Texthelp Talks

Welcome to Season 3 of the Texthelp Talks podcast. This season, we're focusing on a topic that is right at the heart of what we do here at Texthelp, and that's accessibility. In this episode, host Rachel Kruzel is joined by Texthelp's Chief Technology Officer, Ryan Graham. Last time Ryan was on the podcast he took us on a journey through the history of digital inclusion, from the early days of computing to the development of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Ryan returns to look at how far we've come since those guidelines where established, and the impact the present version (WCAG 3) is having on web accessibility. Plus, he'll give a forecast of what lies ahead, with technologies like artificial intelligence presenting exciting opportunities for shaping a more accessible future. 

What impact can Universal Design have on the experiences of disabled and neurodivergent talent? In this podcast episode, we explore this through the eyes of Cory Quigley - a neurodivergent person working in the Human Services field. As Cory  shares his experiences of growing up and working with ADHD and Dyslexia, he also highlights how he feels educators and employers can improve the experience for neurodivergent people.

If we want all learners to succeed - we need to ensure that we are continuing their supports into higher education as well as K through 12. I this episode, uur host Joni Degner will be recapping a discussion on Can Tech help create belonging? That took place over on Think UDL (hosted by Lillian Nave) with Rachel Kruzel, Higher Education Specialist at Texthelp. 

Universal Design is all around us. It makes sure that products and environments are usable to all people, by design. In this episode, we'll be taking a look at the origin of the concept and how the principles have evolved to all parts of society. We'll be hearing from different perspectives how inclusivity by design can be applied in different settings, both physical and digital. 

Our host, Donna Thomson, is joined by Adam Spencer, Content Creator at Classic Marble. Adam has Dyslexia, and today we'll be exploring dyslexia beyond reading and writing challenges.Don't forget to listen out for Donna's one thing to know, one thing to do, and one thing to think about at the end of the episode.

As many as 15% of people globally are dyslexic. Dyslexic individuals will thrive in environments that support different ways of thinking and doing. In this podcast episode, we'll be taking a look at how inclusive technology can support Dyslexic individuals from university right through to the workplace. Joining us is Crystal Rose, a Public Sector employee with Dyslexia.

A panel discussion featuring EY's Entrepreneur of the Year AlumniAnyone who has dyslexia is typically very good at problem-solving and focusing on the wider picture – so it's no wonder they make great business leaders.10 percent or 450,000 Irish people are said to have Dyslexia. Young people with Dyslexia are often given international examples of people like Richard Branson or Jamie Oliver who are successful business people with Dyslexia. However, there are plenty of examples of Dyslexic Irish business people who have started their own start-ups or small businesses. In a recent survey, 230 EOY alumni surveyed, 75% identified a connection in some way with dyslexia. We took the opportunity to sit down around a (virtual) table with some of EY's Entrepreneur of the Year Alumni to chat about what makes people with dyslexia so inclined to go into business for themselves, and how their dyslexia and different thinking paves the way to success. With Richard Branson and Made By Dyslexia collaborating with LinkedIn to recognise “Dyslexic Thinking” as a valuable skill, the initiative is a breakthrough in acknowledging the positives of being dyslexic in the workplace. We all have a role to play in breaking down the stigma attached to dyslexia and other neurodiverse traits in the workplace and this recognition is a great start. 

We've dedicated an entire season to raising awareness about dyslexia in the classroom, the workplace and beyond, in light of Dyslexia Awareness Month. Throughout season 1 you'll hear from our presenter, Donna Thomson, from Texthelp. In this episode, Donna introduces an insightful conversation between her colleague, Chelsie Spencer and Sierra Goodfellow, a learner who was diagnosed with dyslexia in the first grade. Throughout her life and education, Sierra has faced many barriers to learning. After years of self-advocating, she finally recieved the right accomodations for her and went on to find success and a love for writing. Something she never thought was possible in the early days of her dyslexia journey.This is Sierra's story...

In this episode we hear from Texthelpers Donna Thomson and Greg O'Connor. Donna introduces the discussion before passing over to Greg who is our host for the day. Greg was joined by Aussie educators Jacinta Keenan and Brett Salakas and also by El'ise Bothe, a reality TV star and dyslexia ambassador.  Finally, Donna closes out the session and gives us 1 thing to know, 1 thing to think about and 1 thing to do. 

Research from leading charity, Made by Dyslexia and ManPower Group found that by 2025 humans & machines will split work 50:50. The 50% that are ‘human' skills are also Dyslexic Thinking Skills. This means that if at school and work we're not all able to succeed, that's a problem for everyone. We need to redefine dyslexia for the 21st century by educating workplaces and education systems to understand dyslexia as a strength. In this podcast episode, we'll be learning from lived experiences. Joining us is Lynsey Redpath, a fellow Texthelper with Dyslexia who is breaking down stigma and shouting about the power of her Dyslexic thinking. ------------------------Show notes:Your one thing to do - sign up for our Inclusion Festivals for free Professional Development and expert advice.For schools, colleges and universities, visit text.help/education For workplace support, go to text.help/workplaces Download a copy of Lord Holmes' report into the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

During this episode, you'll be hearing from Jason Carroll, Chief Product Officer at Texthelp who is joined by the authors of Inclusive learning 365 again. This time, we'll be finding out what the guests have been getting up to since their last time on Texthelp Talks a few weeks ago, as well as getting all the details from their roadtrip to ISTE and the conference itself.

Getting funds to invest in technology is really only the first hurdle for schools and local authorities. Driving adoption of these tools also presents challenges. That's because there are a lot of stakeholders and voices within education. To be able to select the right tools and drive usage there needs to be engagement with the whole school community. In this episode, we hear from different perspectives to help local authorities and schools on their EdTech journey.  Listen as South Lanarkshire Council share their story to rolling out devices and software across their 150 schools. You'll learn from education support officers, right through to parents.----------------------Don't miss South Lanarkshire's event on 12th September at Duncanrig Secondary School to discover how they are making use of a variety of tools, including Read&Write.

To innovate and create our own future, we need to think differently. And to unlock the potential of all students, we need to create more inclusive learning experiences. In this episode of Texthelp Talks, we're joined by Rachel Nowicki to discuss all things accessibility by design. Rae is the Disability Support Advisor at the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology. She discusses the Institute's approach to inclusion and how this gives their Neurodiverse students opportunities to succeed with engineering and maths from day one. -------------------------Read Rae's recent article in AdvanceHE, “A proactive approach to neurodiversity in higher education”.And to learn more about the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, check out their website and follow them on Instagram. 

Jason Carroll, Chief Product Officer at Texthelp is joined (for the second time) by the authors of Inclusive Learning 365:  Chris Bugaj, Karen Janowski, Mike Marotta and Beth Poss -  who all come from a variety of backgrounds in education.In this episode, we find out a bit more about the authors, delve into some of the topics they are passionate about and discover what drove them to write their book Inclusive Learning 365. They also share some of their plans for the 2022 ISTE Conference, taking place in New Orleans and how they plan on getting there...Show Notes: Follow the Inclusive 365 authors on their Roadtrip to ISTEAdd your favorite road trip songs to their spotify playlist for the tripOrder your copy of Inclusive 365Follow the Inclusive 365 Team on Twitter and Instagram

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) recommends that access arrangements for exams are part of a students "normal way of working". But what does this mean and what does this look like in a busy classroom environment?In this episode, we're putting these questions and more to Simon Tanner from Bohunt Education Trust. Simon shares his experience as Director of SEND in supporting students to produce their best work and have the right opportunities come exam time. -------------------Additional resources:Find out more about Simon's MAT SEND Leadership Programme on Twitter Get to grips with the latest JCQ guidance 

In this episode we are joined by 2 experts in maths education in Australia. The host for the podcast is Allan Dougan, Allan is CEO of the Australian Association of Maths Teachers (AAMT). The AAMT are partnering with Texthelp to further maths education in Australia, so Allan is in a great position to host this session. Allan started his career as a Secondary Mathematics teacher in Scotland. As a celebrated teacher, he held various leadership positions in schools and was Scottish Teacher of the Year Runner Up. After moving to Australia, Allan quickly proved himself as a teacher of merit holding senior leadership positions in NSW schools.Before joining AAMT in December 2020, Allan was Global Head of Education for a large EdTech company - a role that saw Allan present professional learning across the globe and develop a strong knowledge of current and emerging educational practices and pedagogies worldwide. Allan is passionate about relational and relevant education which helps young people become lifelong learners.Allan is joined by Dr. John West, who is an independent mathematics education consultant. He currently works as the WA Project Officer for The University of Adelaide's Maths in Schools Project, a casual lecturer in mathematics education at The University of Western Australia, and a fly-in/fly-out numeracy consultant to Coober Pedy Area School. John currently serves as the President of the Mathematical Association of Western Australia (MAWA) and is the author of a growing range of books for students and teachers including the Problem Solving Handbook (2021) the popular Puzzle Compendium series.So you can see that if anyone can answer the question, what makes a good maths lesson -it's John and Allan. 

In this episode of the Texthelp Talks podcast, we caught up with Caroline Wright, live from Bett 2022. Caroline is the Director General of the British Educational Suppliers Association. BESA is the UK's national industry association for educational products and services. Caroline talked to us about the work BESA do to support schools and educators. As well as reflecting on the past 2 years, where we're at now and how we can maintain momentum with EdTech to make our schools even more inclusive. 

In our latest #TexthelpTalks podcast episode, we hear Steve Nordmark and James Basham discuss the future directions of UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and unpack what an ‘expert learner' really is…

Our third and final day at Bett 2022 has arrived and with it is our final BETTer Together podcast. To wrap up an exciting three days at the show we are joined by leading Bett speakers Abid Patel and Graham Macaulay, as well as some Texthelp friends. Listen along to hear why our key takeaway from Bett this year is 'momentum'.**Transcript to follow**

We are back with day 2 of our BETTer Together podcast series live from Bett 2022! Today we were joined by a host of different speakers and even some special VIPs (Very Important Pupils). What we love about Bett is the community of educators that we can learn from and share different experiences with. In this episode we asked our guests the same 3 questions and got very different answers, so we think you can learn from them too. **Transcript to follow**

This week the Texthelp Talks podcast is on tour at BETT 2022! Join us for a behind the scenes look at day 1. In this special episode we are joined by Siddiqui Education's Baasit Siddiqui as he shares insights on closing the achievement gap.

At Texthelp it's our mission to help unlock everyone's full potential through technology. We love hearing from other like minded people who are passionate about education, accessibility and technology. That's why we have invited Luis Pérez, Technical Assistance Specialist at CAST, and Mindy Johnson, Director of Digital Communications & Outreach at CAST, to join us for this episode.We'll be discussing the importance of accessibility, both as a foundation for UDL, and in online teaching in general. This includes the steps that educators can take to ensure accessibility on their materials, as well as the importance of making sure that PDFs are accessible.To find out more about how OrbitNote can support accessibility in your classroom visit: text.help/about-orbitnote.Other useful links from the episode:CAST UDL Symposium July 27 – 29 (online): bit.ly/cast-symposium-2022UDL-IRN Summit March 31 – April 1 (online): summit.udl-irn.orgNational Center on Accessible Educational Materials at CAST: aem.cast.org (Resources on POUR: Designing for Accessibility with POUR, Vetting for Accessibiltiy with POUR, Creating Accessible Documents).Mindy's always-up-to-date digital handout on accessible social media: bit.ly/a11y-socialYou can also hear more from Luis over on Twitter, @eyeonaxs and Mindy, @min_d_j.Transcript also available here: https://www.texthelp.com/resources/podcasts/designing-the-future-to-be-accessible/

In this episode of Texthelp Talks Ben Dyer, our Customer Relationship Champion, chats to student Shelly Zheng. Shelly is studying for a Bachelor of Business, Human Resources Management at Western Sydney University. Shelly shares her experiences of student life and accessing the tools and support she needs to complete her studies. Through this podcast Shelly hopes to inspire others who may be wary of attending university, she offers some tips and advice that could be of help too.  We hope to produce more resources with Shelly later this year, so keep an eye out for that! More resources to check out:Hear the top 6 reasons why Western Sydney University love Read&WriteVisit our Higher Education page for more information 

At Texthelp it's our mission to help unlock everyone's full potential through technology. We love hearing from other like minded people who are passionate about education, accessibility and technology. That's why we invited Sky Caves, a Senior Learning Technologist at Basingstoke College of Technology onto the podcast. Sky shares why she's so passionate about integrating technology into the classroom and how her and the digital team at BCoT drive digital adoption across the college.----------------------------------------To find out more about the EdTech Demonstrator Programme and to sign up to get help and support from schools and colleges like BCoT, visit edtechdemo.ucst.uk 

In this episode Brett Salakas speaks to Texthelp's Greg O'Connor about future building in education. Brett is a teacher, leader, poet and the founder of aussieED (the largest online network of teachers in Australia) and the co-founder of both the ED Poets Society and TheWalkingED.Greg and Brett discuss:-Preparing children for the future- Access to Ed-tech and equity issues- Learner agency in a changing world- The role of the teacher in building for the futureYou can follow Brett on Twitter at@MRsalakasyou can catch Greg on@gregoconnor.Two books mentioned were:Stratosphere: Integrating Technology, Pedagogy, and Change Knowledge by Michael Fullan.Work Less, Teach More by Dan Jackson.

At Texthelp our core purpose is help everyone understand and be understood. That's why we're hosting the Festival of Inclusive Education. To celebrate inclusion and how it can make learning better for everyone.In this special episode of Texthelp Talks our two in house experts, Paddy and Jason, delve into what inclusion means to them. As they explain why we've taken on the task of redesigning learning for inclusion.  ------------------------------------Get your free ticket to the Festival of Inclusive Education - text.help/redefining-inclusion

In this episode we take a look at the biggest challenges facing mathematics educators in Australia today. This podcast features our special guest Allan Dougan from the Australian Association of Maths Teachers.  Allan shares his thoughts with Greg O'Connor who heads up the Texthelp team in Australia. 

At least 10% of the UK population is dyslexic, yet many dyslexic's still experience a lack of understanding and support for Dyslexia in the world of work. Everyone deserves to feel understood, accepted and like they belong.In this podcast episode, we'll be taking a look at Dyslexia through the eyes of Sam, aka Sam the Dyslexic, and Andy Nickolls, a Dyslexic Blue Light employee. Together we'll challenge the misconceptions that exist around Dyslexia. Listen and gain insight to help you better understand and support your Dyslexic employees, colleagues and friends.

We are continuing our mini podcast series with the LEO Academy Trust, and in this episode we're joined by CEO, Philip Hedger. Our host Patrick McGrath builds on his chat with the Trust's Digital Learning Team, to understand how their Senior Leadership Team makes sure that technology fits with their mission, values and aims. Philip gives us his perspective on using technology for learning and what role leadership plays in helping to unlock potential and improve the outcomes for both students and staff across a Multi-Academy Trust.--------------------------- If you haven't listened to our episode with Graham Macaulay and Cheryl Shirley yet, then give it a listen first. 

Digital transformation is only growing faster and the same must be applied to our education sector. That's why we're hosting a mini series with the LEO Academy Trust to explore their model of learning, excellence and opportunity. That has led them to successfully embed technology across all their Academies.First up is members of their Digital Learning Team, Graham Macaulay and Cheryl Shirley. Our host Patrick McGrath, delves into their experience of using technology for learning, including what they look for in EdTech tools and what advice they have for fellow MATs and schools. ---------------------------Follow Graham on Twitter @grahammacaulayFollow Cheryl on Twitter @MrsShirley8

We believe everyone deserves the chance to find joy in maths. That's why we've invited two expert industry voices to join us for a special 'Making maths accessible' episode of Texthelp Talks.Sammy White is an FE maths lecturer & consultant, and Lilian Soon is an education adviser at the University of York. Listen along as they discuss the challenges facing maths educators and the role of technology in helping to make maths more inclusive and engaging for all students.------------------------------------Listen to Sammy's E&M Booth podcast by visiting: e-m-booth.siteVisit The University of York's Accessible Equations here: bit.ly/eaccess-equations2

As organisations we rely on our digital content to spread our messages far and wide. And for it to serve its purpose it must be able to be accessed, and used. But what does this really mean? In this podcast episode, hear from Clare Reucroft, Content Designer at Content Design London. Clare will share what lies beyond accessible code and colours.  And explore how language makes a difference too. Listen and gain practical tips to help you create content that can be accessed, understood and used by everyone.

In this episode we're joined by 4 educational experts, and friends of Texthelp, who have co-written a fantastic new book about inclusive learning. The book is called Inclusive Learning 365, and is being published by ISTE - the International Society for Technology in Education.  If you work in education this book will become your daily companion, with 365 strategies that you can use to provide the best learning experience. We're going to take a look at some of these strategies in today's podcast. The authors Chris Bugaj, Karen Janowski, Mike Marotta and Beth Poss come from a variety of backgrounds in education. We'll meet them all shortly and find out a bit more about them and what drove them to write this book. 

In part 2 of 365 days later, Martin, Paddy and Greg delve deeper into what the future holds for education post COVID-19. From using data to inform instruction to how we can help teachers use technology in a way that complements their existing teaching practices.As Greg puts it, "ICT doesn't stand for information, communication technology. It stands for it can't teach." -----------------------------------------If you haven't listened to part 1 yet, you can listen here. -----------------------------------------Reports from Australia:Australian Education SurveyEvaluating the impact of COVID-19 on NSW schoolsCOVID-19 and education: how Australian schools are responding and what happens nextThe Impact of COVID-19 on Perceptions of Australian Schooling  

One year on from COVID, schools are finally beginning to look forward to some normality after periods of remote learning. Of course, the impact on teaching and learning has been well reported but what are the next steps for education?In this episode, we hear from Texthelpers Martin, Paddy and Greg as they discuss what they think the positive lessons learned from the past year are. Including how we can support students and teachers moving forward. 

Later this month will mark the tenth anniversary of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. To mark the occasion, we're hosting our first ever Festival of Accessibility. In the run up, we're celebrating the achievements that have been made in the digital inclusion space so far. And reveling over what's about to come.In this podcast episode, hear from Ryan Graham, Texthelp's CTO. He'll take you on a journey through time. Delving into the past, present and future of the digital space.

What does being a teacher really mean in the current climate? In this podcast we break down the statistics surrounding teacher workloads. Listen along as we join Bukky Yusuf, a teacher and Senior Leader at Edith Kay School, for a day in her life.We explore what teacher workload really looks like, from effectively managing admin tasks to navigating that all important work life balance. As well as what tools and strategies Bukky uses to reduce her workload. Including how she supports her fellow teachers in her role as a Senior Leader.

What are the elements that affect accessible and inclusive communication? In this podcast we answer that very question. Join us to hear from Jodie Greer, Founder of Be People Smart. And Erica Wong, Senior Brand Consultant at Radley Yeldar.Together, we take a deep dive into what it means for content to be accessible and inclusive. We explore what you can do to create content that can not only be accessed. But makes your internal and external audiences feel connected and included. Gain advice that'll help you to reach your whole audience more effectively.

In partnership with Belfast Met, we are celebrating this year's NI Apprenticeships Week with a podcast exploring all things apprenticeships! Listen along as we hear the experiences of our HR Officer Andrew and Belfast Met's Trainer Assessor, Neil Whiteside. Alongside getting first hand insight from our three apprentices Shay, Laura and Stephen. As they explain how apprenticeships can create  opportunities for everyone, regardless of age, background, education or career path. 

In this special episode of Texthelp Talks, our AsiaPac EdTech Manager Greg O'Connor, is joined by Michelle Van Puyvelde, a School Leader  at the ACT Education Directorate, Australia. Hear Michelle's story of using Read&Write for Google Chrome with 43,000 students across their 39 schools and the impact this is having on teaching and learning.

In this episode, we're joined by Sophie Koonin, Web Engineering Lead at Monzo. Sophie is passionate about web accessibility and keeping the web a fun and inclusive place for everyone. And today, with Sophie's expert knowledge about web development, we'll be debunking six common myths designers and marketers believe about web accessibility.

In this episode we're joined by Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum. Listen as we talk about the opportunities arising from our evolving workspace. And uncover how businesses can maximise these opportunities to 'build back better'. You'll gain advice to help you improve disability inclusion, and reshape the future world of work.

In this episode of Texthelp Talks, our host Patrick McGrath is joined by Robert Quigley and Tania Mackie from Highland Council in Scotland. They discuss their journey of rolling out and implementing over 30,000 Chromebook devices to students in their local authority, as part of their commitment to digital learning and inclusion. Including their original vision, the planning process and how this has helped them keep all students engaged in learning during lockdown and beyond.

In this episode of Texthelp Talks, we are joined by Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet. Robin shares with us his experiences as a blind professional working in the digital inclusion space. He talks to us about the impact of digital inaccessibility on himself as a blind user but also more broadly on companies and businesses and their customers, services and employees. He also explores solutions to common challenges that organisations face when striving for inclusivity.

In this episode of Texthelp Talks, our host Mark Schwartz  sits down to chat to some leading experts on the art of writing. Amy Mayer, founder and CEO of friEdTechnology, is a nationally known speaker and trainer as well as a veteran public school educator. Chris Bugaj  is a founding member of the assistive technology team for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. Chris co-hosts the Talking with Tech podcast featuring interviews and conversations about augmentative and alternative communication, and has hosted award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. They explore effective writing strategies for students, and share some tips for inspiring students to write more. 

In this episode of Texthelp Talks, our host Greg O'Connor sits down to chat to one of the co-authors on our recent 'Learning in a changing landscape' whitepaper, Dr. Chris Wilson from ImpactEd. They explore key results from the research, including Australia's response to teaching in a pandemic and how this is causing us to reimagine what education looks like in Australia moving forward.To read the results from the full paper, visit text.help/whitepaper-findings

In this episode of Texthelp Talks, we're joined by Gordon McCullough, CEO of Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RIDC). Listen as we chat to Gordon about the benefits of inclusive design in the digital environment. Explore when and how we should be building in user research and testing. And gain expert insights that'll help you to ensure your digital services and products are accessible and usable by all. 

In this Texthelp podcast, we chat with Toby Hopkins, Colleague Engagement and Inclusion Executive at Sainsburys. As a Disability Confident Leader, and an Investors in People Gold standard employer for the fourth year running, Toby will be sharing how Sainsbury's has created, and continues to build, a great place to work for everyone. You'll gain insights to help you champion diversity and create a supportive working culture for all.

In this episode, our resident Universal Design for Learning (UDL) enthusiast, and former ELA teacher, Joni Degner teams up with Louis Shanafelt, EquatIO Product Manager and former math teacher as they delve into the world of UDL in the math classroom.During the episode the pair take a look at what effective goal setting looks like, as well as how to design instruction to overcome barriers to students' affective brain networks. They also have a chat about how the move to remote and hybrid learning practices have accelerated the need to universally design learning, particularly in the math arena.They also want to hear from you. They want to know what you've been doing this year that's been working well. What strategies do you have in place, or what tools have your students been able to use to make remote learning in math accessible and engaging for all learners?

In this episode of Texthelp Talks we hear from our CEO and Founder, Martin McKay. Martin sits down with us to explore what the biggest trends are for the 2021 workspace. He also takes a look back at our key learnings from 2020, reflecting on what has been a year like no other.

As Wales announce that they plan on following Scotland in their decision to cancel end of year exams in 2021, Texthelper Patrick McGrath is joined by Daren White, a Senior Leader across two Secondary Academies in Essex, to explore the changing face of assessment. They discuss what this move away from exams means for teachers and students. And how technology can support more formative assessment and provide the continuous, meaningful feedback that students need to succeed.