Software wizards scoop top award

A DELPH firm which provides software and communication devices for pupils with learning, physical and sensory disabilities has won a top award.

The colourful MyZone helps children and adults with learning difficulties to find things on a computer.

It was created by Inclusive Technology and scooped the honour for the Best Special Educational Resources or Equipment Involving ICT at the 2011 Education Resources Awards.

The award was presented to special projects manager Ian Bean who said: “It’s a great honour. As a teacher of students with special needs, I am all too aware of the need to tailor systems to meet the exact requirements of students.

“Throughout the development of MyZone, we endeavoured to ensure that it provided students with three key elements — equality of opportunity, personalisation and complete inclusivity — and we were very pleased that the judges recognised this.”

My Zone features large buttons and simple navigation. It allows users to create their own simple desktop, as well as providing individual zones for each learner to give them easy access to their programs, activities and games.

The judges found it secure and very easily accessible through speech and pictures.

The awards, now in their 13th year, focus on resources, services and people that make a practical impact on learning and the day-to-day work of the teachers.

The black-tie gala was held at the Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

Inclusive Technology is based at Riverside Court, Huddersfield Road, and information team manager Jamie Munro said: “We are delighted that this award has recognised the importance of the MyZone program in providing access to computer-based tools and content for pupils with cognitive and physical disabilities.

“As the Windows computer interface becomes more sophisticated and complex, it presents more of a barrier for these pupils to access programs, music, videos, photographs and the internet.

“MyZone gives pupils a highly visual and intuitive environment where they can access programs, files, photographs and web pages using a variety of simple input devices such as touch screens or switches.

“By giving teachers the ability to restrict what individual pupils can access on the computer, it also importantly provides a safe environment for them too.”