This presentation will demonstrate how to create an accessible, e-learning method for teaching IT skills to blind and partially sighted learners using the power of DAISY.

DAISY stands for 'Digital Accessible Information System', and offers a worldwide standard for reading and producing published materials in audio format. A DAISY audio book is structured in such a way to allow the reader to move around the book as someone would use a print book. For instance, enabling the reader to skip to a new chapter, or bookmark a favourite passage.

Utilising a combination of a PC, DAISY player software and a USB footswitch, this innovative method allows a student to listen to audio tutorials in the background, controlled by a footswitch, whilst simultaneously working on programs such as Microsoft Windows or Office. The learner has the ability to play; stop; change speed; insert bookmarks; as well as jump backwards and forwards through chapters, sections, paragraphs and even sentences.

All of the audio material can be displayed on-screen for tutors to follow the student's progress. This on-screen material can be easily re-sized into larger fonts for partially sighted learners wishing to follow the material on their computer screen.

The presentation will show how to create original content using simple conversion tools, as well as adapting existing, non-accessible, learning materials.

By the end of this presentation, the audience will have learned:

·        The issues facing a blind or partially sighted person wishing to learn or develop IT skills

·        The usefulness of DAISY audio over traditional, tape-based tutorials

·        How to operate a PC whilst controlling and listening to audio material

·        The importance of structure in an accessible manual or tutorial

·        How a DAISY book can be produced from Microsoft Word documents