Post on 28-Dec-2015
Stats – The Scale
Mobility impairment
• Wheelchair users c. 3.2 million
• Cannot walk without aid c. 40.0 million
Dexterity impairment
• Cannot use fingers c. 0.8 million
• Cannot use one arm c. 0.8 million
• Reduced strength c. 22.4 million
• Reduced co-ordination c. 11.2 million
Speech and Language impairment
• Speech impaired c. 2.0 million
• Language impaired c. 4.8 million
20 % of Population – 55 Million People
Cognitive impairment
• Dyslexia c. 8.0 million
• Intellectually impaired c. 24.0 million
Hearing impairment
• Deaf c. 0.8 million
• Hard of hearing c. 48.0 million
Visual impairment
Blindness implies a total or near total loss of the ability to perceive
• Blind c. 3.2 million
• Low vision c. 12.0 million
Legal Framework
UN Convention on Human Rights Article 9• Accessibility to:– the physical environment– Transportation– to information and communications,– including information and communications technologies and systems & internet– other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas
2007 Commission Communication on the situation of disabled people:Disability is a human rights and not only a social discretional matter.
Communication 2008/133 on standardisation & innovation– Public procurement: accessibility standards
Legal Framework
UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities 2006Disability rights – Human rightsAccessibility
• UN International Action on Ageing 2002Disability and ageingAccessibility
European TreatyThe new Article 13 provides for measures to combat discrimination based on disability. The Intergovernmental Conference that drew up the Treaty of Amsterdam sought to offer an even stronger guarantee
Mandate 376: ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FORPUBLIC PROCUREMENT OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICESIN THE ICT DOMAIN
Proposal for new directive
What are the barriers ?
Awareness of Solutions
Cost of solutions
Access to services
Training
Demand
Geography
Which services address these needs?
Advice and Information
Assessment of Needs
Personal Visits / Mentoring
Classroom training
Software and Hardware solutions
Technical Support
What are the traditional models of delivery
Multidisciplinary
Inter-disciplinary
Professional Intervention
At Clinic
Personal Visit
What are the limitations
Cost
Demand
Intensity
No Legacy
Solutions – Access to Information
My Computer, My Way
Social Networking
Wiki
Solutions – Access to Services
Remote Assessment
Switched on Communities
Case Study - Remote Delivery of Service
Using technology to deliver service
Based at home
Broadband
Webcam
VoIP
Solutions – Access to Training
eLearning
Video Training
Webinars
Blended
Solutions – Cost of Solutions
Open Source solutions
Free and Shareware database
Bittorrent
Loan Bank of commercial solutions
Independent Evaluation
The project has brought important benefits for many individual users, ranging from small improvements in the ease with which they can use computers, to changes which enable them to participate in activities (such as training) or carry out tasks (such as e-mail) from which they had been almost totally excluded.
The project has also significantly raised the awareness of staff in the centres (and others they have been able to influence) about the possibilities of making computing more accessible through adjustments and adaptations.
The training and support provided by AbilityNet has been excellent, with universal praise for the work of the staff member who was most directly involved, and almost no negative comments at all.
User Voices
The assessment tool was very thorough in finding exactly what users needed to assist them.
Having the assessment tool is essential because it gives a focus and goes through things systematically.
Text prediction, followed by the trackball and getting the computer to talk made the biggest difference.
I found it gave me so much more confidence. I'd had a bad experience before with another organisation and thought I would not be able to learn computing again. I have now had the confidence to move on and learn with another company and have gained a qualification.
One positive outcome has been that staff (and others such as families and social services staff) have learned a lot about accessible computing, and have also learned that you don’t need to be an IT professional to make a lot of useful adjustments for people. That good basic stuff alone has been valuable.
Content and Web Accessibility
Accessibility Barriers
Websites
Software
Platform
Devices
Standards
Procurement
Based on experience of W3C and PC’s
Supporting Accessible Design
Raise awareness
Identify Standards
Train in variety of Styles
Provide Support Materials
Identify Tools for Conversion
Implement and Learn
AbilityNet – Tools for Diversity
Integrating Virtual and Physical Networks
SOC / SSOC
RAPL evaluation
VCOs will...
Receive “mini-kit” and training (today!)
Receive support from their linked community partner
www.abilitynet.org.uk/soc Have access to AbilityNet’s online assessment tool
Have access to AbilityNet’s loan bank of equipment
Have access to AbilityNet’s e-learning materials
Have opportunities to participate in future training sessions
Receive support with assessments for learner access needs
Will be promoted on AbilityNet website
Car Analogy
Do you drive a car that anyone else drives?
Let’s think about what might happen but looking at an example……
After some simple adjustments…
• Seat back• Seat lowered• Steering Wheel raised• Mirrors adjusted
The Solution
Adaptive Hardware
Benefits of Approach
No physical boundaries
Best use of Time and across Timezones
Creates legacies of knowledge and experience
Less intense on user
Cheaper – Value for Money
Reduced carbon footprint
Examples of a growing Network
BBC – My Web My Way
Ireland – Remote Assessment Portal
Latvia – Barrier Free Assessments from UK
Telecentres Europe – channel to promote and encourage
Initial discussions with
Uganda
Qatar
ComputerAid
New Tools to Create Networks
Social Bookmarking
Microblogging
Online Team Mindmapping
Free tools for video conference
The Road Ahead
Raise Awareness of Solutions
Educate
Train Users
Designers and developers
Facilitators and advisors
Guide
Assess
Advise
Supply
Loan
Direct
Support
Review and Evaluate
Links
David Banes david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk
Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog
AbilityNet Website www.abilitynet.org.uk
My Computer My Way www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway
Wiki www.abilitynet.wetpaint.com
eLearning www.abilitynettraining.org
Remote Assessment www.abilitynet.org.uk/soc
Social Networks
You Tube www.youtube.com/abilitynet
MySpace www.myspace.com/abilitynet
Facebook http://tiny.cc/BSN3i
Twitter www.twitter.com/abilitynet