Bridging the Digital Divide A Barrier Free Approach

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