Institution: Glasgow Caledonian University

 

After returning to the UK from Saudi Arabia where I was employed as a project manager, I was diagnosed as having a visual impairment due to macular degeneration. I decided to take an Access course at Motherwell College to improve my typing skills where I discovered the use of screen readers for use by visually impaired people. I completed HNC and HND in Multimedia Technology at Motherwell and then graduated to Glasgow Caledonian University where I obtained a BSc in that technology.

 

By now I was very interested in developing the use of various technologies to improve access for people with visual impairments and other disabled people and I continued my education and was accepted to do a MSc at Glasgow Caledonian.

 

In the Glasgow Caledonian University Library there is a disability room. This is equipped with items such as large display screens on computers, screen readers, screen magnifiers, scanners, CCTV units to enlarge the print of any document and Braille printers that are invaluable to students with disabilities. The room can also be used for exams where the exam papers are provided in large print or electronic format.

 

I additionally have the use of a computer at home that has all the software installed to enable me to complete the course. The use of a scribe is also available which is of great assistance as the amount of reading involved is huge.

 

In both Motherwell College and Glasgow Caledonian University the advice and encouragement from tutors and lecturers was outstanding and helped me to carry on through difficult patches that we all face at various times in our lives.

 

[Updated 31st January 2006]