Contact: Contact Details
Published: 2009/04/08 - Updated: 2021/08/20
Topic: Europe - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Disability specialist iansyst Ltd and XMA have partnered to provide assistive technologies, training and support to disabled students across Oldham and Suffolk eligible for the Government's Home Access pilot.

Some 80% of disabled students eligible for the grant will have a difficulty with reading or writing such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, general learning difficulties or a visual impairment.

Once identified, learners will be assessed by the local authority with help if necessary from iansyst's team of disability experts, who will put together a package, personalized to their individual learning needs.

Introduction

iansyst and XMA help disabled students achieve their potential with Government's Home Access pilot. Through the Home Access pilot, iansyst and XMA are now able to supply assistive technologies appropriately tailored to the individual needs of disabled students and provide the support they require to make good use of them.

Main Item

Disability specialist iansyst Ltd and XMA have partnered to provide assistive technologies, training and support to disabled students across Oldham and Suffolk eligible for the Government's Home Access pilot. This new funding marks the Government's dedication to providing disabled young people with equal access to ICT, and forms part of a wider commitment to supply 7 to 18 year-olds from low income families with access to a computer and internet connectivity at home. Disabled students are encouraged to apply for this additional funding through their school or Local Authority.

Some 80% of disabled students eligible for the grant will have a difficulty with reading or writing such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, general learning difficulties or a visual impairment. Current research demonstrates that ICT can be effective in helping students with literacy difficulties gain access to the curriculum and avoid falling behind; however, due to a lack of funding to date, technological assistance has largely been confined to the classroom. Through the Home Access pilot, iansyst and XMA are now able to supply assistive technologies appropriately tailored to the individual needs of each student and provide the support they require to make good use of them.

Capturing information electronically can be the key to helping learners with literacy problems access and interact with the curriculum at home. It gives students greater independence and alleviates many difficulties with reading, writing, organization and memory skills. Most important of all, the student can achieve immediate success which builds confidence. The provision of a computer and the internet at home also enables parents to get more involved in their child's education and understand how to further support their learning, as well as to interact with web-based services and information in general.

Once identified, learners will be assessed by the local authority with help if necessary from iansyst's team of disability experts, who will put together a package, personalized to their individual learning needs. The student will also be provided with training and receive additional ongoing support as required.

Ian Litterick, Executive Chairman at iansyst Ltd, comments:

"In order to improve learning and help to bridge the digital divide, it is essential that disabled and dyslexic students have equal access to ICT at home and this is now achievable with personal assistive technology. For this technology to be truly beneficial however, students must be provided with adequate training and ongoing professional support which iansyst is dedicated to providing."

XMA's Commercial Director, Ash Merchant, said:

"We are delighted to be involved with the Home Access program, which is being delivered by Becta. 1.5 million British school children have a special educational need such as Dyslexia and, if this pilot is successful, we are confident that we can improve the prospects of many children across the UK."We have over 20 years experience in the education market and we were one of the main suppliers of notebooks into schools under the Computers for Pupils initiative (CfP). We have already delivered in excess of 40,000 notebooks into authorities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Blackburn with Darwen and Derby City over the last 24 months and we are looking forward to working with Becta again on this pilot program."

Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of Becta said:

"Ensuring learners with special educational needs are supported by the Home Access Program is important, and credit must go to the hard work of our partners in achieving this. As part of Becta's Next Generation Learning campaign, Home Access will help to ensure every learner has an equal chance to tap into the benefits of the internet and explore the important role that technology can play in our everyday life at home and school."

Explore Similar Topics

- The paper analyzed sentiments towards autism and autistic people in British newspapers from 2011 to 2020, as evaluated by autistic people.

- Medical device firms paying millions to UK healthcare organisations, including the NHS, according to a new report.

Citing Information and Page References

Disabled World (DW) is a comprehensive online resource providing information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): iansyst and XMA | Home Access Pilot. (2009, April 8 - Last revised: 2021, August 20). Home Access Pilot Program: Disabled Students Achieve Potential. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 15, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/news/uk/home-access-pilot.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/news/uk/home-access-pilot.php">Home Access Pilot Program: Disabled Students Achieve Potential</a>: Disability specialist iansyst Ltd and XMA have partnered to provide assistive technologies, training and support to disabled students across Oldham and Suffolk eligible for the Government's Home Access pilot.

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it's important to note that our content is for general informational purposes only. We always recommend consulting qualified healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.