AbilityNet can help you with your Digital Challenge bid.

27/02/2006

The Digital Challenge and AbilityNet

It is estimated that 5 million people in the UK are IT disabled. These people are often excluded by the barriers they face when accessing E-services and information. As technology becomes more complex and can offer more across a variety of platforms, the potential barriers increase accordingly. That is, unless accessibility is considered at all stages of the design and provision of E-services.

When preparing your Digital Challenge proposal, it is essential that you consider the access needs of those with disabilities or limiting conditions. Section 5 of the Digital Challenge Prospectus highlights that as a minimum, all proposals must “Overcome the barriers to access through appropriate technology – including adaptive technology and aids for people with a disability”

AbilityNet can help you make sure your Digital Challenge bid takes into account the accessibility issues facing disabled adults and children when accessing E-services and information on a day to day basis.

Section 7.3 of the Digital challenge Prospectus which is concerned with work with the Community and Voluntary sector says “proposals should consider partnerships with national level organisations who have programmes that can be delivered on a local level” and then gives AbilityNet as an example.

The “links to other initiatives section” of the prospectus requires you to show how your idea links to other key transformation initiatives including “myguide”. As the Pilot Management organisation for “myguide”, AbilityNet are in an ideal position to help you link to this in your bid.

AbilityNet is a national charity and the UK’s leading provider of advice on computing and disability. Every year we help thousands of people, with a wide range of disabling or limiting conditions, to access and release the enabling power of computer technology.

We believe that we have a great deal to offer you in your efforts to put together a strong Digital Challenge proposal and we are ready and waiting to talk to you about it.

So how we can help in your Digital Challenge proposal ?

We can provide training in accessibility so that you can understand the issues when preparing your bids. We can also talk through a range of services and consultancy which if written into your bid all have the potential to add weight to the proposal. Some of our more popular services include:

Website accessibility services
Software accessibility Testing
Advice and information services
Supply of accessible IT Kits
Production of bespoke interactive learning materials including CD-ROMs
Training programmes for your staff and service users
General consultancy including service accessibility reviews
Assessment of assistive technology need – one to one, clinic days or remotely
Accessibility advice and testing of Blue Skies technology
Accreditation programmes for those developing assistive technology expertise

For more information contact Jo Greenwell, Head of Public Access/Sector Services
E-mail:jo.greenwell@abilitynet.org.uk
Phone: 01932 814558

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