why accessibility is important for everyone stephen elsden chief executive, compaid
TRANSCRIPT
Why accessibility is important for everyone
Stephen Elsden
Chief Executive, Compaid
“For disabled people, technology has made notable improvements in the quality of life. It is a source of life-enhancement, making existence easier and offering new opportunities”
Lorna Ridgway, 1985
A visionary lady
• Lorna Ridgway founded Compaid in 1986
• Advent of personal computing for all
• Input devices for controlling PCs
• Accessible software for learning disabilities
Compaid today
• 1,600 disabled clients in and around Kent
• Leading full and active lives
• Digital skills training, transport, payroll
• Digital inclusion, social inclusion, financial
inclusion
Getting disabled people online
• Digital skills training for over 500 disabled adults
each month
• Over 8,000 training sessions delivered last year
• Dedicated training centre in Paddock Wood
• Working with Job Centres and Housing
Associations
An online society
• The internet was accessed every day by 78% of
UK adults (39.3 million)
• Social networking was used by 61% of adults
• In 2015, 76% of adults bought goods or services
online
• In 2015 86% of households had internet access
An online society
In 2015, the most common reason for using the
internet to interact with public authorities or
services was to obtain information from
websites, (33% of adults), followed by
submitting completed forms (30%) and
downloading official forms (24%).
Mapping the digital divide
73
27
% Internet use among disabled people
UsedNot Used
89
11
% Internet use among all UK adults
UsedNot Used
Use of Internet between Jan-March 2015 (Office of National Statistics)
Mapping the digital divide
3.3
2.6
UK adults who have not used the internet (m)
DisabledNon-disabled
Use of Internet between Jan-March 2015 (Office of National Statistics)
Do we know our audience?
• Public services – for the general public
• Busy, often chaotic lives
• Suspicion, mistrust of authorities
• Limited access to new technology
• Drivers, not mechanics
Barriers to digital inclusion
• Access to the right technology
• Finances
• Confidence
• Security fears
• Knowledge
• Skills
Hurdling the barriers
• Smartphones, tablets, digital television
• Libraries, community centres, free wifi
• Group support, at steady pace
• E-safety
• Young supporting the old
• Person-focussed training
Opening all channels
• Digital first, not digital by default
• Phone, post and face to face still needed
• Some customers will never migrate
• High, complex needs can’t be met simply or
cheaply
Service is a two-way process
• Don’t disguise inaccessible processes
• Consider the customer’s journey
• Barriers may be hidden – email, Captcha, etc
• Ensure good online and offline support
Mainstreaming the internet
• Accessibility is good for everyone
• Involve disabled people in user testing
• Test with access devices – The Grid, Dragon
• Multiple browser versions
• Avoid inaccessible plug-ins, Flash, Captcha
• Keep sites simple
