Workplace adjustments in the age of remote working
3rd August 2020 -Remote working isn’t new. Individuals and organisations have been working remotely and flexibly for years – some more than others – but it’s taken a worldwide emergency like Covid-19 to truly bring it to the forefront, forcing the hand of employers to allow their workforce to work remotely. But it isn’t as simple as just having a device that you can log on to from home or a video conferencing platform like Zoom or Teams: it’s about having the right mindset, policies, processes and adjustments in place to enable and support employees to do their jobs whilst supporting their wellbeing.
Continue ReadingWhy kindness matters in life and work
31st July 2020 -*Originally published on gov.uk*
In this guest blog, our friends at BPDTS share with us how they've been supporting the wellbeing of their employees while working remotely. Hear from their CEO, Loveday Ryder, as she outlines some of the ways that they've been supporting their employees to adapt and stay connected.
Continue Reading‘Women over 55 don’t cook!’
22nd July 2020 -Obviously, women over 55 years old do cook.
So, when I was asked my thoughts on user experience and the role of web accessibility, my first thought was of a meeting that we at the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) had with a chief designer of a global white goods manufacturer. He (which feels important to mention) told us that they only use women between the ages of 25 and 55 years old in their usability tests for cookers.
Continue Reading12 ways the workforce will change
20th July 2020 -In the past few months, the workforce has flipped on its head. One thing is for sure - the future of the workplace and workforce will be changing.
So, what changes and developments will stick around? Twelve thought leaders weigh in on how they think the workforce will change once we’re back to normal.
Continue ReadingFlying the flag for UDL in math and STEM
10th July 2020 -Here at Texthelp, we’ve been big advocates of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for quite some time now. We’re fervent believers in allowing students to access and integrate into their own education journey, at times and in ways that are most suitable for them. We’re frequent attendees at the annual UDL-IRN conference and have made lots of life-long friends there who are both advocates for and experts on UDL.
Continue ReadingTools to support students where they learn & work online
9th July 2020 -With the move to distance learning, students are interacting with increased amounts of content online. This move comes with new challenges and adjustments to the way all students are completing their semester.
Texthelp’s Read&Write toolbar provides access for students within the digital locations commonly used to host and teach online. These resources are key for many students to continue their learning and finish their term successfully.
Update: The good news is that an integration with Respondus LockDown Browser is now available! This allows students to have access to Read&Write while taking exams. While some Read&Write features may not be exam-friendly, like an online dictionary that opens in your web browser, this new Read&Write “lockdown mode” allows access only to approved features such as text to speech, in order to maintain the integrity of the test itself.
Continue Reading