Supporting Higher Education with Lightkey

Introduction

In this article, we'll explore what Lightkey is, what is the Disabled Students' Allowance, and how Lightkey supports students with disabilities to thrive academically.

What is Lightkey?

Lightkey is an advanced text prediction and spelling correction software that learns from you, offering predictive and personalised suggestions to boost writing speed and accuracy. With sophisticated language processing, it corrects spelling and grammar errors in real-time. It's great for students, professors, and researchers in all fields, helping draft essays, papers, and presentations efficiently.

Lightkey is approved by the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and Access To Work, and widely used in UK and Irish universities, providing essential support for disabled students with customisable settings for different needs.

What is the Disabled Students Allowance?

The Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is a government-funded program in the UK that provides financial support and assistance for disabled students in higher education. It helps cover the extra costs associated with studying that arise due to a disability, such as specialised equipment, assistive technology, non-medical helpers, and additional travel expenses. The DSA aims to ensure that disabled students have equal opportunities to access and succeed in higher education by providing tailored support to meet their individual needs.

So how can Lightkey actually support disabled students?

Lightkey was developed with a focus on inclusivity, working closely with Aventido and gathering feedback from DSA assessors, disability support professionals, and the Thomas Pocklington Trust. It's designed to support individuals with dyslexia, physical disabilities, visual impairments, and mental health challenges.

Dyslexia and other writing difficulties

Dyslexia affects 1 in 10 people in the UK, Lightkey's real-time spelling and grammar corrections work to alleviate the frustration of constant stopping and starting, enabling smoother writing and boosting confidence.

Physical disability and chronic pain

Living with a physical disability can make typing exhausting. Lightkey is built to reduce as many keystrokes as possible while offering accurate multi word predictions, easing the physical and mental strain.

Visual Impairment

Lightkey is optimised for screen readers like JAWS, Windows Narrator, or NVDA. It includes colour highlights for low vision and colour blindness, along with a read-aloud function, ensuring easy navigation and usage.

Mental Health

Mental health affects over half of all students in the UK, often making essay writing overwhelming. Lightkey works reduces cognitive burden by minimising unnecessary distractions, allowing students to focus on crafting their best work.

Conclusion

Lightkey is a versatile tool that empowers students with disabilities in Higher Education to excel academically. Whether it's removing distractions or conserving energy, Lightkey has you covered.

If you would like to learn more please email james.wright@aventido.com or book a 1-2-1 at your convenience.