[senit] good to see everyone

Hi Guys
Great to see so many faces at the SENIT meeting on Friday. Trish
Davidson made a great suggestion at the meeting to my request for ideas
around ensuring the accessibility of managed ICT services. If everyone
could contribute one thing (or more! ) that they would like to see from
a managed service (hardware, software, infrastructure or an aspect of
service delivery). This might be something you already do that you think
is important, or something that you wish that you could do, or might
like to do in the future.

You may want to post to me off list, although I know good ideas and
nuggets of good practice are always well received on the list.

Thank you so much to members would had lengthy conversations with me or
John during BETT about Accessible managed ICT services. I will follow up
with many of you soon.

As a reminder of the original request for ideas, I have included the
text or my initial e-mail below

Many thanks

Adam

For your information and hopefully feedback, we have been asked to do
some consultancy work for Becta. Becta are keen to ensure that local
authorities and schools are asking the right questions to ensure that
products and services commissioned will meet the needs of all learners.
This has come about because of the Building schools for the future
program which is re-generating all secondary schools in England and
requires that they have a managed ICT service.

John and I are beginning the process of consulting key stakeholders
(please see the text below) and we would also be very grateful to here
from you! You may also be asked when working with relevant clients to
discuss this with them in greater detail (John and I will be providing a
questionnaire/script!) The time scale for this is short, so please think
on this and let us have your input.

Part of this work is to involve key stakeholders in the SEN IT field and
so we would really like to hear the views of all of you who would like
to contribute.  Key issues we are addressing include:

1)      What questions do purchasers need to ask themselves to ensure
they understand their own requirements for accessibility?

2)      Specifying requirements for accessibility - what are the key
accessibility pre-requisites which purchasers needs to be outlining in
their invitations to tender ?  We are talking about the real practical
stuff which may cause real barriers to your students and key
accessibility pitfalls which are often overlooked but cause real
problems when the solution arrives at school.

This could range from specifying USB ports at the front of machines,
through height adjustable electronic whiteboards/ plasmas through to
VLEs accessible to non readers / switch users.

3)      Working with suppliers - how can the purchaser evidence their
expectations around accessibility if challenged by suppliers ?  How can
purchasers ensure that accessibility doesn't drop off busy agendas -
such as with BSF?

We would be really grateful for your input.  You can email us at
Adam.waits at AbilityNet.org.uk either with your input or just expressing
that you would like to talk to us - we will be spending time in January
and early February talking to people and coming out to meet some of you.

Adam Waits
Lead Assessor, Children and Young Adults
AbilityNet East
Upper Pendrill Court, Papworth Everard, 
Cambridgeshire, CB23 8UY

Tel:    +44 (0)1480 839091
Fax:   +44 (0)1480 831559
Web:  www.abilitynet.org.uk