Cognable

About

Simon Evans provides research development, e-Learning and accessibility consultancy, with particular focus on applications of Internet and new media by and for people with Intellectual Disabilities.

He has worked in this field as a freelance contractor for the past nine years, previously having been a teacher of 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 in a number of areas including:
  • development of a switch accessible eFolio system for ID students in further education
  • creating switch accessible games for Oily Cart's new show - Something in the Air
  • development of a network of wikis created by hundreds folk with ID
  • various applications of online and offline Multimedia Advocacy and PCP
  • development of ID accessibility guidance for digital content producers.
  • leading of user testing and usability evaluations of Web content, e-learning materials and other software 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 & Communication Technologies and & Accessibility
    Intellectual disability & e-accessibility: Raising awareness of web accessibility’s invisible community.
• Other Activities.
  • Slowly hacking out Free Readers - a public domain archive of free children's reading books, particularly targeting interactive whiteboard use
  • Failing to face up to rewriting my 2001 homepage properly - SEN Teacher
  • Finishing an MSc @ School of Neuroscience, Birmingham University