tallship

Other forums I frequent have a single thread called 'Happy Birthday' or similar. No need for fancy auto-notification, just start a thread that suits all! To be honest I've never seen a forum with so many new threads every day. It's a bit daunting for occasional visitors, too much to keep up with. Nice people though...

Sorry folks I wasn't around for a while so I missed this thread. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts, I can't remember what I was doing on the day (other than working that is) but I had a very pleasant evening.

I use a forum which is frequently hacked and attacked because of its' political content. If you're not used to this kind of abuse then it's possible that my joining your forum has attracted the wrong kind of attention, for which I am truly sorry. I won't visit or post here again. The admin team here will have my email address, if they contact me I'll put them in touch with forum admin from the other site who have 'tools' for dealing with internet vermin. Byeeee..... Pete.

I installed the lighting in a new IT suite today. In the end financial constraints won the day so it's half a dozen triple head halogen units used as semi - uplighters. Not ideal but they're not fluorescent and the indirect light is quite soft and inviting. Over the next couple of days I'll fit the power sockets and network sockets back to a patchbay and hub / switch into the main server. That'll be me done for another term then while the powers that be dream up another project. *Moan of the Day* - After driving me insane to ensure the new IT suite will be completed for the new term, I was told today that the new desks are now on a five week back order...... Ho - Hum!

Don't forget Celestia. Hitch a ride around the galaxy....

Blimey! Where to start, that's the question. One at a time I suppose so here goes........ Hello Tally, to be fair only a few of our students are Asbergic (is that a proper term?), the majority are dyslexic and/or dyspraxic with lesser sensory issues. All of the rooms within the school have fairly plain decor although some have quite strong colours. I recently redecorated the senior boarding house common room because all of the boarders hated it. Previous boarders had been allowed to choose thier own colour scheme which consisted of a Post Office Red ceiling, mid blue walls and bright orange doors/doorframes/skirting. Sometimes it's better not to offer choice! Our I.T. Suite (complete with interactive whiteboard) has only LCD monitors. This coming week I will be ripping out the fluorescent lighting I installed last half term in my ignorance thinking I was doing something really helpful! Hi slaphead. Now listen here, I was born in Leeds so any further mention of MUFC will not be tolerated, see? I started at the school last August and it didn't take me long to realise that most of the students have a distinct averion to designs with jagged lines and clashing colours. Highly reflective surfaces aren't popular either, all sources of glare appear to be universally unpopular to a greater or lesser degree. Hello jen, I've just managed to get to grips with what a SENCO is / does, what the devil is an SSS? Yes I'd be interested in details of a sensory audit although I rather suspect that such things will be outside my remit and probably beyond my ken. I'm the guy that takes the paper design and makes it happen. Because I'm an experienced electrician and maintenance engineer I'm more qualified in very narrow band of knowledge than other staff. Most of the time I just do as I'm told..... I'm afraid I'm a long way from Birmingham! Hello Ian, I'll be in touch shortly. Hello Brook, I spent a while reading through the link and I've copied the text so I can print it later and study it in more detail. Thanks for that. Hello Suze, as it happens no one has ever mentioned sesitivity to computer noise to me before. On reflection all of the PCs at the school are pretty quiet (in comparison to mine anyway) so perhaps our machines were built to a particular spec. Thanks to all for the replies, much appreciated. Pete.

Thanks to all for the welcome and particularly to those who took time out PMing me with helpful advice and encouragement. You're a nice bunch.

Hello, I am Head of Maintenance at a specialist private school which provides education for children with severe dyslexia, dyspraxia or Asperger's Syndrome. My particular interest is in providing the best environment for the children - colour schemes and lighting etc, that will put them most at ease both in the classroom, and, as it a boarding school, in the dorms and common rooms. Opinions seem to vary greatly amongst both educational and medical specialists about the stroboscopic effects of fluorescent lighting for instance. A small proportion of the general population are able to detect the slight flickering of a fluorescent light, a slightly higher proportion of those with ASD are affected. This manifests itself as anything from a vague feeling of unease to a desparate need to get away from the room if it is brightly lit. Despite long research I can find no reference to high frequency fluorescent lighting and ASD, this type of lighting was specifically designed to eliminate visible stroboscopic effect particularly in areas with computer VDUs. Anyone out there with any experience in this area? Having mentioned colour schemes I should also ask if there any shades / colour combinations that have a particularly calming effect, and if there any to avoid?

Hello, I am Head of Maintenance at a specialist private school which provides education for children with severe dyslexia, dyspraxia or Asperger's Syndrome. My particular interest is in providing the best environment for the children - colour schemes and lighting etc, that will put them most at ease both in the classroom, and, as it a boarding school, in the dorms and common rooms. Opinions seem to vary greatly amongst both educational and medical specialists about the stroboscopic effects of fluorescent lighting for instance. A small proportion of the general population are able to detect the slight flickering of a fluorescent light, a slightly higher proportion of those with ASD are affected. This manifests itself as anything from a vague feeling of unease to a desparate need to get away from the room if it is brightly lit. Despite long research I can find no reference to high frequency fluorescent lighting and ASD, this type of lighting was specifically designed to eliminate visible stroboscopic effect particularly in areas with computer VDUs. Anyone out there with any experience in this area? Sorry If I've posted this query in the wrong thread / subforum, if I have please point me in the right direction.