You Need
New resources for disabled visitors at UK online centres
Many UK online
centres throughout England are now equipped with access devices and software
from Inclusive Technology, to help disabled visitors make full use of the
Internet and other computer-based learning opportunities.
UK online centres are part of a Government initiative to provide a network of 6,000 centres in England, to give all citizens the opportunity to get on the Internet - including those who may have low information and communications technology skills and those who cannot afford Internet access at home. This access is an important prerequisite to all government services being online by 2005.
Shaun Wilson-Gotobed, Day Service Officer at the Vauxhall
Centre, Norwich, said:
"As a whole the kit has been really useful as it meets a wide range of accessibility needs.
"Some of our clients found it very difficult to use a PC in the past, but they are now finding it much easier to access IT, particularly when using the IntelliKeys alternative keyboard and the Penny & Giles Roller Plus.
"The equipment has so much scope that we are still developing and finding new ways to use it to benefit our clients, who have a range of physical disabilities."
The Department for Education and Skills has awarded £1.9m to provide assistive technology for over 800 of the centres in England. The project aims to make the Internet accessible to everyone and is managed by Becta, the Government's lead agency for information and communication technology (ICT) in education.
Inclusive Technology has
provided the most appropriate products so that visitors with physical or
sensory difficulties will have the fullest use of the equipment possible.
The support packs include specialist keyboards such as Big Keys and IntelliKeys, the programmable keyboard alternative; a specialist rollerball and switches, to provide an alternative to mouse access; software including Clicker, a word processor with special needs support; Penfriend, an on-screen word predictor; Supernova to magnify text or to provide speech output for the visually impaired; and a Vari-X Adjustable Trolley to give comfortable access for all users, including those in wheelchairs or using a standing frame.
Inclusive Technology is also helping centre staff to understand the special needs of their clients and how their new technology can help, by providing training about disability awareness and how to use the devices.