Are you an accessibility leader or a laggard? Survey reveals clear divide

Two women smiling looking at laptop in informal setting. Text reads: Attitudes to Digital Accessibility Survey 2023 results report. A global survey of 350+ Accessibility professionals and their alliesA global survey conducted by AbilityNet shows a clear divide between those organisations who are prioritising digital accessibility and those who are lagging behind.

The findings of our Attitudes to Digital Accessibility survey 2023 indicate that organisations need to review where they ‘sit’ on the scale of accessibility leaders and accessibility laggards - otherwise the accessibility leaders will reap the benefits of their investment in accessibility, such as more inclusive workforces and increased customer satisfaction. 

Delving into the leader characteristics

The survey was completed during September 2023 by 363 people from around the world, and we launched the report of its findings in a live webinar on 31 October.

Open Inclusion, a disability and age-inclusive research, design and innovation agency, worked with AbilityNet to analyse the survey results both this year and in 2022. 

Christine Hemphill speaking in room live on webinarChristine Hemphill, Open Inclusion's CEO, spoke on the webinar to discuss the findings, alongside fellow guest speaker Christopher Lee, Managing Director of IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals).

"What we mean by 'leaders' is across the various characteristics of the questions, vision, leadership capability and procurement there are some ahead on a number of or all of them, and many characteristics or some that are falling behind or less confident on a range of elements," says Christine, describing what constitutes an 'accessibility leader' from the survey results analysis.

Download the survey report

Get the survey report

A summary PDF and a more detailed Word version are available to download.

Benchmark your accessibility

Respondents to the survey were asked to feedback on five key areas:

  1. Vision
  2. Leadership
  3. Processes
  4. Capability
  5. Procurement

The survey structure reflects five key topics covered in AbilityNet's Digital Accessibility Maturity Model.

If you're wondering if your organisation is more laggard than leader, or where your organisation fares on the accessibility scale, use the simple, five-part model to help build a picture of your current strengths and weaknesses and identify a roadmap for next steps.

Further analysis of the data from the 2023 survey results indicates that organisations are perhaps not keeping up with improvements in digital accessibility.
For example, fewer respondents in 2023 agreed with the statement ‘My organisation has a clearly stated vision about digital accessibility’ compared to 2022 (39% agreed strongly or slightly in 2023 compared to 49% in 2022).

And in 2023, 43% of respondents observed that digital accessibility was a very high or high priority for their senior management/leadership team (compared to 45% in 2022).

Download the report for the full analysis of what the data tells us.

Topical questions considered: HR, AI and User Research

In this year’s survey we also introduced questions about topical developments within digital accessibility and inclusion including:

  • Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG)
  • Budgets
  • Human Resources 
  • User Research 
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Across the new questions, results were mixed. For example, many who shared an opinion on the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) were largely positive. And on the topic of budgets, experiences varied about whether budgets for maintaining digital accessibility have been slashed or boosted.

When asked about user testing with disabled audiences, despite its benefits, our research this year has shown that organisations are not regularly using this valuable and illuminating testing option. 

There also appear to be gaps in how organisations are communicating or conveying accessible recruitment practices and the department’s accessibility processes in general to their staff. 

This indicates a significant opportunity for organisations to share positive accessibility attitudes and activities within its internal staffing systems, to broaden awareness and encourage best practices.

Set of quotes from slide lifted from report. Text reads: Please describe in your own words the barriers you face in your role when delivering digital accessibility? "Our accessibility teams are siloed and not coordinated centrally, with no central support for training." - and " We have a maturing accessibility practice, however, we constantly encounter people within the business who do not understand the value proposition and push back" - and "The engagement from senior management has been low, they say the right things but in action they produce inaccessible documents."Barriers to delivering accessibility

Some of the survey questions were open-ended and uncovered insightful detail into the realities of the barriers faced by many of those who try to champion accessibility at their organisations.

Here is a selection of responses to being asked: Please describe in your own words the barriers you face in your role when delivering digital accessibility?:

  • "Our accessibility teams are siloed and not coordinated centrally, with no central support for training."
  • "We have a maturing accessibility practice, however, we constantly encounter people within the business who do not understand the value proposition and push back."
  • "The engagement from senior management has been low, they say the right things but in action they produce inaccessible documents."

A year on: "Broadly unchanged" but with a few significant shiftsGroup of people sitting in meeting room engaged in meeting discussion

Overall, the key survey metrics remain broadly unchanged between the analysis of responses in 2022 and 2023, with the exception of some of the areas outlined in the reports you can download

This indicates that despite a changing environment, with new legislation due to come into place in the US, Europe and Australia, an increasing consumer awareness of the value and importance of disability inclusion, and the older population rapidly accruing access needs, this has not led to a change in urgency of improving digital accessibility. 

These results clearly show there is more to be done within organisations to make swift improvements to digital accessibility.

Digital accessibility is not just a moral imperative, it is also a business imperative. Organisations that prioritise accessibility are better positioned to succeed in the marketplace.

If your organisation is an accessibility laggard, it is time to take action.

Person standing in foreground of large informal group meeting, with arms folded and smile on faceHow your organisation can become an accessibility leader

1. Get senior buy-in. Accessibility needs to be a top-down priority.

2. Develop a clear strategy. What do you want to achieve? How will you measure your progress?

3. Invest in resources and training. Accessibility is not a one-person job. You need to have a team of people with the skills and knowledge to make your digital products and services accessible.

4. Implement a process to ensure accessibility is considered at every stage of the development process and built in to HR processes to ensure all staff understand the need to maintain accessibility.

5. Get feedback from disabled people. The best way to ensure your digital products and services are accessible is to get feedback from the people who will be using them.

Further resources:

Disability Inclusion Insights: the Workplace Inclusion Podcast

By providing training, support, and resources, we want to help address the disability employment gap and support workplaces to become more accessible and inclusive for all. Lizi Green and Adam Tweed profile images

We are thrilled to unveil our latest venture, the Disability Inclusion Insights series, a captivating new addition to The AbilityNet podcast. This series is designed to take you on an incredible disability inclusion journey, offering a unique blend of knowledge and inspiration. Prepare to embark on a thought-provoking adventure as we delve deep into captivating workplace topics and share lived experienced stories.

Join Lizi Green and Adam Tweed, our expert Digital Inclusion Consultants, as they engage with brilliant minds in workplace disability inclusion from across industries and around the world. We find out about their career path and ask them to share their top tips for building inclusion within an organisation.

Guest Lineup:

Disability Inclusion Insights features a stellar lineup of guests, ranging from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) leaders to HR and operations professionals, Accessibility Champions and everything in between. The podcast series aims to empower and educate our audience to foster inclusion in workplaces. Get ready to challenge your assumptions, broaden your horizons, and embark on a journey of inspiration and workplace inclusion growth. 

First episode: Maria Grazia Zedda, High Speed Two (HS2)Maria Grazia Zedda, smiling at the camera

Maria Grazia Zedda, the senior quality and diversity inclusion manager for the workforce at High Speed Two (HS2) - available now via Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts, Podbean and more.

Access the episode 

 

Second epsiode: Rosa Salamone, Boots UK

Rosa Salamone, Process Manager for SAP Procurement at Boots UK, joins Lizi and Adam to share the various initiatives that Boots UK has undertaken to champion disability inclusivity in the workplace.

Access the episode

 

Third episode:  Claire Jones, ClearTalentsProfile image of Claire Jones

Claire Jones, Director at ClearTalents, joins Lizi and Adam to discuss how to create an inclusive workplace, the importance of reasonable adjustments, and how technology is driving disability inclusion.

Access the episode

Sign up for our enewsletter to be the first to know when the next podcast episode goes live!

We encourage you to share your thoughts, ask questions, and suggest topics for future episodes. Connect with us on social media platforms:

You might also be interested in our upcoming free webinar on Tuesday 25 July at 1pm BST on How to make remote and hybrid work accessible for every employee. Register for the webinar today.

Is your current ways of working inclusive? 

Our expert workplace consultants can help you to gauge your organisation’s current cultural state and work with you to prioritise which improvements will have the greatest immediate impact which will form the roadmap for your ongoing disability inclusion journey. 

With our Disability Inclusion Gap Analysis, we can help you look at your stages of the inclusion journey: Recruitment, Onboarding, Ways of Working, Career Development and Customer Facing. You can choose to focus on the individual stages that are most relevant to you or combine them all. Get started on your journey today by booking a free 15-minute consultation. 


AbilityNet provides a range of free services to help disabled people and older people. If you can afford it, please donate to help us support older and disabled people through technology

Free workshops to teach digital skills to older people

BT Group in partnership with AbilityNet logoHow can I encourage my older relative to learn how to use their phone more effectively?

Where can I direct my elderly client to get support with using tech?

How do I get help setting up my laptop to a printer?

If any of these questions are on your mind, AbilityNet can help.

Two men sitting at laptop smiling, in cafeAttend a Digital Skills session

Research has shown that older people are less likely than other age groups to regularly use digital devices or go online.

As part of our partnership with telecommunications company BT Group we're delighted to announce the opportunity for individuals and groups in a range of areas across the UK to take part in free workshops, which aim to improve the digital skills of older and digitally excluded people. 

Sessions are now available in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and London*.

"Informative and very helpful. Very patient." - attendee from a session at a residential home

If you are an individual aged 65 years old or over and could benefit from digital skills training, or if you work with older people in an organisation or charity in the regions outlined, apply now for the free training workshops.

Apply for Digital Skills training

Choose from the following sessions, or request a bespoke training session for your group or for an individual. You can have sessions in a communal space or at home:

  • An Introduction to Tech
  • An Introduction to the Internet
  • Getting to know your Smartphone or Tablet
  • Staying Safe Online
  • Getting started with Email
  • Using Social Media, e.g. Facebook
  • Online entertainment, e.g. watching TV online
  • How to access Public Services e.g. Gov.UK
  • Downloading Apps: Android
  • Downloading Apps: Apple
  • How to make a video call
  • How to manage your health online
  • How to bank online
  • How to shop online
  • Using a computer for documents

You can also access a Factsheet and Jargon Buster alongside the sessions.

Plus, you may also be interested in BT Group's How to boost your online skills: learner factsheets.

Improve digital accessibility skills in your organisation

Find out how you can avoid creating barriers for disabled people with our affordable, high quality training options including online courses, group workshops and eLearning.

Book your disability training

Support for people in other regions

If you need to boost your digital skills, please call AbilityNet's free tech helpline: 0800 048 7642 (open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm) or check out our other support options:

*The locations for the ‘Senior Skills Programme’ were chosen based on a growing demand for tech support among older people aged 65+ in these areas and we expect to help more than 1,000 people via the sessions.

Corporate social responsibility
Is your organisation looking for a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner? Your business and its staff can volunteer to support your local communities.

Six LinkedIn accessibility features that help disabled people

As a marketing specialist at AbilityNet it’s exciting to see LinkedIn announce new accessibility tools that make it easier for disabled people to get the best from the platform's articles. 

As well as helping find jobs, build their professional network, and learn about new opportunities LinkedIn is also a vital way for organisations such as AbilityNet to gather and share useful resources and information. The new LinkedIn tools include:

  1. Content Isolation: Declutter your reading experience by focusing solely on the content that matters to you and isolating the main text from distractions. 
  2. Picture Display for Common Words: Comprehend articles with picture cues for frequently used words. 
  3. Speech Highlights: Follow along by using dynamic speech highlights that help you read with clarity. 
  4. Syllable Splitting: Break down complex words into syllables, making it easier to grasp and pronounce new terms. 
  5. Real-Time Translations: Active instant translations designed to help overcome language barriers. 
  6. Text to Speech: Consume information audibly as articles are read aloud. 

A person using a smart phone with the screen displaying the LinkedIn logoThese tools will help all users on LinkedIn, but it will especially help people who are dyslexic, and people who are blind or have visual impairments.

They'll also be useful to people learning English or who prefer to consume content in a different language. And they'll help anyone who finds it difficult to learn from long or complex posts. 

How content creators can use these new features

The marketing team at AbilityNet uses LinkedIn as a key way to share digital accessibility resources with our followers. Knowing that our users have access to features to help them consume content in a way that fits their needs, is welcoming and exciting news but also makes sure we reach as many people as possible. 

As well as being familiar with the built-in tools, there are many other ways we make our LinkedIn content more accessible, such as:  

  • Use clear and concise language
  • Add alt text to images
  • Provide captions or transcripts for videos
  • Use the new accessibility tools to test your content

By following these tips, anyone can make their LinkedIn content more accessible, more engaging and reach a bigger audience. 

Remember that creating accessible digital content is an ongoing process, and staying informed about best practices and guidelines is essential to ensure your content remains inclusive for all users. Visit our Accessible Content Resources hub.

Learn more accessible social media 

Three ways to deliver accessible, inclusive recruitment

In today's increasingly competitive marketplace, it's more important than ever for organisations to attract and retain the best talent. That means creating a recruitment process that is accessible and inclusive to all candidates.

AbilityNet will be attending the In House Recruitment Expo Summit on 17 October to share key tips on how to make your recruitment process more accessible. 

Read on to find out three ways every organisation can deliver accessible, inclusive recruitment:

Graphic of a woman sitting at a laptop. Behind her are 3 oversized application examples

Make your job postings and supporting materials accessible

By making your materials accessible, you can encourage applications from a wider talent pool, and also promote inclusivity and diversity within your organisation. Consider the following when creating your job posting and application materials:

  • using accessible fonts and colors
  • providing captions for videos
  • avoiding jargon and acronyms 

You can also use assistive tools such as the Microsoft Accessibility Checker to ensure that your documents are accessible.

Join us at the In House Recruitment Expo Summit

Tailored for In House Recruitment Leaders and team, IHRE23 Summit will feature seminars, masterclass sessions with time to network with colleagues and peers, including a session with AbilityNet's Lizi Green on Accessible and Inclusive Recruitment!

Find out more about the conference 

Register your free place today!
Graphic with red background and picture of people watching a talk in the corner. Text: IHRE Summit. Coventry Arena. 17 October 2023. Ensure you get your share of this huge buisness & networking opportunity. Free Entry.

Review your essential job criteria

It's important to consider whether any of these requirements could unintentionally hinder the inclusion of certain candidates. For instance, insisting on a valid driver's license may inadvertently exclude disabled candidates, and the journey may be possible by public transport. If a particular criterion isn't integral to the role, it might be a good idea to reconsider its necessity.

Graphic of two woman on laptops, exemplifying an online call Be flexible with your interview process

Recognise that candidates may have diverse communication needs and interaction preferences. Consider options like conducting online interviews with cameras off or blurred backgrounds to provide candidates with a comfortable setting. Additionally, offering candidates the choice to pre-record a presentation, if needed, can further enhance the inclusivity of your interview process.

Useful resources

AbilityNet have a range of resources to help you build accessibility into your recruitment process. 

Training 

Our affordable high-quality online training courses to help you build skills in accessibility.

Discover more training courses

Graphic of a pile of paper documents Factsheets 

AbilityNet’s Factsheets are free to download and provide advice and information about how computers and other digital technologies can help people with a range of conditions and impairments.

Explore our full range of factsheets

eLearning 

AbilityNet's online eLearning modules provide a cost-effective way to teach your staff about accessibility and inclusion.

Find out more about eLearning

Further resources

5 tips for creating accessible podcasts

Podcasts are a versatile medium that can cater to diverse audiences, including the disabled community.

Your podcast may attract neurodiverse listeners, who may prefer this form of content to stay informed and entertained. Similarly, podcasts are inherently audio-based, making them highly accessible and enjoyable to blind individuals and people with visual impairments.

But how can you ensure your podcast is accessible to all? By following these 5 simple tips, you can make your podcast more accessible.

1. Use clear audio

Clear audio not only enhances the podcast experience for all listeners but is essential for podcast accessibility to those with hearing loss. You can achieve clear audio by following these tips:

  • Use a high-quality microphone and record in a quiet environment. The AbilityNet podcast team uses online studio StreamYard to record audio locally, helping to export the clearest audio possible
  • Identify yourself and any other speakers before you start talking. Your host can ask everyone to introduce themselves if there are multiple guests 
We host the AbilityNet Podcast on a range of platforms. You can catch up on the latest episodes on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

2. Provide a transcript

A graphic of a document with text, a microphone icon and a music icon. Providing a transcript is the most important thing you can do to make your podcast accessible to d/Deaf people or people with hearing loss. 

Transcripts should include everything that is said in the podcast, as well as any sound effects or music. You can create transcripts yourself or hire a professional service to do it for you. 

Here are some tips for creating transcripts:

  • Listen to your podcast episode and proofread your transcript carefully before publishing it  
  • Add a glossary of acronyms to the transcript
  • Make a download of your transcript available in the podcast description and on your website. It also helps to offer the transcript in a document format, so your audience can customise it to match their needs and preference. Learn how to create accessible documents in our factsheet, Creating Accessible Documents
  • If you’re considering creating your own transcripts, you can try out tools such as Otter.ai, HappyScribe, or use the in-built automatic transcripts in Microsoft Teams

A graphic of two speech bubbles with text dots inside them.3. Use clear and concise language

When recording a podcast episode, it is important to avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that your audience may not understand. If you do use this type of language, be sure to explain it in a way that is easy to understand.

You can also define words or acronyms within a glossary of your transcript.

4. Describe all visual content 

If you are mentioning or discussing a visual element in your podcast, be sure to describe it. For example, if you are talking about a photo, describe what is in the photo. If you are talking about a video, describe what is happening in the video.

5. Promote your podcast in an accessible way 

When you promote your podcast, be sure to use accessible social media platforms and websites. You should use alt text for any images used and provide transcripts or captions for any video or audio promotional materials. 

If you are writing a blog post to promote your podcast, be sure to include a transcript of the episode. 

The AbilityNet Podcast logo. Two speech bubbles, one with a person icon and the other with a light bulb. Text displays: The AbilityNet Podcast. Disability. Technology. Inlcusion.Stay updated with the AbilityNet Podcast

The AbilityNet Podcast features insights, interviews, and the latest updates from key movers and shakers in the world of digital accessibility and disability inclusion.



Explore the latest episodes

 

Making your podcast accessible is important because it allows more people to enjoy your content. By following the tips in this blog post, you can make your podcast more accessible to all.

Please note that this blog is not a comprehensive guide to what you can do to make a podcast accessible, but these five tips can help you start creating accessible podcasts.

Further Resources

Fancy some delicious treats while you boost your digital skills?

AbilityNet in partnership with BT GroupYou may have seen in our recent news that older people are invited to improve their digital skills over a cup of tea at BT Group's BT Tea Rooms, where AbilityNet staff and Tech Volunteers will be available to support attendees.

The free sessions are now underway in Birmingham and here we share a few snaps from this week's sessions.

The BBC also shared information about the sessions, including highlighting that 11 million across the UK lacked basic digital skills:

"Over-65s are ten times more likely to fall into that category so there's a real imperative to focus on that age range and support people," said Amy Caton, Senior Manager, Digital Talent and Impact at BT in the BBC article.

Couple holding tasty looking sandwiches and snacks and smiling in cafePerfect looking cakes on a display tower in a cafeVisit the sessions in Birmingham, Glasgow and BournemouthMan being helped with digital device in cafe setting

There's still time to attend the final Birmingham BT Tea Room on Thursday 28 September at Urban Emporium, 30 Church St, Birmingham, B3 2NP. 

Sessions coming up in Glasgow and Bournemouth between 10am - 5.30pm: 

  • Café Fame, Glasgow
    127 Hope St, Glasgow G2 6PE
    When: Wednesday 4 October, Thursday 5 October, and Friday 6 October 
     
  • Frieda's Tea Room, Bournemouth, 
    City Centre, 7 Stafford Rd, Bournemouth BH1 1JH
    When: Tuesday 17 October, Wednesday 18 October, and Thursday 19 October 
    Interested in attending? Find out more by phoning 01202 281333 or go to the BT website.

Please share the sessions with anyone you know who could benefit from learning about everyday activities that are increasingly going online - such as booking a doctor’s appointment, shopping, banking, and paying bills. 

Aimed at people aged 65 or older, the sessions offer a quick drop-in to ask specific questions, plus more detailed 30 and 90 minute topic specific sessions. 

FREE WEBINAR RECORDING: Top tips for boosting your digital skills
BT Group, Age UK and AbilityNet shared practical ways to help ensure that senior citizens and disabled people are not left behind in the digital revolution.

Digital Skills sessions in your community

People looking at phones in cafe settingIf you can't make it along to a BT Tea Room event, our Digital Skills trainers can also provide free digital skills training at home or at a community group setting.

This is currently available to support older people (65+ years) based in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and surrounding areas.

How AbilityNet can help you

Make the most of the web this Get Online Week 2023

An older woman smiling sitting by a laptop in an office setting and older man sat next to her also smilingGet Online Week, coming up from 16 - 22 October, is the perfect excuse to make full use of the opportunities available to you and your loved ones via the web.

AbilityNet is a digital ambassador for Get Online Week, as we strive to ensure and promote digital inclusion in all we do.

Free webinars: Dyslexia and Accessibility Attitudes

You can get support from AbilityNet via our guidance about getting online and using tech to benefit both disabled people and older people. Access our Factsheets, My Computer My Way and a range of free webinars to help you with a range of tech queries.

You may also like to join us soon for two free webinars about very popular topics:

Tech Tools for Dyslexia at work, in education and at home

Tuesday 3 October, 1pm BST

How can inclusive tech bridge the gap to help dyslexic people when learning, at home or in the workplace?

In this webinar during Dyslexia Awareness Week, guest speakers from AbilityNet and the British Dyslexia Association will share tried-and-tested tools and solutions to benefit people who are dyslexic. 
 

Register for Dyslexia webinar

 

Attitudes to accessibility are changing - a global perspective

Tuesday 31 October, 1pm - 1.30pm GMT

Guest speakers from IAAP and Open Inclusion will join AbilityNet to share the findings of our third annual global survey into Attitudes to Digital Accessibility (open until 30 September).

The results will share how are organisations and professionals across the globe are investing their time and effort in digital accessibility, and what can we learn that can help us in our own organisations.

Register for survey results webinar 

 

Get online week logo showing illustration of person's finger pointing and pressing on somethingWhy is Get Online Week important?
Nearly 1 in 5 adults lack the most basic digital skills needed for everyday life.
Over 1 in 20 households have no internet access, neither fixed line nor mobile.
2 million households struggle with affordability of internet access.

Can you help others get online?

Do you have some spare time available to help people in your community learn basic computer skills?

You don’t need to be a tech guru to help, as an AbilityNet Tech Volunteer. Typical help requests for a volunteer include:

  • Helping someone set up an email account
  • Showing someone how to use online video calling via WhatsApp or Zoom
  • Setting up a new device and connecting it to the internet
  • Giving advice on anti-virus protection and internet safety
  • Changing basic device settings to make it easier to us

"Volunteering at AbilityNet gives me the opportunity to build upon my experience and skills, which in turn enables people to live a healthy and productive life - it’s a truly rewarding and inspiring environment,” says Greg White, one of our Tech Volunteers based in Manchester.
 

Become a Tech Volunteer

 

New! Susie Dent launches Digital Dictionary to explain digital jargon

AbilityNet has worked with BT Group to highlight sometimes confusing online terminology, as one in six older people report feeling “baffled” by digital language such as 'The Cloud' and 'URL'. Find out more about the digital dictionary.

How AbilityNet can help you

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

AbilityNet accessibility services

Support AbilityNet

If you're able to help us help others please donate to AbilityNet

Top portable technology for hybrid work

This blog has been updated! Originally published 05/01/2023. Amended 31/08/2023


Hybrid work is now a permanent part of our work lives, and you might be thinking about improving your workspace. Whether you're ready to move on from using the ironing board as your desk, or you're imagining the convenience of carrying just your lightweight laptop instead of hauling around a heavy suitcase filled with power cables and other gadgets.

Below is a list of portable items that are accessible and designed to improve the comfort of working at home, in the office, or in every coffee shop and train carriage between.

Inclusion on this list is based on personal opinion or interest and does not reflect endorsement by AbilityNet; no product or supplier has offered an incentive.

Learn from our experts on how assistive technologies can help you and your workforce become more productive, whether in the office or at home - How to use assistive technology training 

How to improve your audio quality

When it comes to accessibility considerations, good audio is key.

Despite the claims of laptop and webcam manufacturers, built-in microphones are usually bad quality. Speaking on a call with poor audio quality will often result in you being misheard, misunderstood, sometimes confused by background noise, or even completely cut off from the conversation: "Hello? Can you still hear me? Hello? Have I gone on mute?"

There are some in-ear (earbud) headsets of high quality, but over-the-ear headsets are typically the most comfortable, especially for prolonged usage. These are the headphones that sit over your ears on nice comfortable, ear-warming pads and they tend to have microphones on an arm that can be adjusted to be close to the mouth, meaning they're clearer and less likely to pick up the background noise.

Should you use wireless or wired headsets?

A person smiling at their desk whilst wearing a wired headset,You can get wireless (Bluetooth) or wired (USB or 3.5mm jack - with some giving you both options). Wireless allows you to wander the office or house freely, but will need charging, and although the batteries last, you can always be guaranteed to get the "battery low" warning just as the chairperson hands over to you for your polished and well-rehearsed presentation.

Wired headsets, in contrast, are plugged in, so you can't move further than the cable allows, but they won't cut out and don't need charging.

For freedom of movement and shorter, infrequent meetings and calls, wireless are probably best. For reliability for training, webinars, and days of back-to-back meetings wired is better; although you will lose the "sorry, I'll have to go, my battery is dying" excuse.

How much is a good quality headset?

Unfortunately, in terms of price, this is a real example of "you get what you pay for." Brands such as Plantronics (Poly) and Jabra are two typically trustworthy brands, and although there are cheaper models available, you won't get good audio quality and the wireless headsets tend to be unreliable in terms of connection and staying connected (in my experience).

How to look after your headset

Headsets, by definition, are portable; however, if you're prone to sitting on them or if you tend to stuff everything in a bag and hope the zip holds, you might want to consider a hard case.

Another key point to remember is that the foam cushions on the over-the-ear headsets can disintegrate over time, but you can buy replacements for pennies rather than binning the headset!

How to work from home comfortably

One of the key considerations for working comfortably and reducing the risk of aches, strains, longer-term injuries, and discomfort is making sure you have your screen at the right height. It's something our assessors regularly come across during workplace assessments

Access the Ergonomics and Computing factsheet, for an introduction to the many issues you need to consider when setting up a workstation. 

 

Laptop stands

A pair of hands placing a laptop onto a laptop stand. While most monitors can be adjusted either with mounts or piles of books, laptops aren't as easy and people often end up craning their necks down to work.

Laptop stands are a relatively inexpensive solution for raising your laptop screen to the correct height. For portability between the "home office" and the "office." Ergonomic Cafe has some innovative solutions that fold down flat and slip into a laptop case. They also have options that are semi-permanent, attaching to the bottom of the laptop, folding to a couple of millimetres when flat, but giving a good range of height when in stand mode.

Another portable favourite is the Nexstand, a plastic stand that collapses a bit like a mini picnic chair; it gives a good choice of height and can be folded down to about the size of a folded umbrella and literally chucked in a bag for travel.

Sit-Stand Desks

A person standing at their sit-stand desk in an office.Sit-stand desks can be adjusted in height and encourage you to move between sitting and standing rather than remaining seated all day. They are becoming increasingly popular as their benefits to working comfort, employee wellbeing, and the flexibility they provide to inclusive workplaces become more appreciated.

A sit-stand desk is an excellent choice for hotdesking environments because it can be adjusted to accommodate everyone. A purpose-built sit-stand desk is obviously far from portable, but there are some great portable options.

Ergonomic Cafe has the Box Office Pro, which is quite literally a desk in (or out of) a box. The box can be used to carry all your kit, but once you are at your desk, the box is placed on the desk and some bits are clipped on, making it a standing desk.

The Standidesk Active Stand is another desktop standing desk, but this one folds flat rather than providing a carrying case. The folded size is a bit cumbersome—about the size of an A3 notebook—but it's cardboard and so nice and light.
 

Keyboards

A black Number Slide keyboardOf course, raising your laptop to the correct height means that using the keyboard and mouse now becomes impractical, but there are numerous practical solutions.

Compact keyboards (keyboards without the number pad) are not only conveniently portable, but their smaller width means your arms are closer to your centreline reducing the amount of stretching needed to use your mouse and therefore reducing the risk of twists and strains.

For people who still use the number pad heavily, you can buy separate number pads. Some compact keyboards have a removable number pad, and the Number Slide Compact Keyboard, as its name suggests, has a number pad that slides in and out of the compact keyboard as needed.

A Bluetooth compact keyboard with backlit keys that allow you to type in low-light conditions (though we wouldn't recommend it) costs around £15. They are rechargeable and can last for weeks between charges (if you use the lights, they won't last as long). Most can be charged via USB and will work while they are charging.

I've always wondered why there isn't a laptop that has a keyboard that can be used either clipped in as a standard laptop or popped out when the laptop is on a stand. Anyone who can create this, please feel free to use the idea, but I'd like one please!

Computer Mice

A red Capclip mouseMice are now arguably one of the biggest obstacles to portability, simply because of their size. Unfortunately, in many cases, the smaller size means ergonomics have been sacrificed.

The Elecom Capclip Pro has a protective cap that prevents buttons from being accidentally pressed when it is being transported (running down the batteries). However, the case slips off and clips to the end like a cap on a pen, doubling the size of the mouse and making it comfortable for use on the go.

Slightly more ergonomic, but with a hefty price tag, is the Microsoft Arc Mouse. It's a beautiful bit of design; the mouse can be transported flat (in which state it is "off"), and when you want to use it, you bend it into an arc, at which point it can be used as a traditional horizontal mouse.

Taking this idea further is the Air.O, an origami-inspired design that folds from flat into a mouse shape. A word of caution: this is a Kickstarter project, so you pay a "pledge" to back the project and receive the "reward" of the product for your backing, but many projects fail, and few offer refunds when they do.

Finally, we have a mouse that is both portable and ergonomic, the Contour RollerMouse Mobile. There is a bit of a learning curve in terms of rolling and sliding a bar back and forth with your thumbs to move your cursor, and it has a hefty price tag, but the roller design is arguably one of the most comfortable ergonomically.

The right type of mouse and keyboard can be game-changing in terms of working comfort. Discover the different types with the Keyboard and Mouse Alternative factsheet.

Setting your status in the office

A Luxafor busy light attached to a laptop screen, showing a red light.The return to the office has meant that some of us are missing the "set status" option that lets our co-workers know our availability. Unfortunately, in-person interactions don't make this so obvious.

The Luxafor busy light hopes to address this by providing a handy LED status flag, that you can clip to your laptop screen or monitor. It's linked to programmes such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and the flag will show your different statuses: Red indicates "do not disturb," green indicates "available," and yellow indicates "away from the desk." Oh, hang on, maybe you don't need that option? Ok, so maybe it's a bit of an over-engineered solution.

Further resources

Is your current way of working inclusive? 

Our expert workplace consultants can help you take stock of your organisation’s strengths and weaknesses, including current hybrid or remote working practices. They help you understand the impact on disabled employees, identify and prioritise improvements, and create a roadmap for your disability inclusion journey. Get started on your journey today by booking a free 15-minute consultation. 

Free Webinar: Tech Tools for Dyslexia at work, in education and at home

Two women looking at computer screen with computer code on itDyslexia is a learning difference that can affect, amongst other things, reading and writing skills, organisation skills, and the processing and remembering of information.

This Dyslexia Awareness Week (2-8 October 2023), guest speakers from the British Dyslexia Association and AbilityNet discussed how inclusive tech can bridge the gap to help dyslexic people when learning, at home, or in the workplace.

The panel of speakers, including AbilityNet experts and Catherine Parfitt of the British Dyslexia Association, discussed tried and tested tools and solutions that can benefit some people with dyslexia. We'll also shared lived experience of dyslexia and the tech that can help with everyday tasks, and evaluated a range of 'Dyslexia Simulators'.

How AbilityNet can help

Graphic of a pile of lined paper Factsheets 

AbilityNet’s Factsheets are free to download and provide advice and information about how computers and other digital technologies can help people with a range of conditions and impairments.

My Computer My Way

My Computer My Way provides step by step instructions on how to adapt your phone, computer or tablet to meet your needs. You can search for a specific need (e.g. making text larger) or filter the guides based on your symptoms (e.g. hand tremor) or condition (e.g. dyslexia). 

Find out more about My Computer My Way


Ensure your workplace is inclusive with our range of training 

In this training series, AbilityNet’s workplace inclusion experts will discuss the importance of embedding inclusivity at every stage of employee journey.

Further resources

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