Why websites must be accessible for the visually impaired, RNIB

Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Tue, 22/10/2019 - 16:43

Amplifying the voice of blind and partially sighted people is essential to putting their needs front and centre of innovative tech. AbilityNet talks to RNIB chair Eleanor Southwood in advance of her appearance at this year’s TechShare Pro

Community engagement is dear to the heart of RNIB Chair Eleanor Southwood.

Eleanor, who is also a local Councillor in Brent, North West London, has spent the majority of her career aiming to reform public services, and to take a leading role in that reform.

In her role at RNIB that means listening to the needs of those who are blind or partially sighted and making their voices louder.

“I think there is a tendency to privilege the professionally-interested,” says Eleanor. “We need to shift the culture to people with lived experiences of [being blind and partially sighted]. It’s a source of your legitimacy for challenging the rest of the world,” she adds.

Working in partnership with communities, and businesses

Part of RNIB’s mission is changing people’s perceptions as to what it’s like when “you’re out and about and you can’t see,” says Eleanor. “It’s an expectation of mine as chair, that every team within RNIB works with blind and partially-sighted people as part of their everyday.

Read how AbilityNet’s Tech4Good Awards helped grow the vision of Be My Eyes

“We want real-time experiential information about how people are experiencing the world and whether, and to what extent what we are doing is helping to make that easier [and] so we are engaging a lot through social media. We want to build a capability to be able to digitally take on board feedback much quicker and in real-time.”

A smarter future for all

RNIB has recently worked with Amazon on an advertising campaign that shows how technology can benefit people with sight loss. Eleanor describes devices such as Amazon’s smart speaker, Alexa as “the future”.

“Our [RNIB’s role] is working with companies at as great a scale as we can get, so ideally globally but certainly nationally to build in features at the start that will help make devices or particular tech more usable and ensuring that blind and partially-sighted people don’t miss out, and are not left behind in the development of that tech,” says Eleanor.

“We work collaboratively with many of the world’s leading tech and innovation brands including Google, Samsung, Amazon and Microsoft. Our goal is to bring about a society where inclusive design is fully embedded into product design, development and refresh cycles.

“We believe that hardware, software and services should be accessible to blind and partially sighted people on the same terms that it’s accessible to everyone else.

“Our recent collaborations with companies like Samsung and Lego demonstrate the potential for delivering not only an accessible product but a step change in the way that companies think about inclusion.”

Using tech to reduce social isolation

Potentially, the advent of smart speakers also helps to reduce social isolation. “It’s a way to connect; to navigate the world, and to navigate your way towards those human connections. Part of what RNIB is here to do, is to equip people with the confidence to use that tech; and to deliver the sense that it can be of use to them rather than a thing to be feared,” says Eleanor.

“With advances in tech comes an increased risk of digital exclusion as well and so it becomes more important than you can navigate the world we live in, rather than seeing the world of digital connection as somehow separate,” she adds.

Eleanor will be part of a panel discussion at this year’s TechShare pro discussing how to encourage business to ensure digital inclusion is a must-have for tech innovation.

Limited tickets are still available at https://abilitynet.org.uk/techsharepro2019

Free webinar: Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations - November 2019 Update

Submitted by Mark.Gaddes on Mon, 21/10/2019 - 14:02

Please note: the date for this webinar has passed - access the webinar recording, transcript and slide deck for the presentation from the free expert resources section of our website.

This webinar is part of our bi-monthly series of updates on how Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations are being implemented by universities and other HE (higher education) institutions.

As well as providing regular updates to give the latest news and advice relating to the regulations, on this webinar we will have Richard Walker of the University of York joining us to talk about the journey to compliance at his institution. Richard will share how he has been coordinating the work of University of York's central professional services in supporting academic departments in meeting the compliance standards for their teaching and learning activities, to ensure an outstanding learning experience for students. There will be a question and answer section with Richard and our experts, and at the request of attendees of previous sessions we are proportioning more time to this in the upcoming webinar.

Register Now 

About the webinar

AbilityNet and University of York logos

Abi James of AbilityNet and Richard Walker of the University of York will present on this webinar. Abi is co-chair of the Further Higher Education Digital Accessibility Working Group, set up to help the sector with embedding web accessibility. In addition to her role as an Accessibility and Usability Consultant at AbilityNet, Abi is a visiting research fellow at the University of Southampton and Chairs the New Technology Committee of the British Dyslexia Association. Richard heads up the Programme Design and Learning Technology Team at the University of York. His team manages the university's e-learning platforms, including its virtual learning environment (VLE), lecture recording and e-assessment solutions, and the provision of training and support for staff. 

During the webinar Abi and Richard will:

  1. Provide information on the latest news, new resources and approaches to digital accessibility within the public sector
  2. Discuss the University of York's approach to compliance with Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations
  3. Engage with attendees and respond to up-voted questions about digital accessibility challenges and opportunities within the sector

Who is this webinar for?:

  • Higher and further education institutions
  • Local government and the health sector
  • Website owners, digital leaders, IT and procurement specialists
  • Suppliers applying for tenders in the public sector

The webinar will last 1 hour and includes a question and answer session. At point of registration you will have the opportunity to submit questions you would like our presenters to respond to on the live webinar. Everyone who registers for the webinar will receive access to the recording, including those unable to attend live. We use MyClearText to provide live captioning of our webinar for deaf people and those who are hard of hearing.

Register Now

More information

In a recent post on our website, in anticipation of appearing in this upcoming webinar, Richard has shared six steps to help you think about an approach to meeting accessibility regulations which you could adapt for your institution.

We have already hosted three free webinars this year where we've shared information and advice about the new accessibility regulations:

How online health forums can help people with MS

Submitted by Claudia.Cahalane on Wed, 16/10/2019 - 14:58

Shows the words Multiple Sclerosis on a clipboard surrounded by medicinesThere's an increasing trend towards helping people with long-term conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis find support digitally. We explore online MS forums and how they can help people living with MS.

    There’s a trend towards digital health particularly for supporting people with long-term conditions, and disabilities. Long-term health conditions include conditions such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and coronary heart disease.

    Call the AbilityNet Helpline on freephone 0800 269 545 for help with assistive technology

    As pressure increases on the NHS the focus is on the self-management of these conditions, alongside a healthcare professional. Online support is especially important for people living with a long-term health condition, or a disability because they are more likely to feel isolated or alone.

    In this article

    Online forums provide support for people living with shared challenges. Expert patients who have been self-managing for longer, can support those who are newly diagnosed. Some have regular contributions from experts – for example, if they’re run by a charity, or the NHS. The NHS has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people going online with an estimated 31.1 million visiting NHS Choices in January 2015.

    Independent healthcare charity and research powerhouse, The King’s Fund, believes that what we can learn from online chatrooms and forums is potentially “one of the most exciting areas” in digital health.

    Forums to support people living with MS

    Screenshot from the MS Trust forum. Has key words relating to MS such s 'foot drop'AbilityNet exists to provide information and support to older and disabled people by providing access to tech, and support on how to adapt or use technology to empower.

    In this blog we look at the role of forums in supporting people living with Multiple Sclerosis.

    An estimated 110,000 people in the UK live with multiple sclerosis (MS) - with three times as many women affected as men. MS is usually diagnosed when people are in their 20s and 30, though can be diagnosed in older age groups.

    Read how Liz Gumbley has encouraged community MS groups with an MS Trust Nurse

    The condition affects the nerves in the brain and the spinal cord. It can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including balance and coordination problems, eyesight and hearing issues, fatigue, altered sensations and cognitive issues.

    Those with the condition can have long periods of remission from the disease and, while there is no cure, there are a number of modifying treatments and lifestyle changes which might help.

    MS Charities including the MS Trust and the MS Society are advocates of self-management, which is important if you have multiple sclerosis. Both offer forums to enable people to connect with others who have MS.

    Where to find an MS Support Group

    The MS Society provides MS support groups in most areas of the UK and also has a network of online forums. The MS Trust has Facebook groups where you can connect with others, and you’ll also find a number of MS forums listed on Healthline.

    What online forums are available?

    MS can present in numerous different ways and is different for each person with the condition. It can feel confusing and isolating without talking to others who have been diagnosed. While there are health services, such as MS nurses available, and the forums are not a substitute for official medical advice, they can help people make sense of the condition through sharing experiences. See tips (below) for guidance on how to use the forums.

    For tailored, personal support on signing up to and using forums you can book an at-home visit with one of AbilityNet’s network of disclosure-checked volunteers.

     

    HealthUnlocked.com

    MS Society forum on HealthUnlockedHealthUnlocked is a social network for health and has one million members worldwide. The MS Society hosts forums on the platform. HealthUnlocked also works with NHS England.

    There are a variety of forums for all types of long-term conditions. Go to www.healthunlocked.com/ms to see all posts related to MS from across all forums.

    MS Society forum

    The design of these forums is more traditional than those hosted by HealthUnlocked. Forums are still active, and it is useful as a reference point for lots of conversations and advice about MS which have been posted over the years. There are several sections to the forum: everyday living, new diagnosis, caring for someone with MS, primary progressive MS and MS News and Announcements.

    https://community.mssociety.org.uk/forum

    MS Trust Facebook group

    Facebook badges with the Facebook logo and thumb sign scatteredThe MS Trust Facebook group has 11,000 members. Forums seem filled with lively discussions, and include details of related news, such as the recent trials using diabetes drug metformin in MS treatment. People share upbeat photos of them with their pets enjoying life. There are conversations about the best way to relieve anxiety and around disability benefit.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/multiplesclerosistrust/

    Shift.ms

    A popular forum with a contemporary design and feel. This is a space for a positive community of people with MS and an ‘enabling approach to life’. It was founded by people with MS with the ethos that having MS doesn’t mean giving up on ambitions, but rather rethinking how to achieve them.

    https://shift.ms

    MS World

    MS World is billed as a forum for ‘patients helping patients’ and has more than 200,000 members. It has a vast number of sections including those focused on assistive devices, wellness and holistic living, a family and carers section and more.

    https://www.msworld.org/forum/

    Online support for families and carers of people with MS

    Black and white image of a woman in a wheelchair with a dogSome of the forums, such as those provided by the MS Society and MS World, have sections specifically for families and carers.

    Posts from family and carers are normally looking for emotional support or advice on living with someone who has MS.

    For example, in one post a mother asks how to help her son who has MS and has feelings of anger and isolation around his condition. Others are from husbands and wives of a person with MS looking to understand changes in their loved one’s mobility. Sometimes posts are practical in nature, such as asking for advice on assistive aids or technology which might help support someone with MS.

    The families and carers sections can be useful for helping a loved one understand the condition more and find out where and how to seek more help for someone with MS.

    Tips for using online forums

    Image of different emoticons1. Read the guidelines

    Each forum will list rules and guidelines. This sets the etiquette for interacting with others online with a series of rules and guidelines. For example, one forum has a no jokes rule. 

    Most guidelines will be based around being respectful and considerate when posting. It’s also asked that any research is referenced.

    2. Signing-up to forums

    You'll probably need to sign-up to ask questions, although you can read posts without signing in. The forums are generally easy to sign up to, with some basic details required and the creation of a password. You can of course choose an alternative name if you want to be anonymous (on Facebook anonymity is more difficult).

    When signing up, you might be asked some basic questions, such as whether you have MS or are supporting someone with MS.

    3. Browse before you join

    The forums are generally friendly places. If you're unsure you can look through topics and forums before you join to see if you think they'll be useful. 

    Further information and support for people living with MS

    MS Society

    Freephone helpline: 0808 800 8000. Line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm except bank holidays.

    Email: helpline@mssociety.org.uk

    Website: www.mssociety.org.uk 

    MS Trust

    Freephone: 0800 032 3839

    Website: www.mstrust.org.uk

    How AbilityNet can Help

    AbilityNet provides a range of free services to help disabled people and older people.

    Call our free Helpline. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will discuss any kind of computer problem and do their best to come up with a solution. We’re open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm on 0800 269 545.

    Arrange a home visit. We have a network of AbilityNet ITCanHelp volunteers who can help if you have technical issues with your computer systems. They can come to your home, or help you over the phone.

    We have a range of factsheets which talk in detail about technology that might help you, which can be downloaded for free. You may find our factsheets talking about voice recognition and keyboard alternatives useful.

    My Computer My Way. A free interactive guide to all the accessibility features built into current desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

    Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations - November 2019 Update

    This webinar provided an update on how Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations are being implemented by universities and other HE (higher education) institutions.

    As well as providing regular updates to give the latest news and advice relating to the regulations, on this webinar we had Richard Walker of the University of York joining us to talk about the journey to compliance at his institution. Richard shared how he has been coordinating the work of University of York's central professional services in supporting academic departments in meeting the compliance standards for their teaching and learning activities, to ensure an outstanding learning experience.

    About the webinar

    AbilityNet and University of York logos

    Abi James of AbilityNet and Richard Walker of the University of York presented on this webinar. Abi is co-chair of the Further Higher Education Digital Accessibility Working Group, set up to help the sector with embedding web accessibility. In addition to her role as an Accessibility and Usability Consultant at AbilityNet, Abi is a visiting research fellow at the University of Southampton and Chairs the New Technology Committee of the British Dyslexia Association. Richard heads up the Programme Design and Learning Technology Team at the University of York. His team manages the university's e-learning platforms, including its virtual learning environment (VLE), lecture recording and e-assessment solutions, and the provision of training and support for staff. 

    During the webinar Abi and Richard:

    1. Provided information on the latest news, new resources and approaches to digital accessibility within the public sector
    2. Shared the University of York's approach to compliance with Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations
    3. Engaged with attendees and responded to questions about digital accessibility challenges and opportunities within the sector

    Who was this webinar for?:

    • Higher and further education institutions
    • Local government and the health sector
    • Website owners, digital leaders, IT and procurement specialists
    • Suppliers applying for tenders in the public sector

    The webinar lasted 1 hour and included a question and answer session.

    More information

    In anticipation of appearing on this webinar, Richard shared six steps to help you think about an approach to meeting accessibility regulations which you could adapt for your institution.

     We have hosted three webinars earlier this year where we've shared information and advice about the new accessibility regulations:

    Webinar recording, slide deck and transcript

    A captioned recording of the live webinar is available on YouTube and on-demand below, along with a transcript and the slide deck used during the webinar.

    Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations - AbilityNet webinar slides via SlideShare

    Attachments: 
    File Transcript- Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations - November 2019 Update webinar.docx
    Date of webinar: 
    28 Nov 2019 - 13:00

    Global leadership in accessibility

    Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Wed, 09/10/2019 - 10:24

    Leadership is a key theme of AbilityNet’s upcoming TechShare Pro 2019. We speak to AbilityNet trustee Kush Kanodia about how his global travels inspired him to champion accessibility worldwide

    Shows an installation of a globe with two figures looking at itAbilityNet Trustee Kush Kanodia says “it’s because of assistive technology that I can walk today.”

    Kush has a condition called multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, which means his joints grew differently. “When I was young my hips used to dislocate. It affects all my joints. In 2002, I had both of my hips replaced. [And] because I'm like slightly smaller in stature they [healthcare professionals] actually designed the hips for me,” he explains.

    “It was computer-aided design [and] they specifically designed the hips for me because it wasn’t possible to use hips ‘off-the-shelf.” 

    The experience was, he says, his first experience of assistive technology and was a life-changing experience.

    International Choices: a pivotal moment

    Ten years ago, Kush was working for a major bank. The division he worked for was spun-off, and he took the decision to take redundancy rather than working overseas. With the money, he travelled the world including India, China and around Europe.

    “I witnessed inequality and poverty, and I started to contemplate, 'what's my purpose in life?' Is it just to accrue wealth, or do I actually want to try to help people? And I thought ‘I'm in a fortunate situation that I can try to help’. I pivoted careers from then.”

    Kush set-up the NGO Choice International to address discrimination and inequality throughout the world. “The idea was to use innovative ideas from the UK and around Europe, and inclusive design philosophy and role models for disability, and to replicate that in places like India and other places in the world. So, I did that for three years.”

    Attendees to TechShare Pro 2019 will hear from a panel discussing Disability and Technology: A Global Perspective, as well as from keynote speaker Caroline Casey 

    Since then Kush, who has just been named as one of The Shaw Trust Disability Power List 100, has become a leading social entrepreneur with a focus on four areas within his portfolio. 

    “One is technology and accessibility, another is health and well-being, another is sports and inclusion, and the final one is employment and entrepreneurship. Disability is the common thread and it goes through all of these portfolios,” says Kush.

    He’s retained his global focus and is an advisor to the world’s first Global Disability Innovation Hub founded in 2017. 

    The Hub is led by University College London but is a collaboration that includes many others including Loughborough University, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London College of Fashion, Sadlers Wells, and the V&A. “You have universities, cultural organisations [and] charities all kind of focusing on a common objective, in relation to disability innovation," says Kush who first became aware of the Hub after he was a torchbearer for the 2012 Olympics.

    There will be an opportunity to hear from the International Paralympics Committee at TechShare Pro 2019

    Assistive Technology 2030: a Global Fund

    Currently, a focus for the Hub is a program called Assistive Technology 2030. Having secured £20million worth of funding from the Department for International Development (DFID), the aim of the program is to look at how low-tech assistive technology solutions can help disabled people around the world.

    “Globally it's estimated that by 2050 there will be two billion people that will benefit from assistive technology, but as many as 90% of them won't have access,” says Kush. 

    “Assistive Technology 2030 is a collaboration with global partners including The Clinton Health Access Initiative, UNICEF and others. We have created Africa's first assistive technology accelerator program and we are receiving applications for that,” he adds.

    The accelerator has already received applications from 19 potential ventures, which have been through two selection rounds for a program called Innovate Now, with a final round to come. The challenge fund will invest in assistive tech solutions for Africa. “The money that we've received from DFID will be invested in these kinds of assistive tech solutions around Africa,” says Kush.

    AbilityNet’s annual Tech4Good Awards recognises companies investing in innovation to help disabled people, including Jangala, the winner of the Tech4Good for Africa Award 

    The Hub has also launched an MSc for Disability Design and Innovation with UCL and the London College of fashion. 

    Another of Kush’s passions is mental health and wellbeing. He is a governor at the Chelsea Westminster Hospital, and Strategic Advisor to the Museum of Happiness, a non-profit social enterprise that aims to “share the art and science of happiness in playful and reflective ways.”

    “The NHS focuses a lot on ill-health so when a person gets ill they go into hospital and they get treatment. I believe that we're going to have to focus more on society and a proactive approach to well-being,” says Kush. 

    How can we help?

    AbilityNet provides a range of free services to help disabled people and older people.

    Call our free Helpline. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will discuss any kind of computer problem and do their best to come up with a solution. We’re open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm on 0800 269 545.

    Arrange a home visit. We have a network of AbilityNet ITCanHelp volunteers who can help if you have technical issues with your computer systems. They can come to your home, or help you over the phone.

    We have a range of factsheets which talk in detail about technology that might help you, which can be downloaded for free. You may find our factsheets talking about voice recognition and keyboard alternatives useful.

    My Computer My Way. A free interactive guide to all the accessibility features built into current desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

    Robin Christopherson included in World's 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government List

    Submitted by sarah.florence on Tue, 08/10/2019 - 18:47

    AbilityNet's Head of Inclusion, Robin Christopherson MBE has been included in the second annual list of the World's 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government 2019 on Wednesday 09 October. Photo of Robin Christopherson and his dog Archie outside 10 Downing Street
     
    Published by Apolitical the prestigious list recognises politicians, civil servants, academics, and activists making the biggest impact in digital government around the world. 
     
    With over 500 nominations received from public servants all over the world, as well as from experts at the UN, Harvard, Public Digital, the OECD and the IADB, the list celebrates high-profile icons working to further the process of digital transformation, and illuminates those working behind the scenes whose efforts are driving government into the future.  
     
    “We’ve seen growing momentum around digital to solve policy issues and design better services for citizens around the world. As this burgeoning field continues to grow, so too does the breadth of people and perspectives driving change. This list celebrates the people behind this tremendous progress.” 
    - Apolitical Executive Chairman: Lisa Witter
     
    A founding member of AbilityNet, Robin has worked in the area of accessibility and digital inclusion for over two decades and has long been a vocal advocate of digital government driven by universal design. As well as highlighting the compelling business case for inclusion, Robin has often called for the proactive enforcement of equality legislation in his blog posts and through a busy public speaking schedule across Europe and around the world.

    " I am amazed and honoured to be included in this very prestigious list. For many years I have striven to ensure that government proactively provides digital services that are inclusive to everyone. The last hurdle is now to ensure that the law requiring organisations across all sectors create websites and apps that are easy to use by all is, in fact, enforced. Over two decades of legislation and it's still left to disabled individuals to fight their own corners. Let's take things to a whole new level..." 

    - AbilityNet's Head of Digital Inclusion: Robin Christopherson

     
    A recipient of an MBE in the 2017 new year’s honours list in recognition for his services to digital inclusion, Robin is also proud to be active in a number of government all-party parliamentary groups and to have provided expert input into several select committee hearings and government consultations. 

    Leading figures in the world of digital government

    Other notable figures receiving recognition in this year’s list include:

    • Amanda Smith - Head of User-Centred Policy Design, UK Ministry of Justice 
    • Audrey Tang - Minister for Digital, Taiwan  
    • Debs Durojaiye - Interaction Designer, UK Government Digital Service 
    • Siim Sikkut - CIO, Government of Estonia     
    • Francesca Bria - Chief Technology and Digital Innovation Officer, City of Barcelona     
    • Daniel Abadie - Under Secretary of Digital Government, Argentina 

    The full World's 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government List 2019 can be found on www.apolitcal.co

    AbilityNet Trustee Kush Kanodia included in Disability Power List 100 2019

    Submitted by catherine.grinyer@abilitynet.org.uk on Tue, 08/10/2019 - 15:48

    AbilityNet Trustee Kush Kanodia was announced as one of the most influential people with a disability in the UK at a reception at the House of Lords on Tuesday 08 October 2019.Kush Kanodia holding the paralympic torch

     

    The Shaw Trust Disability Power List 100 is an annual publication of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK. Nearly 200 nominations were received for the 100 places. The Disability Power List 100 is compiled by an independent judging panel, chaired by Kate Nash OBE. Kate is the world's leading authority in 'Networkology' - the science behind the growth of workplace networks and resource groups. In 2007 she was awarded an OBE for services to disabled people. In 2013 she was appointed Ambassador to Disability Rights UK.

     

    Kush Kanodia is a Social Entrepreneur and disabled systems leader, who is a champion for equality and inclusion. He has developed a portfolio career creating systemic change for the benefit of disabled people. Kush focuses on the intersection between disability and his portfolios of: Health & Wellbeing, Technology & Accessibility, Sports & Inclusion, Employment & Entrepreneurship.

     

    Kush was recognised as being in the top 10 most influential BAME leaders in technology at the House of Commons in 2018. Kush had the honour of being a Torch Bearer for the Paralympic Games in London 2012 and was a role model for government, selected due to his dedication to disability rights and his ability to inspire future generations. In 2019, Kush has received the Asian Achievers Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, was included in the BAME 100 Business Leaders Index by Green Park and featured on the Disability Power 100. The Shaw Trust list of the most influential disabled people in the UK. Kush is currently leading a campaign to abolish all disabled car parking charges from all NHS hospitals in England (#NoWheelchairTax).

     

    Speaking about his inclusion in the List, Kush says: "To be 2nd on the Disability Power 100 List and with 14 million disabled people in the UK<, I am truly overwhelmed, humbled and grateful! Disabled role models can empower and help to 'Inspire a Generation,' which was the motto of our London 2012 OIympic Games."

     

    The full Shaw Trust Disability Power List 100 can be found on www.disabilitypower100.com.

     

     

    Workspace adaptations for people with multiple sclerosis (MS)

    Submitted by Guest Blogger on Mon, 07/10/2019 - 18:44
    This blog has been updated! Originally published 07/10/19. Amended 15/05/23

     

    AbilityNet Assessor Consultant James Butlin offers tips for adjusting your environment if you’re living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in this guest blog. 

    A picture of a laptop on laptop stand on a desk. The chair has ergonomic support.Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system. It affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. MS is a lifelong condition, usually diagnosed when people are in their 20s and 30s, but symptoms can be present much earlier than this and it can develop at any age. 

    Symptoms for those with MS can affect people differently and in varying levels of severity. 

    Common symptoms are fatigue, problems with balance and coordination, numbness or tingling in limbs, muscle stiffness and spasms, cognitive difficulties, vision problems, and difficulties with bladder control. 

    People with MS can benefit from adjustments to their home and working spaces to continue living independently and with more freedom. 

    1. Adapting your working environment, and specialist equipment

    Box of Dragon NaturallySpeaking softwareCommon symptoms for MS include pins and needles and numbness. This can affect the ability to type for long periods and using the mouse. Difficulties with vision can mean looking at the screen can be an issue. Useful adjustments include the use of dictation and/or text-to-speech software where information can be related vocally and then read out loud. 

    There are in-built adjustments that can be used within Apple and Microsoft’s accessibility features or software such as Dragon Naturally-Speaking whcih can provide more flexibility and additional features where in-built dictation isn’t enough. Adjustments to the use of the mouse and keyboard can provide adjustments where symptoms are less severe. 

    Transporting equipment may be an issue where balance is affected. 

    Rolling backpacks provide flexibility where the user may wish to carry their items most of the time, but on days when they are having difficulties, they can be pulled along.

    2. Smarter working – your rights

    Home desk. 3pm shown on the desktop of the computerFlexible working is a key requirement for people living with MS. People living with the condition will know best how it affects them and that certain times of the day that are better for working, for example. 

    Employers are expected to make reasonable adjustments to ensure their employees can work and this is covered under the Equality Act 2010. 

    Join our free training to learn how to build a disability inclusive workplace

    People with MS would be considered as disabled and automatically meet the disability definition with this condition (HIV and cancer also fall under these automatic definitions).

    People with MS can be affected by noise, heat, sunlight and other distractions. These can affect the frequency of spasms, numbness, tingling and other symptoms. People with MS can also be more fatigued at different times of the day, and with this can come an increase in symptoms. 

    Flexible working such as earlier hours, fewer hours, a fixed desk away from heat sources (windows in Summer) or away from a light source (directly under lighting can affect visual disturbances).

    AbilityNet provides Workplace Assessments to recommend suitable adjustments

    3. Managing fatigue as a result of living with MS 

    Many people with MS will need to adjust their pace of work, and may need more regular breaks. 

    Depending on the job role, employees and employers may be able to come to an agreement to allow home working and this can often suit people better due to a higher level of flexibility in working locations and hours with a greater degree of control over the environment.

    People with MS may also be unable to work for multiple days in a row. Energy levels are likely to be sustained for a couple of days, but it may not be possible to keep these energy levels going for a full working week.

    Apps and websites can be useful to provide reminders to get moving and prevent muscle stiffness. Equipment can only work to an extent, but the body wants to move. There are some useful solutions to break your flow and get up:

    Apps to encourage regular breaks

    • The Pomodoro Technique is a study/work practise that traditionally says to work for 25 minutes at a time, with a short break in between and a longer break after 4 cycles (or pomodoros – the Italian for tomato).
    • Big Stretch Reminder is a free break reminder tool that can be installed onto Windows computers. It prompts the user to take regular breaks with varying options on how intrusive the messages are. 
    • Stretchly is another app that reminds you to take a break when working with your computer. This is customisable and can provide instructions on what to do with your breaks, whether it takes up the full screen and how often breaks occur.

    The use of technology keeps many people working for much longer and makes life easier. AbilityNet has been encouraging the use of technology with the TechShare Pro and Tech4Good events. 

    4. Ergonomic adjustments for Ataxia, spasticity and spasms

    A keyboard with large print keysOne common symptom of MS is ataxia (an umbrella term for a group of neurological disorders that affects balance, coordination and speech). 

    Alongside this may be spasticity of limbs (certain muscles become stiff, heavy and it can be difficult to move), and spasms (sudden stiffening of a muscle causing a limb to kick out or jerk towards the body). These can all be difficult to deal with and can make everyday tasks frustrating. 

    Adjustments to the keyboard can help including FilterKeys which can help if users find themselves holding keys down for too long or pressing keys accidentally. Keyboards with larger keys can also help as well as ones with more visible keys, as these can be useful for those with visual disturbances including double vision.

    Those with MS may wish to explore mouse settings to slow down the mouse pointers where they find the sensitivity frustrating when spasms occur.  

    5. Seating adaptations for people living with MS

    Seating adjustments may be required for those with weakness, walking difficulties, and muscle stiffness. 

    Some with MS will be using a wheelchair to get around and may need to transfer into an ergonomic chair to work. Considerations to include will be the ability to keep the chair steady move around in this easily and maintain good balance. 

    Other adjustments to explore would be to ensure that arms on chairs are sturdy to ensure the user can keep their balance and lower themselves in easily.

     

    Five ways tech can improve your mental health

    Submitted by Adam Tweed on Mon, 07/10/2019 - 11:29

    October 10 is World Mental Health Day. AbilityNet looks at how making adjustments can improve your mental health 

    Picture of a young girl, mascara running. Over her face she holds a piece of paper with a smile drawn on it

    According to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) “Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds.” In the UK in 2018, 6,507 deaths by suicide were recorded;11 deaths in every 100,000 and it remains the most common cause of death amongst men aged 20-49.

    Research has shown that people with a diagnosed mental health problem have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour, but the stigma associated with discussing mental health problems often means many people avoid seeking help resulting in an estimated 36% of mental health conditions remaining undiagnosed. 

    One in four of us will suffer from mental health issues at some point in our life, according to the World Health Organisation. These mental health problems can be twice as high in people with learning disabilities than others, according to Mencap.

    Students with learning disabilities can be an especially vulnerable group, and will also be coping with significant lifestyle adjustments such as living away from home for the first time. According to Time to Change one in 8 young people will suffer from a mental health problem.

    Stress at work can also negatively impact our mental health. 

    While there's a lot of negative press around about the impact of social media, for example, on mental health, technology can also be a force for good. AbilityNet believes in a digital world that's accessible to all. We work to help make technology accessible to disabled and older people at home, at work and in higher education. Here are our tips for World Mental Health Day.

    1. Apps to help improve mental health

    A screen shot of the Stay Alive AppThere are many apps around that can help you in terms of monitoring causes of stress and anxiety, and helping you to improve your mental health. We list five apps for improving mental health. Our list includes an overview of the Stay Alive app a free, nationwide suicide prevention pocket resource, packed full of useful information to help you stay safe. Their vision is that no one has to contemplate suicide alone, the app is designed to be a lifeline for people at risk of suicide. 

    The Hub of Hope is an app from the Mental Health charity; Chasing the Stigma. It is designed to signpost help for people experiencing mental health issues, poor mental health, or crisis. It uses either your phones location or a postcode search and will provide details of local support groups, charities, and other support providers. It also has a ‘talk now’ option that will connect you with either the Samaritans (phone) or Crisis text line (text)

    2. Help for students struggling with mental health issues

    Previous studies show that one in four students experience issues with mental health. You may be eligible for a DSA (Disabled Students' Allowance). Our report explores how DSA could help you if you’re struggling with mental health. 

    DSA can provide a tailored package of technology and non-medical support to help you succeed in your studies. This could include a computer or laptop, or a printer/scanner to save travelling to the library during periods of ill health. You may find it useful to have software or apps to record lectures and seminars to ensure you have taken in all the information.

    Find out about four game-changing apps to help students

    3. Websites that provide immediate help on World Mental Health Day, and every day

    Image from CALM website Test reads World suicide prevent day 2019 the movement against suicideWherever you are, help is available online and there are plenty of websites that can provide support for people suffering from mental health issues. The Royal Family has been key advocates for mental health and has just launched an online resource called Shout for anyone in crisis. Available at giveusashout the service has been piloted for the past year and is “a place to go if you are struggling to cope and you need immediate help. There are over 1,000 volunteers who have already responded to 60,000 conversations.”

    Suicide is the biggest killer of young men in the UK. CALM (The Campaign Against Living Miserably) is leading a campaign to raise awareness and also has access to a helpline, which is available 365 days per year. Mind, the Mental Health Charity, also has a tool on its website for people who need immediate help. Need someone to talk to? The Samaritans will take your call 24-hours a day, all year round. 

    4. Improving Mental Health in the workplace

    Image of the ClearTalentsOnDemand toolTime to Change aims to change attitudes to mental health and to reduce stigma. It has a variety of practical advice for employers, and employees. For disabled people, simple workplace adjustments can help improve your workplace physically and mentally. AbilityNet has a variety of tools and services to help on how to make reasonable workplace adjustments for employees and employers.

    This includes access to ClearTalentsOnDemand, which can help identify what adjustments might help disabled employees. 

    We also have a range of factsheets available on our website including how to adjust your workspace if you have RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), and one about Dyslexia, and technology for example. 

    5. Chatbots and Voice assistants: talking to tech in crisis

    Shows a hand holding a piece of paper. On it are the words 'phone a friend'.For many people, the notion of talking to another human, sharing a vulnerability or admitting a problem is a barrier in itself and although opinion over AI and chatbots is divided there are a growing number of tools available. 

    Every day 7 million people in the UK will talk to their voice assistant, according to DataReportal. While it may be a functional interaction, for many it is a lifeline in a lonely world. As a result, the manufacturers and programmers have been forced to recognise that some may choose to reach out to these devices and disclose feelings; tell your Google Home or Alexa that you feel lonely and they will respond (Alexa gives hints and tips; talk to a friend, go for a walk, Google tells you it’s there for you!), tell them you’re going to kill yourself and they will reassure you that you are not alone and give you the contact details of the Samaritans. Voice assistants are predicted to be on 8 billion devices by 2023 and our expectations of what they can do only increases as they keep improving.

    Our voice assistants may be becoming unexpected therapists, but there are areas in which AI therapy is being explored in its own right; ‘Ellie’ is an AI therapist developed by the USC Institute for Creative Technologies as part of a project called SimSensei.  ‘She’ is designed to monitor micro-expressions, to respond to facial cues, to perform sympathetic gestures and build rapport. 

    In a test group of American soldiers who as part of their return from a tour have to fill out a Post Deployment Health Assessment, it was they reported more symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to Ellie than they did on their assessment form, more significantly, they also reported more symptoms to Ellie than they did on an anonymised version of the form. 

    Supporting someone you think may be suicidal

    Rethink Mental Illness have produced the following list of myth-busting information for people who have concerns about someone else and are worried about speaking to them:

    • People might think about suicide for different reasons.
    • If you are worried that someone may be thinking about suicide, talk to them. Ask them about how they are feeling and offer to help.
    • Talking to someone about their suicidal thoughts does not make them more likely to end their life.
    • You can help someone who is feeling suicidal by listening to them without judging them and trying to help them think about other options.
    • You may need to get crisis help from mental health services or the emergency services.
    • Helping someone with suicidal thoughts is likely to have a big impact on you. Find out what support is available to you.
    • If someone does try to end their life, this is not your fault.
    • You can find out more on the Rethink Mental Illness page on ‘Supporting someone with suicidal thoughts’ 

    The option to talk to another person if you are in crisis is always available. You can talk to your GP or contact the NHS for help (999 or go to A&E in an emergency, 111 for less urgent help) there are also a number of charities where you can talk to someone:

    Help and support

    C.A.L.M. – Campaign Against Living Miserably – for men

    0800 58 58 58

    www.thecalmzone.net or webchat

    Samaritans

    116 123

    jo@samaritans.org 

    www.samaritans.org

    Papyrus – for people under 35

    0800 068 41 41 

    Text 07786 209697

    pat@papyrus-uk.org

    https://www.papyrus-uk.org/help-advice/about-hopelineuk

    Childline – for children and young people under 19

    0800 1111 – free and the number will not show up on your phone bill

    How to comply with new Digital Accessibility Regulations: Your questions answered

    Submitted by Mark.Gaddes on Mon, 07/10/2019 - 11:05

    The 23rd of September 2019 marked the first milestone of the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations, which applies to websites published or substantially revised after the 23rd of September 2018. Our free webinar took place just three days after the first deadline and provided an update on 'Complying with the new Public Sector Accessibility Regulations' in month 1.

    AbilityNet and McNaught logosThis webinar was part of our bi-monthly series of updates on how the regulations are being implemented by universities and other HE (higher education) institutions. As well as providing regular updates to give the latest news and advice relating to the regulations we discussed the ‘business case’ for compliance and what disabled students should be able to expect from their education provider.

    On the live webinar there were lots of great questions asked and conversations happening between attendees and our presenters Abi James of AbilityNet and Alistair McNaught of McNaught Consultancy. This blog provides a summary of those conversations with further commentary. Our presenters also answer questions asked on the webinar and respond to attendee comments. The recording from the webinar is also included below for reference:

    What is in scope?

    There were several questions along the lines of “which digital platforms are in scope?”. Many assumed only student facing platforms were in scope but the legislation makes no such distinction. Disabled staff working in the public sector should have as much right to accessible content and systems as the people they serve. From a strategic perspective, prioritising improvements on a limited budget, there may be less risk in tackling password protected staff systems later in your road map but there is no indication that they are exempt.

    Do we need course-level accessibility statements?

    Alistair's part of the presentation focused on how we provide the right level of information to all users. He suggested accessibility information could be ‘nested’. An overarching VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) statement could be accompanied by more granular statements at subject level reflecting the different accessibility profiles of subject specific content. Some universities have already started planning this approach but some participants felt it was unrealistic. Three key questions/comments arose from the audience and are responded to below:

    • Question: Are we expected to audit the entire site in order to be able to say which areas / things we're not accessible on?

    Answer: Given the size of most HE and FE (further education) web and VLE estate, it is unrealistic to audit every piece of content or every interactivity. However, since courses are designed by people who have particular preferences and ways of working, it is relatively straight forward to identify likely benefits or barriers without sampling every piece of content they created. This does however imply that staff have enough accessibility awareness to be able to reflect on their personal practices (or resource/reading list choices) and communicate strengths/weaknesses to disabled users.

    • Comment: The conversations we've previously had with GDS (Government Digital Service), AbilityNet and others have suggested that a single VLE statement was suitable, but Alistair is suggesting separate statements for every module are necessary. That's a very different situation and a lot more work expected on our academics if that's what has to be done.

    Response: The issue here is fitness for purpose. Where it is possible to provide a single overarching VLE-level accessibility statement with useful and relevant information for all users then a “top level” statement would fit the bill. The evidence collected from VLE accessibility audits across the sector suggests that the variation in accessibility issues between courses is likely to require course level summaries – at least for some courses. Furthermore, sustainable accessibility is only possible if those creating and delivering courses know what issues exist and are actively engaged in attempting to improve them. The biggest challenge is not describing how accessible you are but having the training to create accessible content.

    • Question: Does anyone know of an institution where academic staff have been given extra time (at the expense of other duties) to make content accessible - rather than having it as an additional responsibility?

    Answer: We don’t (although that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened). This is a serious issue though and organisations that don’t stem the inflow of inaccessible content are simply accumulating technical debt that will need to be resolved sooner or later.

    Tools and approaches

    A couple of questions and comments explored ways of helping content creators to be more accessible from the start. One of the respondents has been creating templates to help content creators and was asking about the best colour background for PowerPoint presentations. There is not a universal contrast level that suits all users – a dyslexic reader may prefer pastel backgrounds with low contrast but a visually impaired person might prefer high contrast. Corporate brand colours will also come into the mix. Good advice is to (i) choose an off-white/pastel background but (ii) test the background/foreground/text contrasts all meet or exceed the 4.5:1 contrast ratio required by the regulations. A tool like the Paciello group’s colour contrast analyser can be useful or use a ‘compliant contrast' colour swatch builder. Sometimes a slight tweak to your branding colours on the web can make a big difference to compliance.

    There was a question about automated accessibility checkers and which tools content creators might use. This depends on the medium you’re working in but all current Office products have a built in accessibility checking features. Many different tools exist for websites and many can sit in the developer’s browser. The Lighthouse tool in Google Chrome is already built in but plugins also exist like the Wave tool and others which link to freemium services such as SiteImprove. 

    Final thoughts

    During the session there were a couple of reminders that this is not about “what can we do to minimise effort for our organisation” because inaccessible content simply transfers the burden of effort to the disabled user. The legislation is designed to shake up 24 years of digital complacency (the Disability Discrimination Act became law in 1995) and give disabled users what they have been entitled to for a generation.

    Another respondent commented that “Adding an accessibility statement to the website is not enough for visually impaired student… when will the backlist content be remediated? Will visually impaired students have to wait for another year or so until all the books are accessible?”. The answer will vary from institution to institution but the onus is on the organisation to provide accessible content. If the mainstream content isn’t accessible an Alternative Format service needs to be in place. Ultimately, it is more cost effective and sustainable to create (or procure) accessible content for all.

    The challenge is getting institutional buy-in driven from the top so that this just becomes a normal way of working – a way of working that improves independence, personalisation and productivity for everyone.

    More information

    The recording of our September webinar on the new HE Accessibility Regulations is available on our website. It is part of a series of free webinars this year where we've shared information and advice about the new regulations:

    Do you want to be notified of upcoming webinars? Join our mailing list to be kept up-to-date and receive details of our November webinar when the topic is announced.

    We are pleased to announce AbilityNet is partnering with McNaught Consultancy, featuring Alistair McNaught previously of Jisc, to provide Digital Accessibility Services in HE and FE.

    TechShare Pro 2019 is the UK's leading accessibility and inclusive design event. A session on the new UK regulations for public sector and HE has been confirmed.

    Abi James recently ran a series of HE Web Accessibility workshops on topics such as 'Developing and maintaining an accessibility statement for HE' and 'Understanding accessibility evaluations and testing results'. The recordings from our HE Web Accessibility Training Programme are now available.

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