Agenda and Papers - University of Edinburgh

Academic assessment
12. Academic assessment practices ensure
that disabled students are given the
opportunity to demonstrate the achievement
of learning outcomes and competence
standards.
Academic support for disabled students
13. Academic support and guidance are
accessible and appropriate for disabled
students.
Information & Communication
technology (ICT)
14. Institutions have in place the capacity to
investigate the range of ways in which
disabled students can be aided by ICT and
to provide students and staff with the
information to enable them to make the best
use of assistive technologies.
IS
Disability Office
Adjustment schedules
Teachability audits in schools or as in case of College of Science & Engineering, the annual
thematic review
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/information-services/services/help-consultancy/accessibility
How Information Services meets the QAA Code of Practice (disabled students)
Information Services at all times endeavours to make its services as accessible as possible to disabled users,
embedding and mainstreaming accessibility throughout its practices and procedures.
We acknowledge the rate at which technology is developing and the new products that are available to assist
disabled users. We therefore work closely with the University’s Disability Technology Sub-Committee and the
Disability Office to identify and develop procedures and installations which will assist students. Recent
initiatives have included licensing and installing mindmapping software on all our open access computers,
having space set aside in the main library where all students and staff can try out various forms of assistive
software (JAWS, DRAGON etc) as well as suite of PC’s with assistive hardware and software equipment such
as scanners, a Brailler, ergonomic mice and screen reading and literacy support software.
To assist students and staff in using the equipment we have extensive guidance on our website as well as paper
guidance beside the various machines explaining the various software and hardware. We can also offer one to
one assistance with the equipment should this be required.
Staff are made aware of the equipment and how to use it through various training sessions as appropriate. The
Information Services Disability Advisory Committee is always on the alert to new assistive software and
hardware and in all ways that technology might assist disabled users.
Information on our various assistive technologies that we offer are available on:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/information-services/services/helpconsultancy/accessibility/assistive-technology
To ensure that new purchases are accessible as possible IS procurement and applications development
processes include a review of accessibility considerations. New applications are developed to pre-defined
standards on accessibility. In addition, digital library provision is monitored to ensure it is as accessible as
possible, and procedures have been put in place to provide alternative formats quickly and cheaply wherever
required. We aim to make all our rooms and buildings as accessible as possible installing fixed induction loops
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