Ms Toni O'Dwyer:

In terms of assistive technology, along with the general trends in technology, mainstream technology is what students with visual impairment are seeking to use. The accessibility on those devices makes it possible for that to happen. There is much greater use of technology in education now, to the benefit of the students.

Access and grants do not tend to be a difficulty. Assistive technology is well funded. What is at issue is the functional assessment prior to a device being given and the follow-on training that is required. That is of huge significance. It lends itself in particular to the process of learning to access. If children are not able to use the device to access information efficiently, they will not be able to compete with their peers.