CBBC Newsround Newsreader gives disabled children control of news

2nd February 2010

Newsround has introduced technology to help children with motor disabilities read the news without having to rely on a carer, and to control the news they consume. The Newsround Newsreader uses scanning and switch technology to cycle through the various daily options and for the first time puts this audience in the driving seat. The initial concept came from special needs teacher, Jeanette Holden, who worked with the technical team throughout the build of the application.

The project has been making an appearance at some awards recently, attaining 'good practice' at the Microsoft Access-IT acessible technology awards, finalist in the learning category of the RADAR human rights awards, and also finalist in the special needs category of the BETT education technology awards.

It's a tribute to the team that helped to design it that other parts of the BBC are already looking to adopt this application but the best accolades come from the audience.

"Just to say a big THANK YOU on behalf of all my pupils and clients all over Scotland who are switch users and poor readers - the new accessible newsreader is absolutely brilliant and much needed." Sally Millar, Senior Research Fellow, CALL Scotland

"I'd love to see an accessible newsreader for adults too." Barrie Ellis, OneSwitch.org

Try it out on this link by clicking on the big logo: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/newsreader/