Assistive technology
Technology advice and assistance
For help with our enabling technology and for any queries about your support needs, please contact:
- Arran Brown, Assistive Technology Advisor, arran.brown@hw.ac.uk, 0131 451 4267, Microsoft Teams enquiries are also welcome.
Assistive technology at the Edinburgh campus
We have extensive on-campus study place resources and network computers available with a selection of software, including assistive software such as Texthelp Read&Write.
Find out more about the assistive technology available.
The Study Toolkit page provides advice and presentations on technology that can assist all students with their studies.
Find out about PC labs and booking.
Use of AI features in Assistive Software
Many of the assistive software tools recommended by the Disability Service include AI-powered features designed to support your learning.
Please be aware that the University has issued guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence, which outlines general principles for responsible use, when and how to reference AI, and how to ensure your work maintains academic integrity. Please note that this guidance applies to all uses of AI - whether through general tools or embedded within assistive software. It is your responsibility to ensure that any use of AI complies with the University's academic integrity policies.
If you are unsure about how this applies to your situation, we encourage you to contact your lecturer, or Disability Advisor who can support you with liaising with academic staff.
Use of Grammarly
Some of Grammarly's features use generative artificial intelligence (AI). If you use Grammarly's generative AI features (just as with any other generative AI tools that you use), this must be acknowledged in your work, even if you are using the software to support a disability or language need. A failure to acknowledge any use of generative AI may be considered academic dishonesty.
Grammarly's AI features are indicated by the pencil and lightbulb icons. These can also be labelled as "rewrite with Grammarly" and "Improve it". On the Grammarly website, these are also accessed through the "Generative AI" button.
If you are concerned that you may use the generative AI features accidentally, Grammarly allows you to turn off/disable these features.
To turn off Grammarly's generative AI features:
- In Grammarly, select "Account" from the menu
- From the Account menu, go to "Settings" and then select "Feature Customisation" from the menu
- Toggle the generative AI functions to off. The tick symbol ("check mark") will not show when the features are turned off.
Resource rooms
Our resource rooms in the library on the Edinburgh campus have electrically adjustable desks for wheelchair users and a range of PCs with large-screen monitors. You can access the standard assistive software and specialist software if you are blind or visually impaired.
The rooms also provide a quiet space where you can enjoy distraction-free silent study time.
Equipment loan pool
We maintain a limited stock of ergonomic and assistive technology-related equipment, which can be issued as loan equipment to you to trial, or bridge a short gap if you are waiting for your own DSA-funded equipment. We can make this equipment available for longer periods if necessary. For further information, please contact disability@hw.ac.uk.
Useful apps for phones and tablets
Our useful apps page lists some apps for both Android and iOS that you may find useful for studying and organising, and for general wellbeing.