accessibility – Jane Farrall Consulting

Assistive Access – new iOS Accessibility feature that ROCKS!!

Sep 23, 20232 Comments

As many of you will know, iOS17 was released yesterday to coincide with the release of the latest iPhone models. One of the new accessibility features in iOS17 is going to be game changer for me. I am frequently in classrooms working with a number of students. Many of the students I work with have

AAC apps list updated

Apr 16, 201515 Comments

Updated to add: The AAC Apps list has been discontinued. I’m very pleased to say that I have just updated the AAC apps list again! This time 106 of the existing apps have been updated and there are 23 new apps. You can see a list of all the Additions and Updates by clicking here.

Keedogo & Keedogo Plus: Custom Keyboards for the iPad

Oct 26, 20145 Comments

Recently Apple released iOS8 – and once again there were a number of accessibility features added with this update. For a round up of accessibility changes and additions check out the excellent summary from AbleNet – iOS8 Accessibility. One of the new features is the ability for developers to create their own onscreen keyboards for

Brain Computer Interface at ISAAC 2014

Jul 29, 20142 Comments

Last week I was very fortunate to attend the ISAAC Conference in Portugal. One of the highlights for me was learning more about Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and even getting to try one. Dr Melanie Fried-Oken, who is a really fabulous and practical researcher in the area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) presented about

How do I use a switch with an iPad? iOS 7 Overview

Sep 29, 201375 Comments

The latest operating system for the iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, iOS 7, has introduced some major changes to the accessibility of these devices. In particular, switch access is now built right into the accessibility options, providing operating system level alternative access to these tablet devices for the first time – and this update is the main purpose

Zybox for iOS – updated and upgraded!

Jun 8, 20131 Comment

Please note: this product has been discontinued The Zybox for iOS is a switch interface from Zygo that uses VoiceOver to control the iOS and any VoiceOver compatible apps on your iPad or iPhone. I reviewed it earlier this year and posted a blog about it on the 31st of March. However, the Zybox has

Apps for AAC: Adding iPads to your AAC Toolkit

May 1, 20136 Comments

Today I am delighted and honoured to be presenting a pre-conference workshop at the 2013 AGOSCI Conference in Sydney with Janelle Sampson from Two Way Street and Kelly Moore from the Independent Living Centre in Western Australia. Below are links to the presentation resources. Part 1: Display content from SlideShare Click here to display content

Zybox for iOS – another VoiceOver switch interface option for the iPad

Mar 31, 201312 Comments

The Zybox for iOS is a new switch interface from Zygo that uses VoiceOver to control the iOS and VoiceOver compatible apps on your iPad or iPhone. The most significant advantage of this adapter is that it is the first one I have tried that plugs directly into the port on the iPad. This will

PCS High Contrast: A valuable resource

Jan 2, 20139 Comments

This morning I have been making up a couple of communication books that I want to trial with students in the coming term. The following photo of my dining table is submitted as evidence! (And I’m hoping the Christmas decoration still on the table is extra proof that I actually took this photo today!) I

Lots of alternatives – “pencils” for everyone

Dec 19, 201213 Comments

When I first started teaching literacy I focused on teaching reading. At the time, I was working with adults with physical disabilities and writing seemed so hard. None of my class would be able to use a pen or even a keyboard and mouse, which was all I had access to (or so I thought).