Bob Twitchin Chair of AbilityNet ITCanHelp Retires
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 27/06/2013 - 11:15
Abilitynet's ITCanHelp service provides IT support to disabled people in their homes and Bob Twitchen has been a central figure in its development for many years. It became part of AbilityNet last year but Bob and his colleagues have spent almost 20 years setting up and running this service completely voluntarily. Bob has now resigned as Chair of ITCanHelp, due to ill health, and asked that we publish this extract is from his resignation letter:
"For some time my own health and that of my wife has been deteriorating and, with great regret, I have decided that the time has come for me to step down from the Chair of the Steering Group and from taking an active part in the work of ITCanHelp.
It has been a great pleasure and privilege to have worked with so many committed and enthusiastic volunteers in all roles throughout ITCanHelp since the mid 1990s. All of us who knew Ken Stoner were inspired by his vision, fuelled by his own experience, of the isolating effects of disability and the transforming effect that being able to use computers could have for severely disabled people. Ken was not just inspired, he also worked very hard at the detailed organisation of ITCanHelp and the processes and procedures to support and organise the work of enthusiastic volunteers. Over the years so many others have given and continue to give great dedication and commitment to the work.
Although ITCanHelp has been unusual in the amount of responsibility taken by volunteers, we have had great support from BCS and more recently from AbilityNet and am grateful to all those who have supported our work. Continued participation in planning and operations by volunteers with experience of organising and providing support to clients is vital for the future success of ITCanHelp.
To try to thank everyone by name now would be impossible, but I do want to mention particularly the members of the Management/Steering Group in the last three years, who have worked together with people in BCS and AbilityNet to set up ITCanHelp as a key part of AbilityNet Volunteering. Josie and Anne have been towers of strength, and it has been good to see relationships developing with other people in AbilityNet, for example on marketing, training, press office support and fundraising.
2014 will be the twentieth anniversary of the creation of ITCanHelp as a pilot project in three English Counties, and I do hope it may be possible to celebrate this milestone, perhaps with some event to commemorate the work done over the years and the effect this has had on the lives of our clients.
It is good to see that the work is continuing to grow and develop as ICT and the on-line world become ever more essential in people’s lives. I look forward to keeping in touch and hearing of continued success in the future."
With thanks and best wishes to everyone
Bob Twitchin BSc FBCS CITP
Mariella Frostrop will announce the winners at this year's Technology4Good Awards Ceremony in early July. Twenty-four finalists have been chosen by a panel of experts who will now decide who wins the eight Awards, but you can have a say now by voting in the T4G People's Award. You can vote on the Technology4Good website, or register your vote on Twitter!
The Technology4Good Awards are organised by Abilitynet and BT and celebrate the people and organisations that use computers and the internet to make the world a better place. They are supported by a range of businesses and not for profit partners, who use their expertise to decide the winners. Previous winners include a group of volunteers who help stroke victims relearn computer skills, Lloyds Banking Group for their commitment to meeting the needs of disabled employees and a charity that provides games machines to children in hospices.
This year's entries range from Barclays Bank, who have introduced accessible ATMS across the UK, to an IT volunteer who helps a riding school for disabled children in Barnsley. It's a tough choice to know who to vote for but we've had over 1000 votes so far, so if you would like to get involved vote now at www.technology4goodawards.org.uk/peoples-award-2013 – entries close at midnight on 30 June.
A huge thank you to all of our partners and sponsors for supporting both Technology4Good and Technology4Good Youth Awards including Amey, BT, Barclaycard, BATA, Brandwatch, Camelot, Go On UK, IT4Communities, Media Trust, Microlink, Microsoft, Pleece&Co, Plug-In Media, PWC and UK Online Centres.
Good luck to all finalists and we look forward to announcing all winners on July 4th.
The whole world is going mobile, but what does it mean for accessibility? The latest of AbilityNet's free accessibility webinars will review some of the opportunities and potential problems that mobile and tablet devices provide when thinking about how to reach every customer on every platform. It's free of charge at 1pm BST on Wednesday 26 June.
As part of our Look No Hands! Campaign this blog looks at Motor Neurone Disease and what assistive technology can be life changing for people with MND.
What is Motor Neurone Disease?
Motor Neurone Disease is also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease (after an American baseball player). It affects the muscles in your body causing them to be weak. There is no known cure for this condition, but symptoms can be managed to help people to achieve the best possible quality of life. The causes of the condition aren’t really known but it may be something to do with chemicals and structures in the motor nerves. The effects include difficulty speaking and movement. Eating and swallowing are also affected and eventually the muscles that assist breathing fail. There are different types of the condition.
How many people are affected?
According to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) (www.mndassociation.org.uk) the condition affects over 5,000 people in the UK and worldwide it has an incidence of 1 – 2 per 100,000 of the population. People who have the condition in the UK are supported both by the MNDA and MND Scotland. as well as MNDA Northern Ireland.
One of the most famous people ever to have lived with MND is Professor Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease when he was only 21. He is one of the most internationally recognisable people who use assistive technology, whether he is delivering a speech to 11 million people at the Paralympics opening, writing a new book or working in his office at Cambridge University. As of 2012, Stephen Hawking is almost completely paralysed. He lost the ability to speak after he had a tracheotomy operation following pneumonia back in 1985.
“For a time, the only way I could communicate was to spell out words letter by letter, by raising my eyebrows when someone pointed to the right letter on a spelling card." says Hawking, “ It is pretty difficult to carry on a conversation like that, let alone write a scientific paper.”
Technological advancements have allowed Hawking to communicate through a text to speech device. Before Prof. Hawking lost the mobility in his hands, he had used a thumb switch and a blink-switch attached to his glasses to control his computer and select the correct letters. He now uses muscle movement in his face, combining squeezing his cheeks and "blinking” which activates an infra-red switch which can scan and select characters (letter by letter) on the screen in order to compose speeches, surf the Internet and send e-mails.
People who have computers and who have the condition can use the computers in lots of different ways:
If their voice is still strong they can use voice recognition to control their computer.
If their voice isn’t that strong but they still have some useful hand use they may be able to use a compact keyboard (a keyboard without the number pad on the right hand side.) They may also feel the need to use a keyguard to help.
As the condition progresses people might want to use head movement, via a head mouse to control the computer or even switches to use an on screen keyboard and or communication software.
Eye tracking or Eye Gaze software allow people with severe physical disabilities to access a computer. These high-tech systems have an inbuilt camera which tracks where your eyes are looking, enabling you to move the mouse pointer around. You can 'click' by blinking, dwelling (staring at the screen for a certain length of time) or using a switch.
Future Technology in the making
In July 2012 it was announced that several American companies are researching new ways that Assistive Technology can help Prof. Hawking. Due to Hawking’s condition, his cheek muscles will eventually deteriorate, which could eliminate his ability to communicate, leaving him with “Locked-in Syndrome”.
One American scientist, Professor Philip Low, is working on something called ‘iBrain’. The iBrain is a headset that records brain waves through EEG (electroencephalograph) readings - electrical activity recorded from the user's scalp. This may allow Prof. Hawking to "write" words with his brain as an alternative to his current speech system which interprets cheek muscle movements.
Alternatively , US chipmaker, Intel, announced that it had also started work to create a new communication system for Prof. Hawking. It is attempting to develop new 3D facial gesture recognition software to speed up the rate at which Prof. Hawking can write. Hopefully the research and discoveries from these scientists will benefit many others who face similar communication restrictions due to their disability.
How can AbilityNet help?
There are a few ways that we can help:
My Computer My Way. A list of free hints and tips that you can use to make your time on the computer that bit easier.
Call our free Helpline. We’re open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm on 0800 269 545. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will discuss any kind of computer problem and do their best to come up with a solution. .
We have a range of factsheets which talk in detail about technology that might help you, which can be downloaded for free.
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.
Look No Hands!
You can help disabled people get the technology advice they need by donating to AbilityNet:
Donate Now! Text LOOK132 to 70070 without using your hands to donate £2 to our free services – try using your nose or toes!
Smile. Have someone take a picture of you trying to text without using your hands.
Share. Share the picture with us and your friends through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram use #abilitynet #looknohands so we can keep track of your pictures
Look No Hands! Assistive Tech Tips for people with MS
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 16/05/2013 - 10:41
What is Multiple Sclerosis, how does it affect people's lives and how can computer technology help?
What is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of those conditions that most of us have heard of, but not many of us know exactly what it is or how it effects people.
MS is a condition which affects the central nervous system. The coating of the nerve fibres (myelin) in your body is affected. This means that you can have difficulty using your hands and arms and your mobility may be reduced. Speech and memory can also be affected. In some people their eyesight can be affected too.
How many people are affected?
In the UK there are at least 100,000 people affected by the condition.
Worldwide there are estimated to be at least 2.5 million.
It's most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40.
MS tends to affect almost three times as many women as men.
How can you adapt your computer to help someone with MS?
Within Accessibility settings within the computer system you can slow down the keyboard via Filter Keys and if you need to you can also slow down the mouse so it doesn’t shoot off across the page the moment you touch it.
It also might be a good idea to use a rollerball so you’ve got a little bit more control over it.
As long as the voice isn’t affected too much you can also use voice recognition to control the computer.
If your sight is affected at all you could use the built in magnification tool within Windows or just simply change the settings within the control panel to make sure that text is in the most visible colour for you to see.
If your speech is affected but you can still access the computer there are many different communication packages available to help you to communicate your requirements.
Case Study
Ms S rang us up to see if we could help with a client of hers that uses her MS Centre. The client was finding it increasingly difficult to use the standard computer keyboard. We recommended that she trialled a much larger keyboard with a key guard on it, so she didn’t hit the wrong keys. We also spoke to her support worker about making sure that she slowed the keyboard down by using filter keys so she didn’t get lots of unwanted characters.
How can we help?
My Computer My Way. A list of free hints and tips that you can use to make your time on the computer that bit easier www.mycomputermyway.com
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.
We have a range of factsheets which talk in detail about technology that might help you, which can be downloaded for free www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets.
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.
Look No Hands!
Help us raise money to help disabled people in 3 easy steps:
Donate Now! Text LOOK132 to 70070 without using your hands to donate £2 to our free services – try using your nose or toes!
Smile. Have someone take a picture of you trying to text without using your hands.
Share. Share the picture with us and your friends through Twitter, Facebook,Pinterest or Instagram use #abilitynet #looknohands so we can keep track of your pictures.
Look No Hands! Stroke survivors can be as active as ever on the web
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 15/05/2013 - 14:49
One of the UK's highest causes of disability is a Stroke. This article looks at what assistive technology can help those who survive a stroke.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke can affect people in different ways. It is caused by a blockage when blood can’t get to the brain. As a result part of the brain dies so it may affect movement on one side of your body. Other common symptoms of a stroke are aphasia (which affects speech and language), impair vision and cause muscle weakness.
Spotted quickly medical treatment can help save someone’s life. About 85% of strokes are caused by a blockage (ischaemic stroke) and about 15% are caused by a bleed (haemorrhage) in or around the brain.
If you spot the symptoms of a stroke, you should call 999 immediately. You can remember these signs with the mnemonic FAST:
FACE - Is the person's ace drooping on one side? ARMS - can the person lift their arms up? SPEECH - Is their speech affected? TIME - call 999 immediately
How many people are affected?
Every year at least 15 million people are affected by strokes.
According to the Stroke Association, there are around 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK.
More than half have been left with disabilities that affect their daily life.
Stroke is the largest cause of complex disability in adults.
These disabilities can range from loss of speech, paralysis and muscle weakness, difficulty understanding speech or writing, memory problems, all which can cause great difficulty performing everyday tasks.
Top tips for computing after a Stroke
Our factsheet on stroke and computing includes tips on assistive technology that can help people after a stroke, which includes information on Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA), and how to adapt devices such as tablets and smartphones if you've had a stroke.
If one side of the body is affected causing reduced finger and hand movement one of the solutions might be to use a smaller compact keyboard so you don’t have to reach from one side of the keyboard to the other.
Other solutions might be to use word prediction which means you can cut down on the amount of typing needed.
If your voice is still good then voice recognition might be a good idea. It also might be a really good idea to consider using alternative pointing devices which can be positioned correctly for the client.
Case Study
Ms Q rang on behalf of her Dad who is 85 and has had a stroke. He has lost his speech and is paralysed down the right-hand side. He’s right-handed too. We sent them some information about different sorts of one-handed keyboards that he could use effectively and we also sent some information about text to speech software so he could still make himself understood.
FREE webinar for stroke survivors and their carers
A stroke can impact in a number of ways. It is the commonest form of aphasia. People who are affected by aphasia, and can cause issues of cognitive and physical impairment and is a common cause of anxiety and depression.
Technology can be part of the solution. Our free webinar will showcase the Stroke Association's online tool My Stroke Guide, which offers information as well as access to peer support from other stroke survivors.
AbilityNet volunteer Lawrence Knight will be on hand to share his experiences of helping stroke survivors find solutions that can help them to adapt.
My Computer My Way. A list of free hints and tips that you can use to make your time on the computer that bit easier www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway/
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.
We have a range of factsheets which talk in detail about technology that might help you, which can be downloaded for free www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets.
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.
Look No Hands!
Help us raise money to help disabled people in 3 easy steps:
Donate Now! Text LOOK132 to 70070 without using your hands to donate £2 to our free services – try using your nose or toes!
Smile. Have someone take a picture of you trying to text without using your hands.
Share. Share the picture with us and your friends through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram use #abilitynet #looknohands so we can keep track of your pictures.
Submitted by Mark Walker on Tue, 14/05/2013 - 12:57
Our Look No Hands! campaign kicked off in great style this week thanks to Stephen Fry, who tweeted his message of support to his millions of followers and created a surge of interest. He joined Martha Lane Fox and hundreds of AbilityNet supporters in raising money to help disabled people get the most from computers and the internet, by donating £2 without using their hands.
The Look No Hands! appeal was launched last week by Baroness Lane-Fox, patron of the charity, who texted with her nose to show how challenging technology can be to disabled people. She said:
“Just think about how many texts you’ve already sent today. Have you ever considered how challenging such daily tasks would be if you couldn’t use your hands? This is reality for many disabled people. And that’s why AbilityNet is asking people to text Look132 to 70070 using their nose (or their toes) and make a £2.00 donation to support AbilityNet’s free services for disabled people.”
AbilityNet's CEO, Nigel Lewis is delighted with the attention the campaign is getting:
“For the UK’s 11 million disabled people, the internet can be a vital lifeline, enabling them to communicate, socialise, shop, express themselves creatively and even get a job. AbilityNet is there to provide the critical advice and information they need to transform their lives for the better.”
The Look No Hands! Campaign runs until Friday 17th May 2013 and by the end of its first day, nearly 4000 people had visited AbilityNet's website to find out more.
The campaign video is on the Look No Hands campaign page and features familiar faces including Baroness Lane-Fox and BBC presenter, Peter White.
Look No Hands! Don't let Arthritis stop you surfing the web...
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 14/05/2013 - 11:40
Did you know that there are around 10 million people in the UK who have arthritis? What is Arthritis, how does it affect people's lives and how can computer technology help?
Our Look No Hands Campaign runs from Monday 13th May to Friday 17th May so every day this week we will be looking at a number of disabilities which cause people difficulty in using their hands. Some of these conditions are more common than you might think so we will tell you a bit about each disability, what forms of assistive technology can be used and where you can find more information.
What is Arthritis?
Most of us have heard of Arthritis. You’ve probably been told at some point in your life that cracking your knuckles would give you it. Which, might I add, is a complete myth, you’ll be pleased to hear. It’s a condition which causes inflammation and pain within a joint, also tenderness, restricted joint movement, joint weakness and sometimes muscle wasting. It affects people of all ages.
There are two type that are most common:
Osteoarthritis: Which is the most common where the cartilage between your bones wastes away. This causes painful rubbing and is most common in the Hands, Spine, Hips and Knees.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is more severe but less common form. This can lead to reduction of movement and breakdown of bone and cartilage.
How many people are affected?
There are around 10 million people in the UK who have arthritis. Our hands are one of the most frequently used body parts. When you think about it, we have 27 bones in each of our hands. That’s a lot of joints in which people suffering from arthritis would experience pain. This is one of the many reasons that arthritis can be such a debilitating condition.
Top Tips for computing with Arthritis:
So what assistive technology would be useful for a person with Arthritis in their hands? Using a keyboard or a mouse might be really difficult for someone with arthritis. So we’ve got to look at alternatives:
A roller-ball mouse might be easier for someone to use as they can put their whole hand on it, rather than just their finger.
If they find a normal keyboard difficult to use they might want to look at a really soft touch keyboard or try an ergonimic keyboard or mouse.
If using the keyboard is a bit slow they might want to use a word prediction package which makes things just a little bit easier and quicker. It also reduces the level of movement required. Why hit 6 keys when you might only need to hit 3?
You can also use voice recognition to control the computer.
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.
Donate Now! Text LOOK132 to 70070 without using your hands to donate £2 to our free services – try using your nose or toes!
Smile. Have someone take a picture of you trying to text without using your hands.
Share. Share the picture with us and your friends through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram use #abilitynet #looknohands so we can keep track of your pictures.
Making computers easier for people with Parkinson's
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 13/05/2013 - 12:32
What is Parkinson's Disease, how does it affect people's lives and how can computer technology help?
What is Parkinson's Disease?
People with this condition don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine in their bodies because they have lost some of the nerve cells in their brain. Because of this their muscles become stiff, and some people experience tremors and slowness of movement. Not everyone will have the same symptoms though. Famous people to have had the condition include Michael J Fox and Muhammad Ali.
How many people are affected?
According to Parkinson’s UK there are 127,000 people in the UK affected by Parkinson’s. That’s one in 500. Worldwide there are 7.4 million people affected.
Top Tips for computing with Parkinson's
Use the accessibility settings on your computer to slow down the keyboard with the ‘Filter Keys’ feature - you can also slow down the mouse so it doesn’t shoot off across the page the moment you touch it.
It also might be a good idea to use a rollerball mouse so you’ve got a little bit more control over it.
A Keyguard can be laid over the top of your existing keyboard, this helps you hit the right keys.
As long as your voice isn’t affected too much you can also use voice recognition to control the computer.
How we helped David
Mr David W from North Yorkshire has Parkinson’s and it is making computer use very difficult especially typing on the keyboard. He called our Advice & Information line and had a chat with us about the options available. We have recommended that he trials an adapted keyboard, suggested a supplier and organised an AbilityNet ITCanHelp volunteer to go and help set up the equipment and try it out. If it works for him he can regain his independence and use his computer effectively.
How can AbilityNet help?
There are a few ways that we can help:
My Computer My Way. A list of free hints and tips that you can use to make your time on the computer that bit easier. www.mycomputermyway.com
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.
We have a range of factsheets which talk in detail about technology that might help you, which can be downloaded for free. www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets
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.
Submitted by Mark Walker on Wed, 01/05/2013 - 12:12
AbilityNet is hosting a free event in London to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2013. Inclusive Design: Where Accessibility Meets Usability will feature speakers including Robin Christopherson and Julie Howell, followed by a panel that includes Jeremy Keith, Ian Hamilton and Meera Pankhania.
The event is part of AbilityNet's Mind The Digital Gap Digital Inclusion Strategy, which launched at Westminster in November 2012 and called for a more user-centred approach to the design of digital products and services.
Inclusive Design: Where Accessibility Meets Usability
An AbilityNet event for Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2013
4:30-7:30pm, Thursday 9 May 2013
Google Campus, London
Robin Christopherson, Julie Howell,Jeremy Keith and other special guests will be looking at the crossover between usability and accessibility. They will debate the merits of connecting the two disciplines and offer practical ways for UX practitioners, web designers, developers and their clients to ensure that websites, digital devices and information resources can be designed to be used by everyone.
This is a free, ticket-only event and numbers are strictly limited.
The venue is accessible and a sign language interpreter will be available. Please tell us if you any specific needs. If you have any accessibility issues using Eventbrite please send an email to Kat.Upton@abilitynet.org.uk or call us on +44 207 7962 144
Abilitynet's ITCanHelp service provides IT support to disabled people in their homes and Bob Twitchen has been a central figure in its development 
They are supported by a range of businesses and not for profit partners, who use their expertise to decide the winners. Previous winners include a group of volunteers who help stroke victims relearn computer skills, Lloyds Banking Group for their commitment to meeting the needs of disabled employees and a charity that provides games machines to children in hospices.
One of the most famous people ever to have lived with MND is Professor Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease when he was only 21. He is one of the most internationally recognisable people who use assistive technology, whether he is delivering a speech to 11 million people at the Paralympics opening, writing a new book or working in his office at Cambridge University. As of 2012, Stephen Hawking is almost completely paralysed. He lost the ability to speak after he had a tracheotomy operation following pneumonia back in 1985. 
A stroke can affect people in different ways. It is caused by a blockage when blood can’t get to the brain. As a result part of the brain dies so it may affect movement on one side of your body. Other common symptoms of a stroke are 
Our 
Our Look No Hands! campaign kicked off in great style this week thanks to Stephen Fry, who tweeted his message of support to his millions of followers and created a surge of interest. He joined Martha Lane Fox and hundreds of AbilityNet supporters in raising money to help disabled people get the most from computers and the internet, by donating £2 without using their hands.
AbilityNet's CEO, Nigel Lewis is delighted with the attention the campaign is getting:
Our Look No Hands Campaign runs from Monday 13th May to Friday 17th May so every day this week we will be looking at a number of disabilities which cause people difficulty in using their hands. Some of these conditions are more common than you might think so we will tell you a bit about each disability, what forms of assistive technology can be used and where you can find more information.
This is a free, ticket-only event and numbers are strictly limited.