ATHEN E-Journal Issue #3 (2007)
Guest Editor
E.A. Draffan trained as a Speech and Language Therapist, before specialising in the field of Assistive Technologies. She has since worked with disabled students in Further and Higher Education, set up an Assistive Technology Centre, developed a database of assistive technologies, contributed to the work of TechDis and other institutions and groups. She is now a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton.
Article Contributors
Paul Blenkhorn is the Sensory Software, Emeritus Professor University of Manchester, conducting research into speech and sight rehabilitation engineering needs for people with disabilities. An expert in assistive technologies and software development, Paul focuses on screen reading and magnification programs.
Dr. Caroline Davies has an academic background in scientific research and teaching in higher education. She has extensive experience managing academic guidance services and services for disabled students within the sector. Since 2002, Dr. Davies has worked as a consultant providing services to HEIs to support the development of services for disabled students and their access to the curriculum. She has developed particular experience of working with small specialist HEIs in the fields of art and design and the performing arts. She also co-authored the on-line Open University staff development resource for academic staff, "Making your teaching inclusive" (HEFCE-funded project). Dr. Davies has now joined forces with two other experienced consultants to form IMPACT Associates to provide consultancy to the post-16 education sector in disability issues which supports strategic and operational approaches to inclusion and accessibility.
Noel Duffy is Mananging Director of Dolphin Computer Access Limited (http://www.yourdolphin.com), a software company focused on delivering independence to people with print impairments. Noel is also chairman of Altformat, (http://www.altformat.org), a charity devoted to raising awareness of the need for people with low vision and literacy difficulties to have access to information in formats other than standard printed text.
Jenni Dyer is Policy Director at Skill: National Bureau for Students With Disabilities. As part of her role, she is a member of a number of national committees which advise the UK government on policy and practice for disabled people in non-compulsory education. She also conducts substantial training for universities and colleges on the UK legislation, the Disability Discrimination Act, and undertakes research on issues in higher education for disabled people in the UK.