Government
must raise awareness of mainstream accessibility technology for disabled people
says AbilityNet
Following
today’s publication of a Work and Pensions Committee report on assistive
technology (AT), leading digital inclusion charity AbilityNet is calling on the
Government to raise awareness among employers and disabled people of the
availability of mainstream accessibility technology.
The charity supports the recommendations in the report, calling on
the Government to further the promotion
of mainstream, cost-effective AT and AT support, including the signposting of
free resources including Microsoft's accessibility helpdesk, AbilityNet's My Computer My Way website or the Disabled Living Foundation's Living Made Easy
website.
Robin
Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet explained that "ten or fifteen years ago AT was the domain of the specialist provider.
With the advent of mobile computing, the vast majority of mainstream
technologies can enable disabled people to work in full-time roles and embrace
the benefits of modern life.”
Commenting
further, he explained, “There is a widespread lack of knowledge and
understanding of what mainstream technology can actually do for disabled
people. Users themselves do not know what their existing system is capable of,
which adjustments would be relevant, or which menu to use to make that
adjustment.
"If
Government can do more to raise awareness of accessibility options in
partnership with organisations like AbilityNet and the major technology
companies, everyone will benefit. Disabled people will become more confident in
using technology and, this in turn will improve independence and employability,
it’s a win-win.”
Earlier this year AbilityNet was invited to give written and oral
evidence into the Committee's Assistive Technology Inquiry which led to the AT report. AbilityNet told Parliament that web accessibility,
in particular making online job opportunities accessible, is also essential if
the Government wants to hit its target of one million more people with
disabilities in employment in the next decade.
Ends
Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet is available for pre-recorded or live interviews. For further information or to arrange an interview please contact Catherine Grinyer on 07713 248387 or email: press.office@abilitynet.org.uk
Notes:
About AbilityNet
National
charity AbilityNet helps people with disabilities use digital technology at
home, at work and in education. The Charity’s Patron is Baroness Martha
Lane-Fox of Soho, former UK Digital Champion. This year is the charity's 20th anniversary. More information can be found online: www.abilitynet.org.uk
Full details of the inquiry
into Assistive technology (AT)
The
report is published in audio, BSL video, Easyread, Large Print, Word, PDF, HTML
and hard copy formats, and the launch will be accompanied by a series of short
videos describing the uses and benefits of AT, and illustrating the AT to be
found in every smartphone.
The
various formats of the report will be available under these links, embargoed
until they go live at 00:01 on Thursday 19 April:
Large print - http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/Assistive%20technology/HC-673-large-print.pdf
PDF - https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmworpen/673/673.pdf
HTML - https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmworpen/673/67302.htm
Audio - https://soundcloud.com/ukparliament/assistive-technology-report-part-1
https://soundcloud.com/ukparliament/assistive-technology-report-part-2
British Sign Language video - https://youtu.be/yw9QaOp-uq0