Thanks to everyone who came along to our Southampton office for the Assistive Technology, Ergonomics and Health and Safety for Computer Users Workshop.

The workshop was a fantastic day to discover what’s new in assistive technology and ergonomics, coming away with the ability to understand Keytools’ products and software can help improve accessibility to the virtual world, but also, how the virtual world can help people in the workplace.

To get our guests participating and enthused, everyone was interacting with products on display and had the chance to speak to the experts at Keytools to discuss the areas they were interested in.

Here are a few comments from our guests on the day…

“The workshop was very informative and really well structured, with a good balance between group involvement, information delivery and demonstration. I’ve learned a great deal and have a far better understanding of the range of ergonomic and assistive technology.”
Emma Bulavs, DSA Needs Assessor, University of Northampton

“Being able to try out the equipment and talk about specific conditions when deciding what type of equipment to use, in particular mice and keyboards”
Clare Barlow, Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust

“What I found most useful about the event was that it was not just loads of theory, I liked the linking of products to what it does, but who and what difficulties it can help with”
Graham Sellick, Disabled Students Assessor, University of Northampton

“I thoroughly enjoyed the day! It was so nice to sit in comfortable chairs and I didn’t feel tired at the end of the day. The information gained today will help inform my lectures.”
Maggie Bracher, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton

“I had a great day at Keytools, enjoyed it enormously.
Thank you so much.
I’m full of ideas now! Can’t wait to recommend your products to my clients.”
Sophie Busk, Speech and Language Therapist, Glenside Manor.


If you would like further information about our workshops or to book your place, please call 023 8029 4500. Alternatively, click here to view the up and coming events we are running and book yourself in.

We advise to book early onto our popular workshops to avoid disappointment.

For some people, reading large amounts of text on screen can be difficult. Browsealoud software reads web pages aloud.

Who needs Browsealoud?

Browsealoud makes using the internet easier for people with:

Low literacy and reading skills

English as a second language

Dyslexia

Mild visual impairment

How it works

Browsealoud is a computer program that reads aloud all website content including PDF and MS Word documents. As you move the cursor over words, they are spoken aloud. Website owners pay a yearly charge to Browsealoud to enable their site.

Why YOU need it

The Disability Discrimination Act states that all services should be made accessible to people with disabilities. By subscribing to Browsealoud for your website, you will increase the number of people who can access the content on your website, such as:

6% of the population with severe dyslexia (source: Dyslexia Institute 2003)

14% of the population who are registered disabled (source: Disability Rights Commission)

4% of the UK population with a sight problem (source: RNIB)

It’s easy

Speech-enabling your site is seamless and handled remotely. There doesn't have to be any downtime on your website and there are no management overhead costs.

What now?

If we've convinced you, order Browsealoud here! Alternativley, call us on 023 8029 4508 or you can email us

The report Disabled Students and Higher Education, undertaken by Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, has shown there has been a significant increase in disabled people attending higher education since 2001.

Key findings:
- 20% of disabled people attain 3 or more A levels than those without disabilities.
- 78% of disabled 17 year olds responded to a questionnaire that they would like to attend university
- There has been an increase in “unseen” and “dyslexia” cases of disabilities reported – accounting for a large fraction of types reported.

The Higher Education Funding Council has bought changes to the funding; now basing the figures on the number of students in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

Educational institutions have to meet the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA) to ensure reasonable adjustments are made to support disabled people.

This includes:
- Providing course materials in formats available to all – Braille, Sound and Vision
- Equipping computers with screen-reading, voice recognition or other adaptive software
- Alternative hardware to ensure learning materials are fully accessible to all students

We support the full integration of all students, not feeling disadvantaged in comparison to people who are not disabled.

Keytools offers an extensive range of products available, from mice, BigKeys keyboards, vision impairment software and accessories, to software that assists dyslexic and dyspraxic students.

We're loving the trailer for the new series of Peep Show on Channel 4.

Whilst Mark and Jeremy are waiting for the lift, Mark wonders whether the attractive woman has clocked him and his new gadget:

"Think she's spotted it ...

"Yeah, that's right sweetheart ...

"Ergonomic Management Keyboard!"


Well she would be impressed, wouldn't she?

We had lots of fun at Keytools HQ on Friday, and it seems you did too! Many of you enjoyed your Birthday gift - a Goldtouch keyboard for £20!

We also managed to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Trust.


Thanks to everyone involved on the day, and here's to the next 20 years ...

Cheers!

P.S. Watch this space for more Birthday celebrations this month

Here's a group picture of the Keytools staff in our 80's outfits. Lots of neon pink ...

For the last 20 years, Keytools has been helping thousands access computers - and will continue to do so.

To help us celebrate our Birthday, we're giving you an amazing gift for today only.

One of our best-loved products, the Goldtouch Keyboard, is just £20 (normally £139!)



Just 20 Goldtouch are available at this special price, so you'd better be quick - first come first served! And as you would expect at this price, it's one Goldtouch per customer!

Collect your gift!
Call us on 023 8029 4500 or click here now to collect your Goldtouch Keyboard for just £20 (plus the VAT!)


P.S. Keytools would like to thank all our customers for joining us on an amazing 20 year journey .

On the world stage, 1989 was the year of the collapse of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

In the UK, the music scene also stands out in the memory as the year when the Manchester sound caught the imagination.

But in a garage in Southampton … Keytools was born!

And today marks Keytools 20th Birthday.

We’re celebrating in the office by dressing as 80’s icons, playing 80’s tunes and generally having a fab time. We’ll update the blog as the day goes on.

And watch out for a Birthday gift from us to you …

Preparations are well underway in the Keytools office for tomorrow's Birthday celebrations.

Keytools is officially 20 years old tomorrow and we intend to have fun celebrating.

And it's not just about us - we'll be offering a great gift to customers ... so watch this space.

Right, we best go - we've got balloons to blow up.