What Does AccessMyStudies Do?
AccessMyStudies is designed to assist ‘print impaired’ students (students with SpLD / Dyslexia or vision impairments) to access their research and assignment documents from any location. Developed in conjunction with Claro Software, AccessMyStudies provides on-line (cloud) storage of a user’s documents and provides accessibility features (downloadable Apps) including a Screen Reader (ClaroRead SE) (text to speech), Screen Magnifier (Lightening), Screen Ruler and Screen Colour Changer (ClaroView). Once registered you upload your documents and then you can have these read to you or you can magnify the screen or change the screen appearance. You can do this from any computer. You do not need to use a computer with enabling software installed.
With AccessMyStudies, you do not need to have software installed on the computer. The Apps provided can be downloaded quickly from the website as they are needed. Once registered a user can upload their documents and then you can have these read to you or you can magnify the screen or change the screen appearance. Store essays, research notes, journals and e-books on-line and then access them when you go home for the weekend or want to work in a library from another computer without accessibility software installed. No need to carry files or software applications on a USB stick with the danger of losing them.
AccessMyStudies allows a student to access their documents from almost any computer without needing to have enabling/accessibility tools installed on that computer. You get 1GB space included for your files. You can also visit other websites and use the Apps we provide to make them accessible.
To use a feature you simply click on the Icon for the App you need, say, Screen Reader or Magnifier. This will then download onto your computer and will stay active until you switch off. You can use Word, read an e-book or leave the site and research on the Internet, using our Apps to proof read your essay or to make websites accessible.
How Do I Get Access?
In order to register for AccessMyStudies you can either pay for the service directly yourself or have this recommended for you by an Assessor during your Disabled Students Allowance needs assessment. This should then be authorised by your funding body (SFE, SFW, NHS or SAAS).
For more information on the Disabled Students Allowance visit :-
Student Finance provides application forms and other details
SAAS operates the DSA in Scotland
YourDSA provides an overview of the DSA
Information for Assessors and Funding Bodies.
AccessMyStudies provides an additional or alternative benefit to students. In many cases it will not be a replacement for software installed on a PC. For students with enabling technology on one computer it provides additional access to their documents when away from that computer. It might reduce the need for ‘portability’ in DSA equipment recommendations possibly removing the need for applications on a USB stick that can get lost, a laptop or an e-book reader or it might reduce the need for a book allowance; depending on circumstances and the need identified by the assessor. However, AccessMyStudies on its own may meet the needs of some students who already have a computer or only need the features provided by the service.
Costs
The cost of the service is £50 + VAT. This one-off fee will provide access for the remainder of the student’s course – maximum 4 years. There are two ways of recommending the service:
1. As an individual costed item in the report to be supplied by ourselves. In this case we will provide the student with an access code on receipt of approval from the funding body.
or
2. “To be activated through training” In this case you will need to make this clear when asking for a quotation for training as the training supplier will need to cost in purchase of an access code from ourselves.
We recommend the second option for most students as this ensures that the service is only paid for if taken up and ensures that print impaired students are properly trained in using the service.
Free Accounts For Assessors
Assessors can apply for a free AccessMyStudies account. This can be used for demonstrating the service to students and for assisting the assessor during the needs assessment process. You must be a qualified DSA Needs assessor registered at an accredited assessment centre in England, Wales or NI or at a centre approved by SAAS.
Information for Colleges and Universities
AccessMyStudies can be purchased by institutions for their students as a cost-effective way of supporting students not receiving DSA. For FE courses it can allow students access to Screen Reading and Magnification software that might be provided on the institution’s computers at their home. A facility not commonly provided under ALS funding. Colleges and Universities can arrange access to AccessMyStudies for students not eligible for the DSA or for study skills and other support staff by contacting us. The costs for this are negotiable.
Not Covered By the DSA?
If you are not studying at present or not eligible for or not applying for the DSA or are based outside the UK and wish to talk about using this service please contact us.
Additonal Features
AccessMyStudies has been designed to allow flexibility in the way it can develop and grow. A number of special features could be available. For example, AccessMyStudies could provide ‘group features’ whereby if, for example, a university, college or other entity wish to make an arrangement for documents to be made available to a particular group such as those on a nursing course, appropriate documents could be uploaded by our administrative team to the storage area of all group members. At present this is by special arrangement with institutions only.
We are working to bring other tools, features and services to AccessMyStudies, such as organisation, planning and other study tools. If you have any suggestions for inclusions or changes please contact us.
System requirements: At present AccessMyStudies is only available for the PC/Windows platform. Mac versions of the apps are in development.
