Tag Archives: disability

Technology 4 Good Awards 2012

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Race Online 2012 is once again supporting the Technology4 Good Awards. Together with AbilityNet we are promoting the ‘Working Together Award 2012′ , which specifically acknowledges the effort of organisations supporting people in their efforts to get online.

Last year the award went to ICT solutions company XMA, and iansyst Ltd, an assistive technology company. Ian Litterick from iansyst Ltd describes in the above video how important the awards are.

Entry to the Working Together Award is open to organisations from any sector that can show how good communication and collaboration has delivered a positive impact on people’s lives through technology.

Here at Race Online 2012, we are getting behind the awards again because they are a perfect way of recognising the fantastic work being done across the county.

Following on from the success of last year’s inaugral Technology4 Good Awards, AbilityNet have teamed up with BT and other partners again to celebrate those charities and businesses who improve lives through the use of IT.

The awards are free to enter, and are open to any UK-based individual, charity, business or public body.

AbilityNet CEO Nigel Lewis, speaking at the launch of the T4G Awards 2012, describes them as ‘breaking the mould’. Take a look at his pitch, and others, from the top of the BT tower.

The 2011 awards were a huge success, and if you want to know what to expect from this years event, take a quick look at how things went last year.

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Above all it is an excellent opportunity to recognise those doing hugely important work in a number of different fields.

There is no limit on the amount of awards you can enter, and nominations are open until midnight on 18 May 2012. What are you waiting for?

For more information on the awards, and details on how to enter, check the Technology 4 Good Awards homepage.

MLF discusses accessibility on You & Yours

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Yesterday, the Office for National Statistics released its third quarterly update on internet access, which showed that of the 8.43 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet, 4.25 million are disabled.

At lunchtime, Martha and Nigel Lewis, CEO of AbilityNet, of which Martha recently became a patron, discussed the issue on Radio 4’s You & Yours programme.

“Firstly it’s very important to recognise that there’s an enormous benefit for disabled people to be online”, she said.  “Therefore we should work hard to create technologies that are easier to use and to bring the price points down of the technologies that are out there already.”

According to Nigel Lewis, those with disabilities are often prevented or discouraged from going online because of inaccessible technology.  “Either they can’t engage with and use the standard computer out of the box, and so it needs adapting in some way, or the online services, the websites, are not accessible with their adaptive technology”, he said.

Listen to the interview on BBC iPlayer (available for a limited time only)

Surfing the web? No, Sailing in fact!

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""The thought of taking part in a gruelling 600-mile yacht race would fill most people with dread. But despite being blind since the age of 13, Ed Kitchen jumped at the chance last month. “I’ve been a keen sailor since a child.  My Dad always encouraged me to live my dreams and to not allow my disability to get in the way.” said Ed.

The adventure is typical of the man who has signed up to be a digital champion for Go ON Leeds and spoke at its launch. With an estimated 136,000 local residents yet to experience the internet, it’s people like Ed who are spreading the word.

Ed, who is 35 and lives in Rotherham, works for O2 at its main offices in Leeds.  He’s able to do his work thanks to special software that turns his computer text into voice, and a braille display to translate as a back-up.

“The technology allows me to work like anybody else.  The specially adapted system is amazing.  It even picks up graphics and can relate a smile or icon into voice,” said Ed.

""“I am right behind the efforts of Go ON Leeds and want to encourage as many people as possible, not just those with a sight impairment, to try going online to see what a difference it can make.”

“The internet has opened a whole new world for me,” said Ed.  “If I wanted to research something, I would have to go the library and rely on somebody either looking up the information and reading to me or getting a photocopy to scan into braille.

“Online shopping is another big boost.  Beforehand, a shopping experience was like hell on earth.  If you can imagine going into a supermarket and asking for help.  You would get someone to help pick an item, say fresh orange, and they would take the first pack off the shelf unless you were very specific.

“Now, I can shop online with a full description and order exact items.  They are delivered to my door by the shop who then check every item with me.  I can’t begin to explain how good that is.”

Colleagues at O2 have been following the progress of Ed, and his trusted guide dog Darcy, on the intranet where he writes a regular blog about his experiences at work and home.  His insights are helping people in the business get an appreciation of what life is like for customers with a disability and is also influencing company policy when looking at new products and services.

“I hope that people take the plunge and go online during the week,” said Ed.  They shouldn’t be frightened but embrace the technology and realise how much better their lives can be.”

The power of working together in partnership

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It’s always fantastic to see successful digital inclusion projects from across the country – and this week is no different, after a fantastic partnership between Teesside University and an employment charity, the Shaw Trust, was brought to our attention.

The partnership has been singled out for particular praise from a senior civil servant, Cathy Francis (below, far right), and works by giving community leaders key skills in digital technology so they can then go on and educate disabled and disadvantaged people.

As one such leader, Alf (below, centre), said: “Many older people are afraid of computers, but we’ve got people from the age of five to 82 taking part in our activities and helping each other learn and develop their digital skills.” Alf is a former crane driver who is now active in Middlesbrough’s town centre residents group. It’s through partnerships like the one with Teesside university that people like Alf can really become skilled up and make a difference to the lives of others in communities, and we’d like to see more partnerships coming to fruition in the coming months – something that www.raceonline2012.org is explicitly encouraging.

To see more about this particular partnership, read this article from the Newcastle Journal.