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The Karten Network Spring 2019 Newsletter
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Karten Network Spring 2019 Newsletter

Network Development Co-ordinator’s Update

Hello Everyone! I can hardly believe we are already into April and hurtling towards our Spring Break. It's been an exciting year so far for the Karten Network with some incredible achievements in our Centres, I hope you enjoy and are inspired by the articles within this Newsletter.

Trustees met towards the end of March 2019 and awarded grants to a number of centres for additional equipment.  There were some really interesting applications and it was good to see Virtual Reality featuring in two of them. A new Karten Centre was established at Boveridge College in Dorset, so I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Karten Network to them.

Webinar recordings

A reminder that TechAbility Webinar recordings can be accessed from the link below. The recordings are really useful to support staff training and development activities.

https://www.gotostage.com/channel/76d777267d1b4cc9b937726501338598

The 2019 TechAbility Conference will be held on 21st November at the Rowton Hotel in Birmingham.  As part of a very full programme of events there will be a specific Karten Network slot and lots of opportunities to Network.

Coming soon ....

We are currently planning a series of pilot Karten Events for the people you support. More details to follow, but essentially they will be mini-conferences to enable Karten Centre beneficiaries to get together and share their experiences.  The first event will be held on 12 June and will be hosted by Jewish Care.

Can the people you support be the public face of the Karten Network?

High-resolution images (photo consent essential) are required for the production of materials to showcase excellence across our Karten Centres.  Please email pictures to dawn@karten-network.org.uk

Dawn Green
Karten Network and Development Co-ordinator


Update from Mobile Technology Advisor

As the mobile technology advisor for the Karten Network, I strive to support and assist Karten Centres and members of the Karten Network with their mobile technology. Recently while providing support to one centre I became aware that a feature within iOS could reduce Apple devices to expensive paperweights.

Continue to read about Activation Lock and find out what has got pulses racing in watchOS 5.2

Martin Pistorius
Karten Network Mobile Technology Advisor


Dolphin Computer Access

Adults and children with a visual impairment and specific learning difficulties choose Dolphin accessibility products for their personal, professional and educational use. Dolphin’s solutions support individuals with blindness, partial sight, mild sight loss, low vision, degenerative eye conditions, SpLD including dyslexia, low literacy skills, learning disabilities and age-related conditions. Dolphin aims to empower users with all degrees of sight loss, computer skills, reading aptitude and physical ability, through our Windows software and free apps including SuperNova, GuideConnect, EasyReader and EasyConverter Express. 

By using Dolphin’s accessibility software, individuals....Continue to read about Dolphin computer access.


A Pony Named Charlie

A photo of Charlie the pony standing in front of a metal gate in a fieldAngela Hobbs, Trustee and Administrator of the Ian Karten Charitable Trust has written a second book, this time about her pony ‘Charlie.’ It will appeal to anyone who loves horses and ponies, maybe participating in riding and pony care.

It is a true story, through Charlie’s observations and thoughts, of his life from early memories to the present day. It is presented with warmth and humour and provides an insight into the lives of these noble creatures.

An audio edition of the book can be downloaded for free from the resources section of Karten Network website: https://karten-network.org.uk/audio-book/a-pony-named-charlie-by-angela-hobbs/.

A big thank you to the Hedley’s Foundation Radio Team in North Shields for recording and producing the audio version of the book in their Karten Media Suite. The Hedley’s team also produced a link on Twitter, which was available to download in time for World Book Day on 7th March 2019.

Another big thank you to Martin Pistorius, the Karten Mobile Technical Advisor, for all his technical support in enabling the links to be available on the Karten website, Jiscmail, Facebook and Twitter.

Angela’s book has also been accepted by the charity ‘Seeing Ear.’ They have produced it in audio format and it is now available for blind and visually impaired people to download from their library collection.


News from the Karten Centres

Percy Hedley


Audio Production of A Pony Named Charlie

Frankie, sitting in front of a microphone narrating

A Pony Named Charlie is the 2nd audio book Hedleys Radio has created for Angela Hobbs. It tells the tale of Charlie as he grows up on a farm and later moves to the New Forest with Angela. The story is narrated by Frankie, and although he has recorded many podcasts for Hedleys Radio before, voice acting was a whole new role. To bring the story to life the team added sound effects such as birds tweeting, minibus engines and waves at the seashore. The team worked incredibly hard to ensure that every sound was expertly recorded and placed in just the right spot. The project took over 6 months to complete and the whole team are very proud of what they have achieved... Continue reading how the audio book of A Pony Named Charlie was produced.

New Bridge


Sea Clear

Students standing that the Sea Clear stall with the promotional video playing

It’s been an incredible 3 months for our Karten funded enterprise. If you missed any of our previous posts we run video production and print enterprises using the equipment funded by Karten. This year the big push has been the new eco-friendly product – the ‘Sea Clear’ bag. The student-led enterprise is helping raise awareness of the huge amount of plastic in our oceans by producing their very own bags for life. The product has been a huge success, printing and selling over 500 bags so far and spreading this important message across a range of social media platforms.

Anyway, the last few months have involved going out on the road and...Continue reading the Sea clear story

Centre for Deaf Blind People


Deaf-Blind Students Deaf-Blind Teachers

A man and woman communicating using in hand signing

Our Karten CTEC is the only Karten CTEC dedicated to teaching Israelis with deaf-blindness vital computer skills. Thanks to the Ian Karten Charitable Trust 35-40 deaf-blind individuals a year learn skills, via one on one instruction, which make a real and immediate difference in their lives, open up the hearing–sighted world, provide access to information and enable direct, effective and independent communication. Most of our 7 teachers are themselves deaf-blind, deaf, severally visually impaired, or hard of hearing and blind.  One, Rachel, won the Karten Award for Personal Achievement in 2009. Rachel was originally a student at our Karten CTEC and after further training returned as a teacher. She specializes in students with a very basic level of reading comprehension, basic communication skills and... Continue to read about Deaf-Blind Students Deaf-Blind Teachers.

The Hamlet


Our journey so far

Staff and students at The Hamlet

The Hamlet is an adult vocational learning centre for young adults (aged 19 to 25) living with a range of additional needs. Born out of a necessity to reimagine Hope School & College’s post-19 provision, The Hamlet’s raison d’être is to provide a working environment in which young people with additional needs can learn and grow, ensuring that when they leave us they leave with the skills necessary to attain, maintain and thrive in employment. After a successful pilot year housed at Hope (alongside their other successful Grange provision) we have now moved into our own premises at the idyllic Three Sisters Recreation Area in Ashton, taking over the former rangers’ house and visitors’ centre, and are well on our way to establishing ourselves in the heart of a thriving community....Continue reading about our journey so far.

Care for Veterans


Tyron’s story

Tyron sitting in a wheelchair next to 4 runners from Care for Veterans

Care for Veterans (formerly The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home) was kindly awarded a grant The Ian Karten Charitable Trust in September 2018. We are extremely thankful for the grant which has helped us to purchase new equipment, enhancing our care and rehabilitation services for the benefit of our residents.

To demonstrate the impact the grant is having on residents here at Care for Veterans, we would like to tell you Tyron’s story.

Tyron first started coming to Care for Veterans in....Continue to read Tyron's story

BID Employment Karten Centre


In with the new!

Towards the end of 2018, BID Services was thrilled to be accepted as a new Karten Centre and awarded a grant to purchase new technology and equipment to support our Employment Service for clients who have sensory impairments. Up to that point, we had some old computers which were forever crashing, causing frustration for clients and staff and making delivery very challenging.

The Employment Service was originally set up for deaf/hard of hearing clients, aimed at helping them move closer to the job market through learning how to...Continue reading what's new at BID Employment Karten Centre.

FitzRoy


FitzRoy Maltings Karten Centre goes from strength to strength

Two Fitzroy Maltings service users painting

Fitzroy Maltings is a popular day centre in Fakenham, Norfolk, currently attended by 54 adults (ages 18-70) with a wide range of learning and associated physical disabilities, autism and dementia. Many of the attendees have very complex needs and challenging behaviour requiring one-to-one support. The team of dedicated, well-trained staff tailor support to each member, helping them to be active, and to socialise, learn and enjoy the things that are important to them as individuals.

The wide range of activities at the centre, including art, cooking, baking, gardening and music, are all supported by...Continue reading about FitzRoy Maltings Karten Centre going from strength to strength

Assistive technology across FitzRoy’s services

FitzRoy is a national charity providing services and support to adults with learning disabilities, autism and ABI. I started with FitzRoy in January of this year in a newly developed role as an assistive technologist, a role which was created with support from Dawn Green, the Karten Network Development Co-ordinator. I have a background in occupational therapy and I’ve worked with people with a range of impairments, specialising in assistive technology once I graduated as an OT. I know I had a lot to bring to the role and a lot to learn!

The Karten Network has provided essential support, connecting me with...Continue to read about assistive technology across FitzRoy’s services

Norwood


Pop-Up Sensory Space Project

Tented area was turned into an ice cave using foil blankets, battery operated blue fibre optic lights

Norwood’s Complementary Services and Assistive Technology Team joined forces to successfully bid for funding from the Karten Network. We wanted to expand our use of technology to provide additional wellbeing opportunities with a focus on reaching more people with complex needs. The aim of the project was to provide a tranquil, flexible space that could be adapted to allow different themes and activities.  This would enhance services by providing new opportunities alongside combining new technology with some existing activities increasing reach and meeting a wider range of needs.

We had already seen the benefits of assistive technology from the...Continue reading the Pop-Up Sensory Space Project

Treloars College, TreloarPrint


Booklet-maker, making a difference

Toby in his wheelchair operating the booklet making machine

The original Ian Karten Centre (IKC) at Treloar College was set up in September 2001 to provide a real working environment in which to offer a range of qualifications. Known externally as ‘TreloarPrint’ for marketing purposes, this successful and popular enterprise provides a high-quality printing and finishing service at competitive rates for a wide range of customers. The IKC provides traditional printed products – including business cards, letterheads, compliment slips, booklets, manuals, newsletters, flyers and posters, calendars, menus, greeting cards, postcards, invitations, leaflets, envelopes and labels.  The students carry out mailshots for customers where appropriate. The Centre also offers a design service for more straightforward products and has an excellent reputation for miles around.

The IKC allows our students to undertake...Continue reading about the booklet maker

National Star College


Quest for a ‘voice’ of their own

Jack with Lost Voice Guy

Four National Star students appeared on BBC’s The One Show in their quest for their own ‘voice’ for their communication devices.

These are high tech communication systems that synthesise speech from text to produce a ‘voice’, enabling those with no natural voice or communication difficulties to express themselves.

About 6,000 young people nationally depend on communication devices (AAC) as their voices. At National Star 22% of students use a communication device.

Comedian Lost Voice Guy, Lee Ridley, who also...Continue reading about a quest for a voice of their own

Ono


Technological and Environmental Adjustments for Students with Hearing Disabilities and Cognitive Disabilities

Surround speakers mounted on the wall in lecture theatre

The Support Centre for students with disabilities in the Centre for Academic Equality and Inclusion at Ono academic college (OAC), strive to provide universal technological accommodation based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, while maintaining a strong commitment to providing students with personal accommodations. The generous fund by the “Ian Karten Charitable Trust” in October 2018, enabled OAC to provide an improved learning environment for a large scope of students with disabilities.

The improvements included....Continue reading about Technological and Environmental Adjustments for Students.

RNIB College Loughborough


Technology Hubs – enabling students to achieve their goals

“Technology is the tool to help achieve goals, it’s not the goal itself.”
(From C Sutherland workshop VIEW Conference 2019)

Jacob (Kuba) sitting in his wheelchair working at a compute

Recently, we have been considering the details of the proposed new Ofsted inspection framework, in particular, the Quality of Education and in this article, I thought it would be interesting to reflect on how working in our two new Technology Hubs is enabling students to achieve their goals by looking at the....Continue reading about enabling students to achieve their goals.

Shalva


Ella – A case study

Meet VITA a training avatar to help people prepare for job interviews in a non-threatening way by providing virtual job interview simulations.
Ella interacting with VITA a job interview simulator
Read a case study of who Ella was supported to improve her interview skills

Events

Photo of an electronic diary on an iPad
 
  • Getting AT Ready - 31st May 2019.
    Booking via www.atready.co.uk
  • Karten Beneficiary event, 12 June 2019 at Jewish Care, Golders Green.

TechAbility events

  • 2019 TechAbility Conference will be held on 21st November at the Rowton Hotel in Birmingham.

Call Scotland Webinars


Keeping in touch

You can keep up to date with the activities of the Karten Network in a number of ways:
 
Karten Network website – www.karten-network.org.uk
 
Jiscmail - are you signed up to the jiscmail distribution list?  Let Dawn know if you would like any other members of staff adding to this email group
 
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter – search for Karten Network
 

Contact us

Dawn Green:   dawn@karten-network.org.uk     Tel 07821 723941

Angela Hobbs:   kartentrust@aol.com

Martin Pistorius:   martin@karten-network.org.uk

Debbie Ben-Tal:   debbie@karten-network.org.uk

Copyright © 2019 Ian Karten Charitable Trust, All rights reserved.


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