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NEWS
Aug/Sept 2011 www.esb.ie/em
Assistive Technology: Opening doors to educational and career options for people with disabilities
TECHNOLOGY THAT Is used to assist people with disabilities to carry out tasks is referred to as ‘Assistive Technology’, which encompasses any piece of equipment, hardware or software that makes it easier for a person to carry out a task or activity in the home, school, college or workplace.
It could be something as simple as a book holder or as sophisticated as text-to-speech software.
For many people with a disability, assistive technology is not just the latest fad, it is much more. It is a vital component of their lives. It enables them to do things independently, things we all take for granted such as reading, writing, following the news, engaging in learning in a real way at school or college, achieving full potential at work and realising ambitions.
There is a wide range of hardware available including: different sized keyboards, adapted screens and mouse alternatives. This hardware is also ergonomic and helps reduce incidences of muscle strain if a person has a dexterity difficulty
Innovative software is being developed all the time and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with the pace of development! This software does not always carry a high price tag.
Standard accessibility features on computers include: grammar and spell-check features, zoom text and auto text, while voice-recognition software is available on newer computers. Voice-recognition software such as JAWS and Dragon Naturally Speaking assist students with a visual impairment or dyslexia to read and write using computers. The software allows textbooks to be scanned into the computer and the text read back aloud to the student using a sophisticated artificial voice, thereby allowing these students the same opportunities to leam as other students.
In an education system based on textbooks alone, learning without technology would simply be impossible for many students with disabilities. Typically a student with dyslexia in third level will receive his/her lecture notes online, transfer them to their iRod and listen with the use of screen-reader software. In many colleges, students that are deaf use a speed-text System to enable them to follow lectures in real time, as the lecture is transmitted to their computer screens. Textbooks are increasingly available electronically.
In some cases, examinations are given to students on iPods allowing them to be independent of others, while also eliminating the need for readers or separate examination halls.
Over 6,800 students with disabilities are in the higher education system Ten years ago there were just 400. In the past, students relied on family or friends to read textbooks to them. Now they leam to use innovative technology so that they can achieve independence, acquire skills and knowledge in school or college and transfer these skills to the workplace.
If you would like to know more about assistive technologies or how to create accessible documents go to:
www.ahead.ie
www.assistireland.ie
www.digidocs.nium.ie
The Equality and Diversity Office in conjunction with AHEAD aim to provide more information on the systems referred in future editions of EM.
Safety Committee promotes careful work practices
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Health & Safety Committee (CEHSC) met in St. Margaret’s Road premises in Finglas on 26th May.
A presentation was made on chemical safety by Pat Colman who pointed out that for most of us our home can be as dangerous as work when it comes to chemical products and toxicity. The Control of Harmful Substances (COHS) database is available to all ESB businesses and contains over 3,000 products. This should be checked before using a chemical product. If the particular product is not on COHS then a Safety data Sheet is required from the manufacturer in order to carry out a risk assessment before use. It was felt that currently there are too many products in use in the company and this needs to be rationalised to make it easier to maintain up to date safety data sheets and risk assessments.
The Chief Executive complimented everyone on the 2010 safety performance but cautioned against complacency. “Performance in 2011 is good but still behind last year. We all need to redouble our efforts if we are to succeed in achieving an injury free workplace,” he said.
Though the severity of injuries is decreasing the actual number of Lost Time Incidents (LTIs) is higher. Manual handling is noted as the most significant cause of injury so far in 2011.
It is proving a challenge to get full involvement in sub groups and future groups will be asked to look at specific topics and membership will be voluntary. Possible initiatives which could be included were - Recognising the Contribution of Individuals; Management of Change; Safe Behaviours; Communication Effectiveness; Vandalism and Criminality.
The encouragement of use of hand-rails on all stairs was promoted and the committee requested the support of the Exectutive Director Team to highlight stair safety.
A repeat of a 2007 Workplace Health Promotion survey was undertaken by the CEHSC to determine if there are perceived improvements. The survey sections were Policy, HR and Work Organisation, Planning, Social Responsibility, Implementation and Results. Improvements were achieved in all areas except Results where there was less staff involvement in results analysis.
In relation to behaviours and safety awareness, ESB Energy International is developing a programme to address human factors associated with incidents. The programme named 4U also aims to improve personal and team effectiveness through Self Management, Situational Awareness, Communications, Wellbeing, Decision Making, and Team Work. 4U is currently being piloted in a number of ESBEI locations.
The next meeting of the CEHSC will take place in September at the Derrybrien Windfarm, Co. Galway.
ESB GAA All-Ireland – Football 7’s
Venue: Páirc Uí Chiaráin, Athlone Saturday September 10th
Mens
2010 Winners – ESBI
Runners Up – Cavan
Also
Ladies Football Competition
2010 Winners - ESBI
Runners Up – ICT
Entry Fee €450 per Panel
Team Entries (Panel of 10 players + 2 mentors max.) to be e-mailed or posted to: Colum Grogan - Room 301, 40 Merrion Square, Tel HO Extn. 27486
John O’Riordan - ICT Group Head Office Tel HO Extn 27557
Shauna Brady – ICT Group Head Office Tel HO Extn 26941
Hugh Connaughton - Room 519 Clanwilliam Tel HO Extn 27146
Christy Goulding - Finglas Tel HO Extn 42214
Closing date for Panel Entries Friday 26th August 2011
Competition commences at 11.30am with the final at 5.30pm approx.
A Presentation Dinner takes place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel & Country Club, Athlone, at 7.30pm, followed by Ceol agus Craic.
ElectricAID Ireland – A National Impact Map
ELECTRIC AID IRELAND is working with charities and communities throughout the country on the issues of suicide prevention and the alleviation of homelessness. These two causes were selected by ESB staff at the time of the foundation of the fund. There are many organisations throughout the country that are doing important work in these areas and who are now being supported by ElectricAid Ireland. This support has grown in the six years since the fund was established.
A new map has been developed so that staff can easily see how funds are being distributed and the range and scale of activities that are being supported.
ElectricAID Ireland’s Chairperson Joyce Farrell says that the map will be a great help in developing staff understanding of the very real impact of ESB funding in communities and charities throughout the country. She said, “The map illustrates, more clearly than a table could ever do, the really national reach of ElectricAID Ireland.”
Sustainability and HR Executive Director, John Campion, believes that the profile of the expenditure is an example of real corporate responsibility in action and he encourages staff throughout the country to have a look to see what is happening in their own region, saying, “We would welcome any feedback on the programmes that you may have, as we seek to develop the ElectricAID Ireland fund in the future.”
You can view the map by visiting www.esb.ie/main/downloads/community-sponsorship/ElectricAid.pdf
New Access Officer appointed
NIALL O’HANLON HAS been appointed ESB Access Officer based in the Equality & Diversity Office, following the retirement of Ciaran Gogarty. Niall took up the role in June last and says he is very grateful to Ciaran for all the advice and help he has given him in the new position.
As part of his new role Niall will also be managing the Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001:2007) for Corporate Centre.
“I joined ESB in March, 1981 and have worked in a number of departments since including Personnel, Customer Services in Fleet Street and IT Services,” Niall told EM.
“I am a disabled employee who uses a wheelchair and as such I have seen huge changes in accessibility to buildings and premises over the years. Initially it wasn’t easy to gain access to work but there have been huge improvements since I first joined the company and now there are a lot of facilities available which makes it much easier for wheelchair users.”
Niall has served on a number of Disability Committees both inside the company and externally. These include –
- Member of the Services & Electric Ireland Equality & Diversity Group
- Member of the ESB Joint Equality Council
- Member of the ICTU Disability Committee
- First Disability Representative of the ESBOA
- Chairperson of the Newbridge Access Group (NAG) for the last number of years. This is group made up of people with different disabilities whose mission is to promote “access for all” to the physical environment of the town of Newbridge.
Niall is married to Niamh and has two children and lives in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
EM will carry a feature on Niall’s work as Access Officer in a future edition.
