Anthony: Accessing technology with support

Introducing Anthony

Meet Anthony. Chris, one of our Digital Enablement Officers, has been supporting him for a few years. He’s supported him to access various technology devices including his phone, laptop, and fitness watch.

Anthony first heard about Henshaws through Manchester Central Library, as he would go there to apply for jobs. Manchester Central Library is one of the venues where we offer Digital Enablement support, so this is where he met Chris.

Getting Started

During their first session, Chris demonstrated some of the accessibility features on Anthony’s phone. Chris also downloaded the Envision AI app on to Anthony’s phone, a free app to enable him to read printed text.

Chris also demonstrated the different accessibility features on Windows PCs, so that Anthony would be able to continue to access a computer in the workplace.

Ongoing support in Bury

Anthony then moved to Bury. Henshaws has an agreement with Bury Blind Society to provide digital enablement support to people with sight loss in Bury.

Henshaws and Bury Blind Society have developed a close joint working partnership to support Anthony. As a result, Chris has worked with him regularly there over the past few years.

Non-Visual Desktop Access

Anthony’s vision deteriorated so he needed access to more specialist software.

Chris installed Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) onto Anthony’s laptop and demonstrated how to use it. In case you didn’t know, NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows from NV Access that allows you to access your computer through text-to-speech.

Tech for health and leisure

Anthony is also a keen sports person and likes to keep fit. He recently bought a sports fitness watch to enable him to track his runs and exercise. Chris supported him to access the different features on this.

Anthony has also recently bought a new tablet, so that he can access some of his leisure interests such as videos and music. Chris supported him in looking at the accessibility features on this.

In Anthony’s words

Thanks for all of your help and training you have given me over the past few years. You’ve helped me on a lot of devices for different things.

I only heard about Henshaws through Central Library but more people should know about them. I am hoping to get back into work and your support has helped me with that.

Digital Enablement In Action

Anthony is an example of how our Digital Enablement Service can help our service users along their sight loss journey to access a variety of accessibility features on a range of devices, for both work and leisure. Thanks to Chris’s support, he can now read printed text with his phone, track his exercise with his watch, access entertainment on his tablet, and much more.