AbilityNet at Number 10 to promote inclusive design during London Tech Week
Mark Walker | 15 Jun 2018We're very proud to say Robin Christopherson and Mark Walker were at Downing Street yesterday (Thursday 14 June) for a Breakfast Briefing about assistive technology as part of London Tech Week.
The session at No. 10 included 20 people hosted by the Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock, Minister for Disabled People, Sarah Newton and No.10 Deputy Director of Policy, Natalie Black - with colleagues from Action on Hearing Loss, RNIB, Scope, Leonard Cheshire plus Microsoft and several start-ups, many of whom have featured in our Tech4Good Awards.
Key themes match AbilityNet's goals
We'll post a longer report next week to review what we discussed but it was a very interesting hour, taking in several subjects of direct interest to AbilityNet, including:
- how to promote inclusive design - as we do through our TechShare pro conference
- encouraging disclosure in the workplace - such as our work with ClearTalents
- increasing awareness of reasonable adjustments within Job Centres so that more disabled people get into work - we have been building links with disability advisers in HE, FE and employment settings, including running Inclusive Tech Demo Day,
- helping people to learn about adjustments built into their existing devices - see My Computer My Way
- and how to properly enforce laws about web accessibility - a subject close to Robin's heart.
Lots of positive listening on the government side and some interesting ideas about connecting with the DWP on specific actions... so watch this space!