Cognable

About

I provide research development and accessibility consultancy, with particular focus on applications of Internet, assistive technologies and new media by and for people with Intellectual Disabilities.

I have worked in this field as a freelance contractor and consultant since 2002, previously having been a teacher and teacher-trainer specialist in SEN and ICT for a further ten years. Clients have included Mencap, TATE, Several LDPB and LEA, BBC Digital, SCIE, Xtensis, HFT, C-Space, BECTA and Inclusion International.

Current Activity

• Rix Centre : Rix Centre Website.
  Currently working with the Rix Centre on a number of projects including:
  • working with Big Ears Multimedia to develop the Multi-Me multimedia advocacy package
  • working on a 2 year project with Action for Kids to develop a free, portable accessibility tool kit for young people with ID and other disabilities
  • creating switch accessible games for Oily Cart's new show - Something in the Air
  • development of a network of wikis created by hundreds of folk with ID
  • development of a switch accessible eFolio system for ID students in further education
  • leading of user testing and usability evaluations of Web content, e-learning materials, software and hardware for users with ID.
  • consultancy in accessible Web design approaches for audiences with ID.
• Inclusive New Media Design : INMD Project Website.
  Consultant Researcher on this 2 year AHRC funded research based at Leeds University. The project is looking into the barriers to accessible practice in commercial web design and has a particular focus on the needs of Web users with an ID.
  
• Trans-Active : Trans-Active Website.
  Developed the Trans-active Passport (ePortfolio) application and continue to provide on-going support for this component of the project, which won the Guardian Award for e-Involvement in 2002.
• Conference Papers and Seminars
  • 2004: International Conference on Adaptive Hypermedia and Adaptive Web-based Systems
    Accessibility through Personalisation for People with Cognitive Disabilities - a Presentation of work in progress on 'Project @pple'
  • 2005: CSUN Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities
    Individual difference and the World Wide Web: developing an online learning environment for learning disability communities in Project @PPLe
  • 2008: CSUN Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities
    Multimedia Advocacy for People with Intellectual Disabilities – Models of Best Practice
  • 2009: ICTA International Conference of Information and Communication Technologies and Accessibility
    Intellectual disability and e-accessibility: Raising awareness of web accessibility’s invisible community.
• Other Techish Activities.
  • Developing a Free text-to-speech plugin for use with WordPress and Drupal
  • Slowly hacking out Free Readers - a public domain archive of free children's reading books, particularly targeting interactive whiteboard use. Almost finished, self-voicing and switch access is in testing.
  • Failing to face up to rewriting my 2001 homepage properly - SEN Teacher
• Other Stuff:
  • Spending time with my wonderful 4 year old twin daughters.
  • Finishing an MSc @ Birmingham University
  • Falling back in love with the piano.
  • Staggering my way through the Lau Gar Kung Fu syllabus and maintaining my status as Britain's least effective kick-boxer.