Modem Operandi Web Design

Curriculum Vitae

Modem Operandi is

Tom Orr and several associates who provide sales, marketing, proof reading and design advice on a freelance basis.

Education:

1985 – 1986 Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Dundee 1979 - 1982 General Arts MA, University of Edinburgh

Skills and Experience:

I have seventeen years’ experience in a wide range of multidisciplinary projects within Social Work Departments providing direct services/quality of life improvements to service users.
I have established and led residential projects including responsibility for staff and budgets.
I have planned, designed (with full user consultation) and implemented communication strategies across a wide range of voluntary, health, education and social work organisations.
I routinely prepare and present information/proposals to multidisciplinary teams.
I have designed and implemented workplace strategies that enhance and streamline our design and resource production using the latest developments in ICT leading to faster response times.

Projects:

I work with organisations and individuals who require augmented communication. I contribute to the removal of barriers to the successful uptake of services or employment opportunities encountered by people who cannot read written English by:-
  • leading teams through the process of identifying core competencies and communication gaps and agreeing on solutions
  • designing symbolised signage and other symbols resources such as task sheets, lists, pointing charts and appointment cards in appropriate formats (electronic, press ready etc.)
  • consulting with staff and service users or potential users during design, planning and implementation
  • providing staff training and on-site project promotion
  • designing resources to extend projects to other areas of work (buildings or information resources) including providing CD ROM based symbols collections, resource packs, guidelines, training resources, presentations and customer support web pages.

Projects I have recently worked on include:
Better Health through Better Communication (NHS) – design of symbols, GP surgery resources, signage for surgeries, pre-press work and CD ROM design.
Roodlands Outpatients Clinics (NHS) – symbols design & testing and access advice.
Changing Day Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities - leaflet describing service developments in Social Work
MEHIP – consultation and symbols design for a discrete set of symbols to augment the accessibility of sexual health service promotional leaflets. I am a member of the council's/Health Board's steering group of the Inclusive Communication Project (ICP), advising on consistency in the approach to inclusive communication being adopted by planners in Lothian NHS, the City of Edinburgh Council and East, Mid and West Lothian Councils.

Professional Competencies:

Language and teaching skills. Computer Applications and JavaScript course certificates. Conversant with standards required of service providers by the British Standards Institute, the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, the Joint Mobility Unit of the RNIB, the Web Accessibility Initiative and the Disability Discrimination Act (1995).

Languages

HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Software

Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Freehand and PhotoShop.
I am an advisory member of the North Edinburgh Dementia Services Planning Group reporting on existing services, shortfall and potential for service growth for people with dementia and learning disabilities in Edinburgh.

Personal Qualities:

My commitment to working in the field of learning disability has made me determined to provide services of the highest standard; to make, and keep to, deadlines, focus on targets and provide competent solutions within budget. To all my work I bring an understanding and energy driven by a commitment to the people to whom I have provided services and through whom I have developed both professionally and personally.

Tom Orr April 2008