The Governments Home Access Programme

The Government’s Home Access programme is an exciting £300 million project to bring computers and Internet access to school children and students who do not currently enjoy them - to help level the “digital divide” between the majority of families who now have access to the Internet and those who are unable to get it.

Home Access was piloted in the two boroughs of Oldham and Suffolk only, for low income families. However it should be noted that the funding for this pilot scheme has now been closed.

The programme will be rolled out nationally from the end of 2009.

The pilot grant paid for:  a computer, one year’s internet access, safety features and 3 years service and support.  If your child needs it then additional software and devices - known as ‘Assistive Technology’, were available to support students with specific learning difficulties or disabilities.

iansyst partnered with IT specialists XMA, who were a Next Generation Learning @ Home Approved Supplier,  in providing systems which include Assistive Technology for the Home Access programme.

Home Access is part of the Next Generation Learning programme to provide personalised learning for all students. It aims to get more families using computers and the internet at home, so everyone has the chance to learn more. With a computer and the internet at home, you can learn what you want, when you want, whatever your age, enabling the whole family to learn more and to take advantage of the huge opportunities presented by the World Wide Web.

iansyst has been helping disabled people get to grips with new computer systems for over 25 years.

• know about dyslexia and disabilities;
• advise you on the best technology to help overcome these;
• configure the technology so that it works as well as possible;
• support children and adults with dyslexia and disabilities in using their technology;
• train people in how to use assistive technology effectively.

Assistive technology products on www.dyslexic.com showing this icon:

 were appropiate for Home Access Funding.

However as the grants are no longer available, individuals who may wish to purchase through self-funding can do so; information regarding the assistive technology solutions available can be found here: Home Access products.

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive technology is equipment or computer software which enables or helps someone with a disability to use a computer, or carry out tasks which others might not use technology for.

Learners who have specific impairments - who are blind or partially sighted, who have poor motor control or difficulty in reading or processing language, for example - can often use a computer if steps are taken to improve accessibility. For some learners, simple adjustments to the system’s accessibility options - changing size of text, or background colours - are all that is needed. Others need help to use a standard keyboard, or an alternative form of input, or software that will convert on-screen text to speech for example.

Through the Home Access grant scheme, children with special educational needs may be able to claim an additional grant to provide assistive technology to enable them to have equal and fair access to online learning at home.

About iansyst:

iansyst prides itself in sourcing, testing and comparing assistive technology products, to provide our customers with a comprehensive range of solutions to cover a variety of challenges. All of iansyst’s 100 staff undertake specialist disability product and awareness training, ensuring they have a firm understanding of your specialist needs. In addition to assistive technology, we have been supplying training on it since 1997. All trainers are experts in the products and highly experienced in helping users learn their software or equipment through training which is structured to their requirements. iansyst are proud to have helped thousands of students and professionals get the most out of their computers and assistive technology.