Why you should come to ITS for your DSA Computer

Our service is flexible, so may vary from the standard to meet specific needs.

1. For the student;
2. For the Assessor and Disability Officer;
3. For the Funding Body/LEA;
4. DSA Suppliers’ Service Level Agreement.

For the student

One stop

We aim to provide everything that you might need for the equipment part of your DSA allowance, in one stop.

1. This avoids you the stress of hunting from shop to shop
2. It saves you time
3. Many local authorities have our price list and know that our prices are reasonable, so will accept one price from us rather than asking you to spend time getting two or three quotes – perhaps from people who will not be able to meet your needs properly.

Our team and style

You need a supplier for your system that is friendly and that you can get on with.

1. Many of us are dyslexic
2. We all get training in dyslexia and disabilities so you can expect us to be sympathetic and to understand your needs and urgency
3. Our systems, web site and information are as clear and dyslexia friendly as we can make them
4. We normally answer the phone with a person, not a robot - to save you time
5. We aim to be as efficient as the best big company but keep the small company’s personal service.

Our training

A powerful computer and software is no good if you don’t know how to use it. We believe that it is important that you get training and we offer some of the best training that you can get.

1. Our trainers are expert in the specialist software (eg textHELP! and speech recognition) as well as in general purpose programs like Microsoft Office.
2. We train you:
   1. on your computer (helping to make sure it’s set up to suit you);
   2. in your home;
   3. according to your needs (not with a standard, pre-designed course).
3. If your funding body has specified training from us, we contact you automatically to organise this. No need for you to search for a trainer, with the risk that you don’t get trained.

More information about training

The Computer

You want your computer to meet your needs, to last your course at least and to give you the minimum hassle.

1. We install the software and peripherals and set them up appropriately for the software and for your needs as we understand them:
   1. We use an ever changing checklist to ensure that the different bits work together without problems
   2. We test that the software works with the printer and scanner etcetera
2. We have desk top computers designed to our specification, with high quality components - not the cheapest - so that your system is:
   1. Robust
   2. Can be easily maintained
   3. Is normally ready for Speech Recognition software
3. We choose laptop and notebook computers carefully to meet the same objectives
4. We aim to supply most computers, where there are no complications, within 5 working days of getting your order

After–Sales Support

If you have a problem, you want it sorted as quickly as possibly, so that your work is not interrupted.

1. We provide knowledgeable hardware & software support on specialist and non–specialist items.
2. You can use our freephone number or we will ring you back (if your mobile can’t use freephone).
3. We aim to give a better, quicker, cheaper and more personal service than the major companies’ call centres.
4. It saves you arguments where the hardware supplier says it’s a software problem and the software company says it’s a hardware problem. Either way, it’s our responsibility to help sort it out.
5. We are continually searching for ways:
   1. to improve our support;
   2. and above all to avoid the need for support by
      • finding better products
      • giving you better information
      • improving our system setup
      • presenting our systems and information better
      • giving better training

Support Pages

For the Assessor and Disability Officer

We work with you to simplify and speed up the process and minimise your hassles, at least as far as the equipment grant is concerned.

One Stop

We try to give you a one-stop and efficient service:

1. Quick quotes:
   1. either at your request (normally same day);
   2. self service from our web site, www.itspc.co.uk.
2. We can send you a monthly price list (please ask to go on our DSA mailing list).
3. If you need an unusual item, we’ll (normally) find it for you. If it’s something that other students might want, we’ll stock it if we can.
4. We provide for your students’ training needs, anywhere in the UK, normally without any extra charge for travel.

Our website www.dyslexic.com is a reference site with authoritative, objective information about dyslexia and appropriate technology. It also gives after-sales support, and has links to other dyslexia and disability resources. www.itspc.co.uk is our website for hardware - which we only sell within the UK – and for DSA quotes.

Seminars and training

You are welcome to one of our occasional updating seminars on technology and dyslexia, or we can come to you to talk and demonstrate to you and relevant colleagues in your institution.

For the Funding Body/LEA

You need to ensure that your students get the best service possible to meet their special needs, with the minimum of work and time for you, whilst ensuring that you get Best Value.

1. We try to give you, too, a one–stop service, supplying all the equipment items that your students need, and the training they need.
2. We can send you or email you a monthly DSA Price List: you can compare prices, service levels and value without needing to get multiple quotes for each individual student.

DSA Suppliers’ Service Level Agreement

We have taken an active role in setting up a Service Level Agreement for DSA Suppliers; now referred to as the Quality Assurance Framework QAF, so that you know what to expect from those of us who offer specialist services to meet the needs of students with DSAs. We aim to offer an even better standard than that set by these agreements.

You can download a PDF of the Quality Assurance Framework QAF.

Whether you are a student, disability officer, assessor or funder, we believe that we offer the best service that you can find from a DSA supplier. But we are not perfect. The thing that gives us a buzz is that we are always learning. We learn from you – students and those supporting them – and we learn from research, from following the forums, from reading, from experts and from conferences world–wide. We hope to keep learning. Please keep giving us feedback.