Intelligent strategy development and recommendations: Using TechAbility Standards to improve support for disabled learners

Harrod-Beck, Neil; Coughlan, Tim and Greenwood, Richard (2024). Intelligent strategy development and recommendations: Using TechAbility Standards to improve support for disabled learners. The Open University | TechAbility, UK.

Abstract

This is the final report for the Knowledge Transfer Voucher project. Mainstream and specialist organisations supporting people with learning difficulties and disabilities struggle with awareness around effective strategy and use of assistive technologies. There is often a technology-first approach, buying inappropriate equipment, rather than understanding what would be pedagogically effective – often due to a lack of guidance of how technology can be used effectively. The TechAbility Standards have been developed to address this and a version of an audit tool has been adapted for use by staff and organisations to audit their current provision, identifying areas for improvement. The standards have multiple potential uses, as inspiration for improving provision, or more formally as an audit and basis for IT / AT strategy building. Existing research at The Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology explores how students can benefit from AI-based tools that provide advice and information sharing around disabilities. This project developed and evaluated a first version of an intelligent approach to make the outputs of the TechAbility standards audit more useful and personalised, therefore supporting staff to better support disabled students.

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