How Can Microsoft Empower Potential of our SEN Pupils?

How do we Empower our SEN Pupils? – Arran Smith explains

Empowering Potential with Microsoft

Finding free usable ways to support our students with SEN is always difficult, most just don’t what you want them to do.  But did you know your Microsoft account can do a lot for very free?  Arran Smith SEN Advisor for Microsoft UK explains.

At Microsoft, our Mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. With more than 1 billion people in the world with disabilities, there is no limit to what people can achieve when technology reflects the diversity of all those who use it.

Arran Smith, Microsoft’s UK SEND & Dyslexia Consultant, will be talking about Assistive Technology which has been brought into mainstream use which enables teachers, students and dyslexic people of all ages to access the inbuilt assistive technology anytime anywhere.

Arran will talk about the functionality that has been added into Microsoft 365 and Windows 10 that can help to support its dyslexic users. He will also be looking at how it can support students with dyslexia and SEND and the support they may need. The talk will cover the advances from when the features that were developed back in 2015 and will include features in Word Online, PowerPoint Online and he will also demonstrate the new features including Reading Progress which has been developed to help with the fluency of reading. During the next 12 months Arran will be gathering feedback on Reading Progress and delivering more in-depth sessions if needed. Arran will also talk will about his inspiring story and how he uses Assistive Technology everyday to help him at work and his personal life.

This talk will cover:

· How to use built-in Microsoft features to support students

· What is new and upcoming

Who Arran Smith?

Arran has worked within the dyslexia sector for over 15 years. He is chairman of the Leicestershire Dyslexia Association and previously worked and volunteered for the British Dyslexia Association in varied roles.