By Debbie Holmes

This toolkit is intended for people running ICT projects who need to think about accessible use for people using their services and looks at the areas below.

Why the need for a toolkit that looks at ICT & Disability?
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, 2005
Inclusive & Accessible Technology – What’s it all about?
Assistive Technology
Free and easy ways to adapt your computer
Access Technology in Communities (ATIC) at RNIB Cymru
Accessible web design
Accessible web design links
Checking your site is accessible
And Finally 


Why the need for a toolkit that looks at ICT & Disability? 

People with disabilities and limited mobility can find support and services on the internet. However, their access is often limited, as shown by the national statistics and research for disabled users below.
• Oftel (2000) found that 17 per cent of disabled adults had home Internet access, compared with 25 per cent of non-disabled adults.
• Research Surveys of Great Britain, 2001, found ownership of computers and the Internet considerably lower for disabled people compared with the total population.
• Those with a disability specifically affecting computer use were also very much less likely to own a computer (23 per cent) than those with a disability affecting normal activities (35 per cent). The figures for Internet access in the home being 9 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.
• The survey also found that people with disabilities were less likely ever to have used a computer or the Internet than the total population.

• An estimated 5 million people are IT disabled: with upper limb mobility problems, visual, other sensory or learning impairments.

• There are over 10 million disabled people in Britain; of which, 4.6 million are over state pension age and 700,000 are children, according to the Family Resources Survey 2003-2004.

• Disability increases with age: only 10% of adults aged 16-24 are disabled, while one third of people between the age of 50 and retirement age are disabled. By 2020 58% of people over the age of 50 will have a long term health condition, according to the Disability Rights Commission. Disabled people wield significant economic leverage. The annual spending power of disabled adults is around £80 billion, according to the Family Resources Survey.

• a picture emerges of 30% of the population with either a mild difficulty in accessing digital information systems or who are unable to operate certain kinds of system. The highest prevalence is among those with learning difficulties, followed by physically disabled people, and then hearing impaired people, with visual impairments accounting for the lowest prevalence.


Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, 2005

Part 3 of the DDA applies to any organization, which provides goods, facilities and services to the public. Its provisions mean that it is unlawful to discriminate against disabled people by refusing them service, providing service on worse terms or providing a lower standard of service. It also requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments to the way they provide goods and services to make them accessible to disabled people. This includes duties to change policies, practices and procedures and to provide an auxiliary aid or service if this would enable (or make it easier for) disabled people to make use of services, which would otherwise be impossible or unreasonably difficult for them to access. For more information on the act visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068

Inclusive & Accessible Technology – What’s it all about?
Accessible technology is computer technology, which enables individuals to adjust a computer to meet their visual, hearing, dexterity, cognitive, and speech needs.
Here are some key thoughts to bear in mind if you are running an IT project:

• We all get the same equipment
BUT we are not all the same

• Computers should change
NOT the user

• Think about the person first
THEN the technology.

• Its not about rushing out and buying adaptations but about a assessing an individuals need


Assistive Technology

Assistive technology can be software programmes, such as speech output software for blind and partially sighted people, to various gadgets such as a big track mouse and big keys keyboard.


Free and easy ways to adapt your computer

Ability net is a national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. They produce factsheets and resources for adapting computer settings in various pieces of hardware and applications www.abilitynet.org.uk/athome_resources that generally involve little or no cost.

They have a comprehensive list of links to useful low cost technology www.abilitynet.org.uk/athome_at and software
www.abilitynet.org.uk/athome_shareware

Access Technology in Communities (ATIC) at RNIB Cymru
RNIB Cymru has received funding from Communities @One to run a project helping community ICT providers understand and equip for the needs of blind and partially sighted people. For information call the Information Line on 0845 602 0893 or email atic@rnib.org.uk


Accessible web design

Accessible web design entails ensuring that your web pages are "user friendly" in the broadest sense for all those visiting your site. This includes layout, readability, colour choice and browser-independence, as well as considering the requirements of those using adaptive, assistive or alternative technology.
When writing copy for the web, paragraph headers should be written for sense,so they make sense when read on speech output software. Pictures should have descriptions (called the Alt tags).

A useful introduction to good practice is "Accessible Website Design – A practical and strategic guide", available from the Employers Forum on Disability (www.efd.org.uk) at a cost of £15 for members, £20 for non-members.

The following are a list of on-line sources of information and utilities concerned with good practice in web design.

Accessible web design help

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the body at the forefront of the development of standards in good design on the World Wide Web (including accessibility). These are outlined in the "Web Accessibility Initiative" (WAI) pages at www.w3c.org

The Web Design Group is an organization that promotes good web design - including non-browser specific, non-resolution specific design that is accessible to all. They offer free expert advice as well as several awards for good practice. Find them at:
www.htmlhelp.com

For guidelines on accessible design visit the home page of the Trace Research and Development Center (part of the University of Wisconsin).
www.trace.wisc.edu

A campaign to encourage designers to comply with the published guidelines of the Trace Center has been launched by the National Center for Accessible Media. www.wgbh.org

WebABLE hosts a site that offers a wealth of disability-related internet resources, including an extensive (North-American biased) database on all aspects of accessibility.
www.webable.com


Checking your site is accessible

What if you have already written your pages and want to know if they comply to accessible web design standards?
If you have not yet uploaded your code you may wish to visit the Web Design Group site that comprises a list of links to sites offering free HTML validation services. These will check your code for syntax errors, style and conformance to standards at
www.htmlhelp.com/links/validators.htm

If your website is already uploaded, the accessibility can be checked against W3C standards. A site called "Bobby" features an automatic Web page accessibility test. Type in the URL of the site to be tested and Bobby will display a version of each page, identifying those elements that require adjusting . The Bobby Web page testing utility is at: www.bobby.watchfire.com

If your site conforms to accessible web design standards you will be able to display the appropriate authorised Bobby logo and be included in their database of Bobby-approved sites.

And Finally
Further links to sites that support people with disabilities.

Please note Communities @One is not endorsing or responsible for the content of external websites (read our disclaimer for more information).

• Ability Magazine – publication of the British Computer Society Disability Group campaigning for accessible IT www.abilitymagazine.org.uk
• Ability Web Directory and Internet Resources.
www.ability.org/.
• Abilitymedia.co.uk - promotes disability and social inclusion within the UK . Publishers of Ability Magazine and operators of www.n-e-ability.co.uk and www.ukshopability.co.uk.
• AbilityOnline.net - small group of disabled users on the net.
www.AbilityOnline.net
• Ace Centre North.
www.ace-north.org.uk
• Action for M.E. Support.
www.afme.org.uk
• Active Mobility Centre.
www.activemobility.co.uk
• ADAPT - access for disabled people to arts premises today.
www.adapttrust.co.uk
• anAurora - The Internet Magazine for Disabled Women.
www.anaurora.co.uk
• Arthritis Care - support, campaigns and services for people with arthritis.
www.arthritiscare.org.uk
• Assistive Technology On-Line.
www.asel.udel.edu/
• Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
www.asbah.org
• BECTA - British Education Communications and Technology Agency. Information on the education area of special needs. Formally the National Council for Education Technology (NCET).
www.becta.org.uk
• Berkshire Autistic Society (BAS) - support and action group for the parents and carers of children and adults with autism, autism related problems, Asperger Syndrome or challenging behaviour.
www.autismberkshire.org.uk
• Birmingham Carers’ Association.
www.birmingham-carers.org.uk
• Canmore Housing Association – provide good affordable housing for those with low incomes and/or specialised needs
www.canmore-housing.org.uk/
• Centre for Accessible Environments – working to make the built environment accessible to all.
Nutmeg House
60 Gainsford Street,
London SE1 2NY
email: info@cae.org.uk,
Tel/textphone: 020 7357 8182,
Fax: 0207357 8183.
• CFTD - Computers for the Disabled - new and 2nd Hand PC’s & parts supplied to the Disabled, the housebound, disabled centres & home users by our non-profit organisation.
www.cftd.co.uk/
• Citizens Advice Bureaux
Advice Guide: www.adviceguide.org.uk
Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Volunteer hotline 08451 264 264 (local rate Mon-Fri)
• Computing Out Loud - an independent site to help people using speech recognition software.
www.out-loud.com/
• Communication Matters (ISAAC UK) – Augmentative Alternative Communication group.
www.communicationmatters.org.uk
• Compass Mobility - specialising in refurbished Stairlifts.
www.compass-mobility.co.uk
• Companion Stairlifts - we are one of the largest retailers of stairlifts in the U.K.
www.companionstairlifts.co.uk
• CRDC - Choices and Rights Disability Coalition.
www.choicesandrights.org.uk/.
• Department for Education and Skills.
www.dfes.gov.uk.
• Disability Action Yorkshire.
www.da-y.org.
• Disability Alliance.
www.disabilityalliance.org.
• Disability Awareness in Action (DAA) is an international human rights network, run for and by disabled people.
www.daa.org.uk.
• Disability Living Centres Council - Information about the 47 DLCC Centres across the UK.
www.dlcc.org.uk.
• Disability Information Service - Queen Elizabeth´s Foundation.
www.diss.org.uk.
• Disability Rights Commission.
www.drc-gb.org.
• Disabled-Enabled.
www.disabled-enabled.com.
• Disabled Living Foundation.
www.dlf.org.uk.
• Disability Net. Information service, forum, shopping and resource database for the UK.
www.disabilitynet.co.uk/.
• Disability Now - The award winning newspaper for everyone with an interest in disability.
www.disabilitynow.org.uk.
• Disability on the Agenda - the governments Disability Discrimination Act and DfEE information site.
www.disability.gov.uk/.
• Disability World - small individual run site based in Scotland.
www.disabilityworld.com.
• DISS - voluntary advice and information organisation, and forms one of the centres of the Queen Elizabeth´s Foundation.
www.diss.org.uk.
• Electric Wheelchairs at The Wheelchair Site – is an independent website designed to help you choose the right wheelchair to get you going.
www.thewheelchairsite.com.
• Employer´s Forum on Disability.
www.efd.org.uk.
• EnableMe2 - products, services and information.
www.enableme2.com.
• Essential Learning Institute - a site with information, testing, products and programs to identify and solve learning disabilities.
www.LDhope.com.
• ForParentsByParents
www.forparentsbyparents.com.
• Functional Independence Skills Handbook - an assessment and a full curriculum with lesson plans designed to assist people with developmental disabilities
www.webpages.charter.net/fishscales/index.html.
• GAIN (Leicester and Leicestershire IAG Partnership) - new careers service for disabled people aged 20+ in Leicester City and Leicestershire.
Disability Outreach Advisor: Vince Thacker
E-mail vince@gainleics.fsnet.co.uk
Mobile No: 07734 899 089 (no text messages)
Web Forum: Leicestershire Disability Careers Forum
• Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
www.gdba.org.uk.
• Hearing Aids at Hearing Aids 101.
www.hearingaids101.com.
• Heart ´n´ Soul Music Theatre - a leading disability arts group.
www.heartnsoul.co.uk.
• Hot Braille - Free transcription service for Braille users.
(250 words max, Braille message sent through the post).
www.hotbraille.com.
• ICT Consortium´s website provides the latest information about plans to help the voluntary and community sector move up the ICT learning curve.
www.ictconsortium.org.uk/.
• IT Can Help - voluntary IT support group.
www.itcanhelp.org.uk.
• KEL Sound and Vision - design and install inductive loops, infrared system, and other such audio systems for the use of the hard of hearing.
www.kelsound.co.uk/.
• King´s Fund - an independent charitable foundation whose goal is to improve health, especially in London.
www.kingsfund.org.uk.
• LEAD Scotland - Linking Education and Disability.
www.lead.org.uk.
• Leonard Cheshire - works with 12,000 disabled people in the UK, and a further 15,000 across the world.
www.leonard-cheshire.org.
• Mabels - a web site that caters for the older generation providing
daily support & services.
www.mabels.org.uk
• Multiple Sclerosis Society.
www.mssociety.org.uk.
• National Information Forum - a voluntary organisation committed to encouraging the provision of accessible information.
www.nif.org.uk.
• n-e-ability.co.uk - a regional portal aimed at providing disability and lifestyle information to the community in North East England.
www.n-e-ability.co.uk.
• Opportunities - employment charity for people with disabilities.
www.opportunities.org.uk/.
• People in Action - support for adults with a learning disability.
www.people-in-action.co.uk.
• Propeller Multimedia Ltd - rehabilitation software for people with acquired head injuries.
www.propeller.net/rehab.
• Queen Elizabeth´s Foundation - a national charity supporting over 20,000 physically disabled people annually.
www.qefd.org.
• Raisingkids.co.uk - provides free information and advice to parents.
www.raisingkids.co.uk.
• Remap - make technical aids for disabled people on a voluntary basis.
National site - www.remap.org.uk.

• Ricability - national research charity and independent consumer guides for older and disabled people.
www.ricability.org.uk.
• Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB).
www.rnib.org.uk.
• Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) is resource created to help designers, manufacturers and service providers with the information and tools needed to ensure their designs are accessible to the widest possible audience.
www.theRSA.org.uk/inclusivedesign.
• Sabre Employment - providing creative and substainable solutions for recruitment and retention of people with disabilities.
www.sabre-employment.co.uk.
• SCAMP - Charity whose aim is to improve access to information.
www.scamp.org.uk.
• Scope - The national charity for people with Cerebral Palsy.
www.scope.org.uk/
• Skill - The national bureau for students with disabilities.
www.skill.org.uk.
• Speech Centre.
www.psbc.co.uk.
• Stroke Survivors - designed for Cerebella Stroke Victims.
www.stroke-survivors.co.uk.
• studentTIES.com - a website project that encourages all types of post 16 learning by enabling students to search and get in touch with others also considering/ already applying.
www.studentties.com.
• TechDis Accessibility Database - previously NIAD and Dis-in-He.
www.techdis.ac.uk/access.html.
• Tesco - the supermarket chain supply some training software for visually impaired users on the net.
www.tesco.com.
• The Disabled Motorcyclist Association.
www.thedma.org.uk.
• The Disabilities Trust.
www.disabilities-trust.org.uk .
• The Glaxo Neurological Centre – a unique purpose built facility offering non-medical information and advice to people with neurological conditions, their families, and carers.
www.glaxocentre.merseyside.org. Also on
ADITUS, the NHS Northwest health information portal.
• The Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People is a voluntary organisation which exists to meet the expressed needs of sensory-impaired people living within the metropolitan area of Leeds.
www.leedsdeafandblind.org.uk/.
• The Papworth Trust - a registered charity that helps and supports disabled people to be more independent at home or at work.
www.papworth.org.uk.
• The Solicitors Room - an online panel of solicitors acting for disabled clients in all areas of law.
www.TheSolicitorsRoom.com.
• U Can Do I.T. - a charity which provides low cost internet computer training for blind, deaf and disabled people
www.ucandoit.org.uk.
• U Care We Care - directory of nursing and care homes across the UK.

www.ucarewecare.com
• UK Self Help - contact numbers for over 700 UK self help groups.
www.ukselfhelp.info.
• UKShopability.co.uk - supplies a range of disability aids, mobility aids, and assistive technologies.
www.ukshopability.co.uk.
• United Response - a national charity supporting over 1200 people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.
www.unitedresponse.org.uk.
• Vale Royal Disability Services - a local confidential service, covering all aspects of disability in the Vale Royal area.
www.vrds.org.uk.
• WebEQuality - Swindon-based registered charity, Working for Opportunities Trust, helping disabled people into work.
www.webequality.org.uk.
• Whizz Kidz - customised mobility aids for children and younger people.
www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/