Supporting Blind and Visually Impaired Students: Resources for HE Copyright NCTD 2003. All rights reserved. Contact NCTD for permission to use for other purposes. Training, consultancy and tactile graphics provided by the National Centre for Tactile Diagrams (NCTD) A HEFCE/DELNI-funded project 2003 - 2004 Provision for Disabled Students The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Are you sure you comply with the DDA? DDA part IV Affects all aspects of education: admissions, enrolments and exclusions, and student services, including teaching, libraries, catering, accommodation, careers services etc. There are two main duties: 1. Not to treat a disabled person less favourably than a non-disabled person for reasons related to his/her disability without justification. 2. To make reasonable adjustments to ensure that a disabled student is not placed at a substantial disadvantage. Do you know what you need to do to support blind and visually impaired students and staff? Here’s how we can help... The National Centre for Tactile Diagrams (NCTD) is a non-profit organisation, sited by HEFCE at the University of Hertfordshire in 1999 specifically to aid the support of blind and visually impaired students in Higher Education. With other funding the NCTD also supports blind individuals, businesses and organisations with tactile graphics and related services. With recent Strand Two HEFCE/DELNI funding the NCTD has extended its range of resources to suit the needs of HEIs to help you to support your current or potential blind and visually impaired students from application through to graduation. Any blind staff you have will benefit too. Headed by Dr Sarah Morley Wilkins and Dave Gunn, the NCTD team consists of a range of experienced and qualified staff: academics, researchers, consultants, tactile graphic designers and volunteers. We design and produce tactile graphics, and provide expert advice on all aspects of tactile graphic design, production and use, through a range of training and consultancy services. Courses & Presentations One-Day Course "Supporting Blind and Visual Impaired Students in Higher Education" "it is difficult to identify a single aspect that was most interesting. The whole day has been extremely thought provoking and interesting. It has completely altered my outlook." Ideal for: staff who need an in-depth knowledge of all the issues e.g. disability officers and support staff. When: Organised by NCTD, and run with the RNIB twice a year, at various UK venues. Content: Extensive hands-on knowledge of how to support and teach your blind and visually impaired students, on courses and in their wider university life. Three-Hour Course "An Overview of Supporting Blind and Visual Impaired Students in Higher Education" "...very good, interesting content and I liked the variety of formats (exercises, video etc)." Ideal for: staff who need an overview of all the issues e.g. lecturers, technicians and student services. When: On-request, we deliver an on-site course. Content: A comprehensive overview of the one-day course, including a video about assistive technologies. Learn basic techniques for: the delivery of accessible teaching; the provision of accessible learning and teaching materials; and supporting students in their wider university life. One-Hour Presentation "Tactile Graphics in Higher Education" "I did not previously know about the range of methods or how to access them. Very useful to have samples to see and feel." "Fascinating-an excellent introduction to what can be achieved." Ideal for: staff responsible for learning and teaching, and for other forms of accessible documentation. When: On-request, we deliver an on-site presentation. Content: Learn how to make the graphical parts of a student’s university life accessible - how to select, obtain and use tactile graphics in learning and teaching and to support their wider university life. Contact the NCTD for details of prices and dates, see back cover. Consultancy & Advisory Services NCTD gives professional consultancy advice to HEIs on the use of tactile graphics in any area. "The NCTD gave me lots of very useful information and practical advice." Training for Students: We can provide training and advice for blind and visually impaired students who would like to learn how tactile graphics can help them in their studies, and how to learn or refresh their tactile graphic literacy skills. "You provided great insights into the practical decisions as we begin to develop the tools needed to make learning more accessible." Production of Tactile Graphics The NCTD are experts in personal tactile graphic production. "Your diagrams have been a pleasure to study with." Catalogue: We hold a catalogue of a wide range of master copy tactile graphics that can be duplicated and purchased. Production: Alternatively, our tactile graphic designers can design and produce new tactile graphics, from course materials to campus maps. Formats: Each new diagram has a Braille and a large print version, as well as a verbal description of how to navigate through the diagram. Tactile graphics are usually vacuum-form or on swell-paper, but durable campus plans can also be provided. Prices vary according to the complexity of the graphic. "...with your diagrams, I was able to understand exactly what my lecturer was talking about." Tactile Graphics Handbook for HE Do your staff know about tactile graphics? Do your students? During 2003-04 we will be sending a Tactile Graphics Handbook for HE to every university disability office and LTSN centre, including sample tactile graphics, good practice guidelines for staff and students, and case studies. Show this Handbook to your colleagues and students and make your materials more accessible. "An excellent resource to pull off a shelf to demonstrate to staff and students what's possible, and to tell us what we need to do" In Search of Core Graphics for HE Pilot Project with the Open University The Project: The NCTD is currently running a project funded by the "Centre for Assistive Technology and Enabling Research" (CATER) at the Open University, to provide core tactile graphics for eight of their most popular courses. Aim: To aid blind and visually impaired students to understand the complex graphical parts of their course. Courses: Wide range including art, business and science, chosen for their popularity and complex graphical content. Diagrams: Each diagram has a Braille and large print version, as well as a verbal description of how to navigate through the diagram, and provided electronically, ready to produce for students when required. Training: The NCTD is also providing staff with training in the production and delivery of the tactile graphics. Follow-up: The project will be evaluated and we will make recommendations which will be relevant to other universities. Pilot Project in Psychology The Project: As part of our HEFCE/DELNI funded project we are conducting a pilot project into core graphics for degree level psychology. Aim: To establish whether we can select and design a package of reusable core tactile graphics for blind and visually impaired psychology students across the UK. Target: Recommendations will be made for Psychology in particular, and implications for other subject areas will also be disseminated. Invitation to Participate: We would like to speak to as many psychology lecturers, course developers, and blind or visually impaired psychology students (past and present) as possible. If you are interested in being part of this research which could have far-reaching benefits for HE, please get in touch. Contact details on back cover. Contents * The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) * Courses & Presentations * Consultancy & Advisory Services * Production of Tactile Graphics * Handbook of Tactile Graphics for HE * In Search of Core Graphics for HE Contact Details National Centre for Tactile Diagrams (NCTD) RNIB, 58-72 John Bright Street, Birmingham, B1 1BN. UK Telephone: 0845 257 2587 Fax: 0845 257 2588 E-mail: info@nctd.org.uk Website: www.nctd.org.uk