Hello,

I hope you don't mind me posting to your forum; Steve Lee informed me of Oats.

I'm looking for an open source alternative to Don Johnston's Co: Writer that allows multiple installations under a single licence.  The only software I'm aware of is, Project Possibility's, Word Predictor, which is at the alpha stage of development and has no keyboard support.

Thanks,

Alan

Hi Alan,

One idea is that you propose to Project:possibility the enhancements you need and ask if they  consider it for the next SS12 event. Even better if  you are willing to be involved or mentor students. As you have the itch to scratch you are ideally placed to help make it happen.

Hi,

I've already e-mailed Project: possibility requesting keyboard functionality and info on beta stage transition. I guess requests take a while to filter through.

I can see possibilities for open source already: the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), within higher education, is restrictive: it's up to university assessment teams to determine assistive technology requirements; students only have a choice of specific commercial applications supported by their local authorities, therefore, students may have to purchase preferred applications themselves, which is further compounded by single pc installation licence restrictions - kind of undermining the definition of assistive technology!

Yes, I would be willing to mentor students. I have contacted our local dyslexia association, who, despite loosing local government funding, are able to offer limited assistance to our up-and-coming local support group. To begin with our group will assist and advise adult learners, but, my specialist interest, and also my postgraduate study, is Child Studies: 'hidden disabilities' in children who have suffered acquired brain injury and their provision under current UK legislation.

As a dyslexic learner myself, looking for a solution to my learning within open source has made me think... what if you could use open source technology to help kids from less fortunate backgrounds to participate more fully in education. I guess I'm a little slow, as you guys appear to have done this already. Please let me know if there's any other way I can become involved

Alan