Ask James!

My child or student struggles with ________. Can you recommend something for them?

While I'm not able to give individual advice or recommendations, I’ve created a wealth of Assistive Technology resources that are available to you online!

Which laptop or tablet should I buy for my child?

We recommend Apple iPads and Windows laptops because those devices are most commonly used in Irish schools and they have a broad selection of accessibility features, apps, and software available. Check out these articles:

• iPad or Laptop – which one should I buy for my child?

• Which Apple iPad should I buy for my child?

• Which Windows laptop should I buy for my child?

How can I get help with the application for the AT Grant?

The AT Grant can be tricky! Check out this blog post for help with the AT Grant application process.

If your AT Grant application has been rejected, you can opt to purchase the assistive technology yourself and still save some money by claiming back the tax. Check out this post about how to reclaim VAT on assistive tech purchases.

How can I have my child tested for dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or ADHD?

Contact your child’s school and ask what testing options they have available in-house, or connect with an Educational Psychologist here. UrAbility does not offer testing or evaluation services.

What AT is available for students in Gaelscoileanna?

Unfortunately, there isn’t much currently on the market for Gaelscoileanna students.

However, this training by Gaeloideachas is a good place to start!

How can I get a quote for the cost of assistive software or hardware?

Check out companies such as Ed Tech or Sight and Sound Technology to get a quote. As UrAbility is not a software or hardware manufacturer, we can’t quote these for you, but they should be able to help you out.

I support a teenager or young adult who has learning challenges. How can they learn about assistive tech?

Getting Started with Technology, our online course for parents, might be a good fit. While the course is not specifically focused on tech for adults, it covers a lot of technology that will be useful to students in secondary, as well as young adults who are post-secondary or university-aged.

If the individual isn’t able to follow a self-guided online course on their own, it’s a great idea to take the course together so you can learn with them and support them on their journey!

What is Touch Typing and how can my child or student learn to do it?

Touch Typing is the ability to type on a keyboard while using all of your fingers and without looking at the keys. It’s a skill that can help students to succeed and achieve in the classroom and in examinations, but they can also carry it with them into the workplace.

A child can begin to learn Touch Typing when their hands are developed enough to span a keyboard comfortably. Older students and adults also benefit from learning to Touch Type—it's never too late to start!

We introduce you to Touch Typing in our short one-hour video training, Assistive Technology Basics.

Our full-length online courses for parents and teachers and SNAs cover Touch Typing in greater detail.

What’s a scanning pen and does my child or student need one?

A scanning pen is a device that you pass over the text on a page as you would a highlighter, and it reads the text aloud. It can read the text in books, newspapers, magazines, or any other printed document.

• C-Pen Reader is a portable, pocket-sized device that reads with a human-like digital voice. Students can pass the pen across a word and it instantly displays the definition and reads the word aloud. It can also scan and capture text to upload to a computer. The C-Pen Reader is now approved to be used in Irish State Exams.

• Livescribe Pen is a ballpoint pen with an embedded computer and digital audio recorder. Using the pen, students can record as they write and later upload it to a computer. Their notes are synchronised with the recorded audio. These pens are best for senior cycle post-primary students.

Our full-length online courses for parents and teachers and SNAs cover scanning pens in greater detail.

Do you have any training or resources for Chromebooks?

UrAbility’s online courses only cover Windows laptops and Apple iPads, as those are the devices most commonly used in Irish schools. However, Chromebooks do have some useful accessibility features!

Here's some info from Google about the features available on Chromebooks:

• Chromebook Accessibility Overview from Google

• How to turn on Chromebook accessibility features