David Banes

Director of Development

AbilityNet

Bridging the Digital DivideA Barrier Free Approach

Users

Age

Disability

Needs

Settings

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

The Divide

Attitudes

Cost

Awareness

Confidence

Technology is different !

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

The Divide

Looking across ?

Or Falling In ?

A New Bridge

To Meet these needs and parameters – we need a new approach

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

Three Steps

Intensive Support

Facilitated Support

Self Help

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

Starting The Remote Process

The Basics

Performing Remote Assessment

Benefits

Highly valued

Highly productive

Highly skilled

Client facing

94% Satisfaction Rating

Solutions – Access to Training

eLearning

Video Training

Webinars

Blended

Solutions – Access to Support

Volunteer Networks

Remote Desktop Assistance

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

A Partnership

Voluntary

Private

Public

Linking to Voluntary and Community Organisations

VCO

Disability Action

VCO

VCO

VCO

VCO

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

Online Assessment Tool

Access to a loan bank of equipment

Car Analogy

Do you drive a car that anyone else drives?

Let’s think about what might happen but looking at an example……

Two willing volunteers

An ideal driving position

getting comfortable……..

Comfortable?Safe?Practical?Happy?

The Problem

After some simple adjustments…

• Seat back• Seat lowered• Steering Wheel raised• Mirrors adjusted

The Solution

One size does not fit all!

Adaptive Hardware

Low Cost Software

Free Software

Built in Options

Open Source Solutions

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

New Platforms

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

Innovation

"Doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results, is the definition of crazy."

— Unknown

The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas."— Dr. Linus Pauling

“The stone age didn’t end because they ran out of stones.” – unknown