Mike Thrusell

Assistive Technologist, Henshaws College

Mike has led and been a partner of many successful sector projects
including the renowned ACCESS: Technology websites project, the innovative DART2 project with Beaumont and National Star Colleges and the LSIS Leadership with Technology Regional Collaboration Fund; a partnership of 6 colleges. Mike has extensive experience working with learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in teaching and support capacities. He is undertaking an MSc in Technology Enhanced Learning which informs his practice and supports the high level evaluation processes needed to manage these successful projects. Mike has been highly commended by the Association of Learning Technology recognising his achievements support students using assistive technologies.

Fil McIntyre

Assistive Technologist, Beaumont College, Scope

As part of a multi-disciplinary team at Beaumont College, Fil assists students and staff to find technology solutions which enable learning and enhance life.
Beaumont College is a national centre of excellence for Assistive Technology practice and development. The Beaumont College technology team regularly works with specialist assistive technology providers, mainstream IT companies, other colleges and organisations to improve assistive technology equipment, software and practice.

Fil has provided training and consultancy to schools, colleges, adult services and presented on Assistive Technology at conferences such as BETT and SLF in the UK, ATIA in the US and ICT for People With Disabilities in Kuwait.

Before joining Beaumont College, Fil provided Assistive Technology training and support to all Post-16 colleges in Scotland through The BRITE Initiative. Alongside this he assessed and advised users of electronic communication aids for Keycomm.

Prior to this Fil was an Assistive Technology Consultant for Inclusive Technology and Assistive Technologist at Seashell Trust.

Richard Maclachlan

Assistive Technologist, Runshaw College

Richard is the Lead Assistive Technologist at Runshaw College in Lancashire, where he has worked for 3 years. His role involves providing support geared towards improving the use of assistive technology with the aim of increasing independence for students and removing barriers to learning. He has pioneered work to improve exam access for large numbers of English GCSE students at a low cost as part of the Text To Speech in exams pilot project. He has been a guest speaker at several JISC regional and JISC DART project events. He’s currently working to develop the use of assistive technology tools for lesson support for FE students, as part of the National Learning Futures project.


Trevor Mobbs

Scope

Trevor is the Lead Assistive Technologist at Scope’s Beaumont College in Lancaster where he has worked for the last 5 years. His role involves assessment, provision, training and support of assistive technology as part of a trans-disciplinary team with the aim of increasing independence for students with complex needs. He has been involved with the delivery of the BT funded Wheeltop and Connect to Control projects and the JISC DART project. Trevor is especially keen to see mainstream technology utilised and made accessible to disabled people, and has worked on projects with the BBC and YouView with this aim. He is a qualified teacher and is currently studying for an MSc in Assistive Technology at Coventry University.