User testing, also known as usability testing, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that digital products are accessible and user-friendly for a diverse audience. When usability testing uncovers problems, it's essential to delve into the specific reasons behind the shortcomings. 

AbilityNet specialises in user research involving disabled and older users, who may experience specific barriers in accessing the digital environment. Our expert accessibility consultants have encountered various challenges that shed light on potential user experience issues. 

In this blog, we delve into eight common issues identified during user testing, aiming to foster a better understanding of user needs and improve overall digital inclusivity. 

8 common issues identified in user testing 

Mismatched Journey Flows

Usability is impacted when there is a discrepancy between participants' expectations and the actual journey flows within a system.

Confusion and frustration arise when processes do not align with users' perceptions, impacting the overall user experience. Failure to understand and address these mismatches leads to interfaces that are not intuitive and user-friendly.

Assistive Technology Communication 

Despite being designed to enhance accessibility, our testing has revealed instances where assistive technologies, such as screen readers, failed to communicate information effectively. This is usually not linked to the assistive technology itself but results from code that has not been written with accessibility in mind. This highlights the importance of ensuring compatibility and seamless interaction for users relying on assistive tools.

True usability or inclusive design demands effective communication and navigation for all users. User testing with assistive technology users is a great way to achieve this.  

Challenges with Interactive Elements

Interactive elements, like forms and sliders, can pose difficulties for individuals with motor challenges.

It's vital to design these components with accessibility in mind, ensuring that all users, regardless of physical abilities, can navigate and interact with them comfortably. Without such considerations, user testing results may reflect usability issues that exclude a portion of the user base.

Colour Preferences and Vision Impairments

Participants often exhibit strong colour preferences or dislikes, particularly in cases of vision impairments where the wrong colour combination can prevent users from reading content. 

Designing interfaces that accommodate these preferences while adhering to accessibility standards for colour contrast ensures a more inclusive and personalised user experience. User testing must account for diverse visual needs to truly reflect the potential user experience.

Cognitive Accessibility Challenges 

Even when content meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) criteria, some participants faced further accessibility challenges due to cognitive differences.

Addressing cognitive aspects involves creating content that is not only technically compliant but also easily comprehensible and navigable for users with varying cognitive abilities. Successful user testing requires a holistic approach to accessibility that includes cognitive considerations.

Time Constraints and Task Completion

Participants expressing the need for more time or alternative task completion methods highlight issues with task complexity. Ask yourself, can this task be simplified? Users can often tell you what could make it more straightforward and this will help everyone.

Streamlining processes and providing flexibility in task completion can significantly enhance the usability of a system, catering to a wider range of user abilities and preferences. Time constraints should not be a barrier; rather, they should be considered in the design and testing processes.

Ambiguous Errors and Tooltips

Despite meeting WCAG criteria, errors and tooltips can prove unclear or unhelpful for some users.

Clear and concise communication in error messages and tooltips is essential to guide users effectively, preventing frustration and ensuring a smooth user experience. User testing should scrutinise these micro-interactions to guarantee a seamless journey for all users.

Physical Accessibility Concerns

Physical limitations, such as difficulty accessing machines or requiring specific dexterity and stamina, have been identified in our usability testing.

Addressing these physical barriers involves designing products that consider the diverse physical capabilities of users, promoting inclusivity and usability for all. User testing should encompass a comprehensive evaluation of physical accessibility barriers to ensure no user is left behind.

User testing serves as a valuable process to gain insights into user experiences, enabling designers and developers to enhance their products for a more diverse audience.

By addressing the challenges highlighted in this blog - ranging from mismatched journey flows to physical accessibility concerns, paves the way for more inclusive and user-friendly design.

The key to successful user testing lies in a commitment to accessibility, ensuring that every user, regardless of their abilities or preferences, can navigate and interact seamlessly with digital interfaces. This means including a diverse range of users in your testing sessions.

Ready to conduct successful inclusive user testing?

We make sure that you ask the right people the right questions at the right time and make the best use of their feedback. Find out how to get the most from your user research budget.

Enquire about our user testing service

How do I do user testing myself?  

Knowing how to conduct user testing yourself can give you the reassurance that you are making accessibility improvements and focusing your resources in the right areas. You can learn how to begin your own accessibility testing on our online training course.

AbilityNet has partnered with Broadband Genie, a consumer comparison site for broadband, to highlight the importance of connecting elderly people online to help combat loneliness. 

According to a survey conducted by Broadband Genie* in January with more than 1000 people in the UK over 65 years old, two fifths (41%) of the UK’s pensioners say they are reliant on their internet connection to stay in touch with loved ones.

A fifth (20%) admit to feeling lonelier during the winter months, and a further 39% of those surveyed say they depend on the internet for entertainment.

Loneliness at its peak in the winter

The research reveals how internet usage is increasing among older people as a means to prevent them from becoming isolated, as a third (35%) of over 65s polled say they spend more time on their own during this colder time of the year. 

And almost half (46%) of over 75s surveyed admit they spend at least five hours a day in front of their TVs for comfort.

Birmingham is the loneliest location

Results from the survey show that the loneliest location for pensioners in the UK is Birmingham, where more than a quarter of older people (26%) report feeling more isolated in the colder months, with 32% saying that they spend more time alone during this season.

Sarah Brain (pictured), Free Services Manager at AbilityNet comments:

“In today's digital era, a significant portion of life unfolds online. Research indicates that older people, compared to other age groups, are less likely to engage regularly with digital devices or the internet. 

“Elderly people in Birmingham were revealed to feel the most isolated in winter. The city is an area of focus for AbilityNet and our Senior Skills Digital Training, in collaboration with BT Group.

“As a charity we are committed to ensuring everyone can access technology. Our experience has revealed that older individuals facing digital exclusion—those who seldom or never go online—often grapple with a combination of low confidence, low skills, and a lack of motivation, and this is true for those with and without affordability issues. 

“It is crucial to provide those who wish to learn with access to reliable, trusted sources of support and information. AbilityNet's helpline and dedicated volunteers are ready to assist older individuals in enhancing their digital skills. By doing so, we aim to simplify day-to-day tasks, foster easier connectivity with friends and family, and keep them abreast of the latest news and entertainment.”

Free webinar: Digital discovery: your guide to the online world with BT Group and Amazon

Enjoy a digitally connected life in your guide to becoming tech savvy in your senior years - or at any age. Learn about how digital devices can help, not hinder, your life experiences, including using Amazon Alexa and Echo devices.

If you work for an organisation that helps older people, the resources we share in the webinar can also be used to help clients you support, so bring along a group!

Join a FREE webinar on Wednesday 28 February 2024 between 1pm - 2pm GMT.


Register for the webinar

Free digital support available

With results showing that a third of over 65s (32%) spend more than three hours on a laptop or computer every day and 69% use social media as a way to keep themselves occupied, it's not necessarily surprising that landlines are now being used less than in previous years.

Six-out-of-ten (61%) of over 65s polled report that they no longer use a landline, and 37% use it less than an hour a day.

With changes to landlines being rolled out across the country in the coming years, it will become more important for all to have a working broadband connection. A key issue to address as part of this change is to ensure that elderly people are taught digital skills to use the internet effectively to meet their needs.

While reliance on internet connectivity becomes increasingly vital for the wellbeing of older people, over three quarters (78%) of British pensioners are still unaware of social tariffs to help get them connected, despite many being eligible for the savings.

One of AbilityNet's charity activities is to provide free support to older people to boost digital skills and offer help with devices, so do get in contact to find out how our dedicated Tech Volunteers (like Jordan pictured, right) can help you or your loved ones. 

Internet is a powerful antidote to isolation

Alex Tofts, streaming expert at Broadband Genie, comments: “The need to keep older generations connected cannot be overstated as so many use the internet to keep in touch with loved ones. 

“Loneliness among seniors is a pressing concern, with profound implications for mental and emotional well-being. For many, the internet serves as a bridge to social interactions, virtual communities, and diverse forms of entertainment. 

“By promoting accessibility through broadband social tariffs, providers empower the elderly to stay engaged, connected, and remain active participants in the digital age.

“The partnership between Broadband Genie and AbilityNet recognises that the internet has the potential to be a powerful antidote to social isolation. Ensuring older consumers have the confidence and skills to go online is crucial.

“Another barrier to connectivity is the cost, which is why Broadband Genie is calling on broadband providers to actively sign up more eligible pensioners to affordable social tariffs.”

How can I get help developing digital skills?

If you're over 65 years of age and looking to build your skills, we're offering free digital skills sessions in areas in and around London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. 

Trainers can build something bespoke for your group or for an individual and run sessions including:

• Getting to know your Smartphone or Tablet
• Staying Safer 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
• How to make a video call
• How to manage your health online
• How to bank online

Attend a free session

If you live in another area in the UK, get in touch and we can link you with one of our 450+ Tech Volunteers around the country.

How AbilityNet can help

• Call AbilityNet's helpline on **0300 180 0028
• Blog: Everything you need to know about Digital Voice
• Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer
• See our database of FREE factsheets
• Access FREE webinars about technology and disability

*Broadband Genie research into streaming habits conducted by Censuswide from 10th to 15th January 2024 using a survey of 1,010 respondents aged 65+ weighted to be nationally representative.

**Please note: calls to our helpline number cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls, and AbilityNet does not receive any money from these calls.

Many employers want support disabled people in their workplace but don't know where to start. They may not know who to ask, or what to provide. And many people are scared to ask as they worry they'll say the wrong thing.

Don't Disable Me is AbilityNet's series of training courses that introduce people with a disability who explain their experience of trying to be productive in the workplace. It's a great way to hear from people with personal experience, and to ask them the questions you never knew how to ask.

Listen to the lived experience of disabled people 

"The best online training session I have attended. Thanks for such a great session - lots of tips to take away. It was great to hear Adi's perspective as an assistive technology user."

That's the feedback from an attendee of one of our training sessions designed to highlight the barriers that disabled people experience.

A focus on disability inclusion in the workplace is a strategic imperative from a moral, legal and commercial standpoint. AbilityNet's 'Don't Disable Me' series offers a deep dive into the experiences of people of living with different disabilities and impairments.

The sessions focus on visual impairment, hearing loss, physical disabilities, mental health and neurodiversity barriers. By talking to the course leaders you will learn more about their needs and start to identify the best way to build a workplace that is inclusive by design, using technology to enable all employees to perform at their best.

Speak to us about booking a group course for your team.

Book a group training course

'Don't Disable Me' courses 

• Removing hearing barriers 
• Removing visual barriers 
• Removing physical barriers 
• Removing neurodiversity barriers 
• Removing mental health barriers 

Led by individuals with lived experience of disabilities, and AbilityNet’s workplace inclusion experts, in the courses you'll learn about the common barriers that people encounter at work, in study and in day-to-day life.

You'll also find out more about the kinds of assistive technologies and tools that people use to overcome these barriers and the steps that everyone can take to avoid creating barriers in the first place. 

The courses are interactive and practical. They include real-life stories to help articulate how employing the social model of disability at your workplace or education institution can lead to a working or learning environment that embraces and welcomes everyone and is inclusive by design. 

Other HR and workplace-related courses that you might be interested in:

• How to Develop Accessible, Inclusive Recruitment and Onboarding
• How to use assistive technology at work, in education and at home
• How to run accessible, inclusive events on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and more

Find out how we can help you build a culture where everyone belongs:

Download a workplace services brochure

Further resources

• Keep up to date with accessibility issues with the AbilityNet newsletter 
• Find out more about AbilityNet's free live webinar events
• Unsure where to start with digital accessibility? Speak to our experts for help.

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

Inclusive design and accessibility have emerged as critical factors shaping user experiences.

User testing with disabled users and ensuring your products are accessible can help reach a broader audience and cater to the needs of diverse users, but what are the strategies for success and what does the step-by-step process of user testing look like?  

In this blog, AbilityNet’s expert Accessibility consultant, Lucy Woodcock, shares her experience of user testing projects, highlighting the key stages and the pivotal role accessibility experts play in creating a seamless user experience. 

AbilityNet expert’s contribution to user testing 

As an accessibility consultant at AbilityNet, I’m involved in the usability testing projects from start to finish -  the designing of the testing, running the sessions, and collecting insights and feedback.   

Preparing and planning a user testing project 

User testing begins with meticulous planning.

Setting dates, arranging calls and recruiting participants are the initial steps.

We have a diverse range of user testers who can review our client’s digital content and services on a variety of devices. A crucial call with our client helps align objectives and ensures clarity in expectations.

This groundwork sets the stage for a valuable and inclusive user testing project.  

Preparing a user research plan 

Fail to plan, plan to fail – a mantra that echoes through the halls of successful insightful usability testing.  

The preparation stage involves crafting a research plan, which includes a list of task questions. The research plan is regularly evaluated against the agreed client’s research objectives to make sure that these goals stay at the forefront of our minds.  

It is important to have access to the testing product or prototype when we’re doing this preparation so that we are confident in the journey flows that we’ll be asking our participants to follow. This also means we can liaise with our client to iron out any unexpected issues before the testing sessions. 

What AbilityNet user testing looks like

Remote usability testing works well for most of our projects. 

While AbilityNet’s London office has excellent usability testing lab facilities, the flexibility of remote participation appeals to many potential testers. Remote user testing also provides our clients with the unique opportunity to experience raw feedback from real users firsthand. We provide our clients with logins to observe the sessions, turning the testing day into a collaborative experience. 

Analysing user testing results 

Analysis of the user testing is a crucial part of the user process. Here, the findings come together - the key issues are highlighted and recommendations start to take shape. Grouping identified barriers into key themes and exploring participant suggestions for improvement is akin to producing truly accessible and inclusive websites, apps and web content. 

Exploring the tools available to optimise the efficiency of the analysis stage is an ongoing activity, and different experts and consultants have different preferences, as well as some tools being suited to types of data. From a wall of sticky notes to digital collaboration, the tools may vary, but the goal remains constant – insightful analysis.  

Writing a user testing report 

The user testing report is the end deliverable for our clients, and, as such, contains all the salient information from the project.  

A good user testing report includes insights that are evidenced and relevant recommendations, closely linked to our client objectives. It's important for the report to be clear, justified and measurable to increase implementation and improve the product’s accessibility. We also collate the report findings as a slide deck for clients so they can present information to key stakeholders who want an overview of the report. 

Improving websites and apps with user testing results and recommendations

A retrospective of a project allows the team at AbilityNet to reflect on improvements that can be made to future projects.

This final part of the process gives the individuals involved in the user testing project a space to review successes and identify areas for improvement. Our commitment to continuous improvement ensures adaptability to evolving client needs, making each project a stepping stone to future success.

Ready to conduct inclusive user testing?

We make sure that you ask the right people the right questions at the right time and make the best use of their feedback. Find out how to get the most from your user research budget.

Enquire about our user testing service

How can I run user testing myself?

Knowing how to conduct user testing yourself can give you the reassurance that you are making accessibility improvements and focusing your resources in the right areas.

You can learn how to begin your own accessibility testing on our online training course.

This blog is based on Lucy Woodcock’s gathered experience of different AbilityNet projects and does not represent any single project, client, or participant.

Would you, or someone you know like to know more about how the online world can help in your life?

With the new year providing fresh enthusiasm and many people learning new skills, now is the time to conquer your tech anxieties and embrace digital freedom and how it can improve your life!

Join our free webinar to learn the basics of the digital world: Digital discovery at any age: your guide to the online world with BT Group and Amazon on Wednesday 28 February 2024, 1pm GMT. (Note, this webinar has now passed, but you can watch the recording at the link above).

Open to all, the session will focus on some of the basics of online activities and highlight issues that older or elderly tech users may be particularly interested in. We'll be providing straighforward suggestions for useful tech adjustments for everyday digital devices.

Guest speaker James O'Brien from Amazon will share how widely used Alexa and Echo devices can be used to make many tasks quicker and easier, while AbilityNet speakers Caroline Martin and Carole Deary will outline how digital devices can help everyone stay engaged and independentc, with suggestions for how everyday tech tools can simplify your life.

Come along to our webinar

All those who register for the session will receive the recording after the session is broadcast, so do sign up to benefit from the information, even if you can't make it on the day.

Bring a friend, relative or client

Offering this free webinar is one of the ways in which we're trying to help bridge the digital divide, so to reach more people you could both sign up for yourself but also bring along a community group to learn together and share the advice:

If you work in an organisation with clients who could benefit from learning about the digital world, please do share this session and encourage them to sign up or show them how the Zoom webinar process works. It's also a great session for organisations who provide digital inclusion support to service users. 

Bring a group to the webinar

This webinar is part of AbilityNet's Digital Skills project with BT Group to support people 65+ with getting online and using technology, such as:

- learning how to use email
- make video calls
- use online banking and book medical appointments

Sign up for Free BT Digital Skills sessions for people over 65 in your area. (Available to people in and around London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff.)

Further resources

Blog: 12 scams to be aware of and how to avoid them

Free disabilities sessions: educate your group about disability and technology via our sessions which we can deliver to your organisation.

Workplace training: choose from a selection of online learning options for you and your team.

How AbilityNet can Help

• Call AbilityNet's FREE Helpline on 0800 048 7642 
• Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer
• See our database of FREE factsheets
• Access FREE webinars about technology and disability

Navigating the online world can be overwhelming, especially if you're unsure about searching for information, figuring out which websites to trust, or understanding how your digital device works.

If you're 65 years old or over, live in Glasgow, and are eager to improve your digital skills, AbilityNet can help!

Join AbilityNet in partnership with BT Group for a free session at BT Group's office in Glasgow.

Expert Digital Skills Trainer, Caroline Martin and the BT team will be your guides at these engaging sessions. 

What can I expect during the sessions?

The sessions are designed to address any tech concerns you might have, and empower you with the skills needed to navigate the digital world safely and with confidence.

The sessions will cover:

• How to stay safer online
• How to get started with being online
• Learning more about your digital device
• Plus, a tour of the state of the art facilities at BT Group's Glasgow office

Our trainer is dedicated to providing personalised assistance, answering any questions you may have, and helping you become more comfortable with your digital device and the online world. Tea and biscuits will be available during the sessions too.

Where and when are the sessions being held?

The Senior Skills Sessions are on Tuesday 27 February, during any of the following time slots:

• 10:00am - 12:00pm
• 12:30pm - 2:30pm
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to boost your digital skills!

BT Group Office Address: BT Group, Alexander Bain House,15 York Street, Glasgow, G2 8LA

Closest train station: From Glasgow Central, the BT Group office is a 5 minute walk.

Closest bus stop: From York Street Bus Stop, the BT Group office is a 2 minute walk.

Google map of BT Group's Glasgow office

How do I book my place?

Email digitalskills@abilitynet.org.uk with your name and phone number and our team will be in touch to confirm your place.

You can also call our helpline on 0300 180 0028* during UK office hours to register.

Free webinar: Digital discovery at any age: your guide to the online world with BT Group and Amazon

Caroline will also be speaking on our upcoming webinar: From buttons to bytes, learn how to enjoy a digitally connected life in your guide to becoming tech savvy in your senior years - or at any age.

Join a FREE webinar on Wednesday 28 February 2024 between 1pm - 2pm GMT.


Register for the webinar
 

I don't live in Glasgow, how can I get digital skills help?

We are running the sessions in London from 14 February, but if you're over 65 years of age and looking to build your skills, we're offering free digital skills sessions in areas in and around London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff. 

Trainers can build something bespoke for your group or for an individual and run sessions including:

• Getting to know your Smartphone or Tablet
• Staying Safer 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
• How to make a video call
• How to manage your health online
• How to bank online

Attend a free session

How AbilityNet can help

• Call AbilityNet's helpline on 0300 180 0028
• Blog: Everything you need to know about Digital Voice
• Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer
• See our database of FREE factsheets
• Access FREE webinars about technology and disability

*Please note: calls to our helpline number cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls, and AbilityNet does not receive any money from these calls

Time to Talk Day is an annual event that encourages people to come together and "talk, listen and change lives." This year it’s on February 1st 2024. 

It's an opportunity to reach out to others, to talk about what's on their mind, the positives, the negatives, the triumphs, and the worries. The point is to make the space and take the time to talk and listen and to make a single day the first step in an ongoing conversation. 

Here are ten ways AbilityNet can help promote the mental health of individuals including kick-starting a conversation about mental health. 

1. Mental health and inclusive workplaces

AbilityNet's popular "Don't Disable Me" series of training sessions include a session focussing on mental health and the barriers that we can inadvertently create in the workplace. Based on lived experience, the session covers language and busts some taboos as well as providing some tips (both tech and cultural) to ensure you're not creating barriers for others when it comes to their wellbeing and mental health.

2. Start a conversation with AbilityNet

AbilityNet supports older and disabled people with technology. While the focus is on technology what really matters is the impact that technology has, and how it can improve the lives of older and disabled people.

Refer-a-Friend to us or call our helpline on 0300 180 0028. We offer a range of support including how to use technology to chat with family and friends.

3. Volunteer

Volunteering has been demonstrated to improve our mental health; we feel good when we help others. Beyond this, volunteering is a great way to meet new people, to connect, share, pass on knowledge, and learn from others.

Are you passionate about the power of technology? Would you like to help us bridge the digital divide? Do you have a few hours available each month? Why not become an AbilityNet volunteer?

You don’t need to be a tech guru to help. 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 use

4. Get help from an AbilityNet volunteer

We have over 300 volunteers across the UK who can help you stay connected through technology. Our amazing volunteers help older people and disabled people of any age, anywhere in the UK helping people to access services, stay in touch with friends and family ... as well as work out why the printer suddenly stopped talking to the iPad!

5. AbilityNet answers your questions about mental health

AbilityNet Helpline’s Alex Barker answers some commonly asked questions about mental health, including “How can I work more effectively”, and “I need to be able to “take time out”. How can I do this?”.

For support with technology for disabled and older people, or if you have specific questions for Alex and the team call 0300 180 0028. 

6. Technology to help older people stay in touch

Older people can be prone to isolation and are potentially also less tech-savvy. AbilityNet has featured previously featured two solutions designed specifically to help older people stay in touch with family and friends: GrandPad and KOMP, but we can now add the Echo show with its numerous helpful features, including its "Hands-free video calling".

You can read specific FAQs about both solutions GrandPad and KOMP.  

GrandPad includes a built-in button to initiate a call with support 24/7. 

7. Support with mental health: partnership work

AbilityNet works in partnership with other organisations, charities, and businesses ensuring that the right resources get to the right people. AbilityNet was a partner in the Digital Lifeline project, a project led by Good Things Foundation and funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS) that supported over 5000 people with learning disabilities in staying connected during the pandemic.

8. Mental health support for students

Disabled students can get support with mental health through the Disabled Students Allowance. Plus read our list of seven apps to reduce anxiety at University. 

You can also watch a recording of our AbilityNet Live! session on mental health.

9. Apps and gadgets for mental health

There are a number of apps designed to support mental health. Read AbilityNet’s round-up of apps for wellbeing and mental health. 

You might also be interested in some of the slightly unusual gadgets for supporting mental health that may (or may not) have made your wishlist this Christmas.

10. Adapt your websites and make them accessible

Companies can help by ensuring that their websites, apps, and digital services are accessible to all that means adapting websites for older people, people with disabilities and embracing inclusive design. 

AbilityNet offers a range of services to help you design accessibly.

Help and support with mental health

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

Further resources for mental health

• Factsheet: Mental Health and Computing
• Factsheet: How computers can help manage stress
• Webinar recording: How to take care of your mental health while living, studying and working at home
• Sign up for the AbilityNet newsletter

AbilityNet Disability Consultant Alex Barker has a very rare disability called Moebius Syndrome.

In this blog, released to mark Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day 2024, he explains how technology has enabled a community of people with the same condition to come together from all corners of the world.

What is Moebius Syndrome?

I celebrated my 50th birthday last year. 

Back in 1972 when I was born the world was a very different place. I was born with an extremely rare condition (researchers estimate that the condition affects 1 in 50,000) called Moebius Syndrome. This means that I'm unable to smile or to show any facial expression. If I knew how to play poker I'd have the best "poker face" ever. I don't have all my fingers or toes either. What I do have is a loving family and they have supported me throughout my life. 

Lack of accessible information

However, one of the difficulties that my family faced back in the 1970s was that information about Moebius Syndrome was hard to come by. The Moebius Syndrome Support Group in the UK consisted of people who had children with the condition writing to each other to share information, or by having a meet-up every so often.

If you wanted to research information you had to go to a specialist library and spend hours wading through content trying to find information, and then finding a photocopier to make a copy of that info.

Online support for rare conditions

There are many stories of people who have Moebius feeling lost and alone because they couldn't find anyone to share their experiences with. When I started university in 1995 the internet was still fairly basic. I decided that I would set up a website hosted on Geocities for people living with Moebius in the UK... but this platform is sadly long gone! 

I wasn't the only one setting up an online space to discuss Moebius. Slowly but surely the community developed with lots of people all around the world starting their own websites, or "Home Pages" as they used to be called. I gradually started to reach out to people that had Moebius.

I even started to reach out to a woman in Florida with the same condition. We used to make each other "mix tapes". She used to spend her summers in California and I met up with her one year. I also met people from France, Sweden and Norway with the condition. The internet was becoming so useful for people like me to connect with other people in the same situation.

Romance within the Moebius community

Fast forward 15 years or so and I started chatting to another woman in the USA who had Moebius and what started off as friendship soon became much more. We got married in her family church in Lexington, North Carolina in November 2018. Our trans-Atlantic courtship got lots of coverage on the internet, and it culminated with the New York Times taking pictures at our wedding!

January 24th every year is Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day (MSAD) where people are encouraged to wear purple to raise awareness of the condition. Technology helps us to get our message out to all the corners of the world and to give people a better understanding of the condition.

Lived experience of disability is valuable in the workplace

What has my condition got to do with my work as a Disability Consultant at AbilityNet? Well, it means that I have lived experience of living with a disability. I've got a really good understanding of how difficult it can be sometimes to get my work done.

A good example is that my writing looks like a five-year-old's, but put me in front of a keyboard and I can really show my talents off. Another example is that I know what it is like to have Access to Work support. When I worked in an office I found public transport difficult to use, so Access to Work paid for a taxi to take me to and from work. Finally, I love giving presentations, and I love making atendees laugh. Quite ironic as I can't show facial expression!

I've also got a really good handle on how useful tech is for me to do my job well. I share this experience and provide information on how to you can help others in your workplace with physical disabilities in an AbilityNet training course: Don't Disable Me - Removing Physical barriers. I also run free disabilities sessions to educate community groups and charities about disability and technology.

Disabled people often have to remove physical barriers to enable them to live, study and work effectively. I’ve used technology to enable me to study at college and university and I love passing on my experience to other people so they can benefit from the same positive opportunities that I’ve had.

Further resources

Webinar playback: How technology can help people with Parkinson's

Ask Alex: Voice recognition technology

Factsheet: How to apply for an Access to Work grant

Navigating the digital world can be overwhelming, especially if you're unsure about searching for information online, which websites are trustworthy, or understanding your digital device.

If you're 65 years old or over, live in London, and are eager to improve your digital skills, AbilityNet can help!

Join AbilityNet in partnership with BT Group for free Senior Skills Sessions in West London and Central London.

Expert Digital Skills Trainer, Steve Mersereau, will be your guide at these engaging sessions. 

You can choose to attend sessions at either BT Group's EE Studio Store in Westfield London, or AbilityNet's central London office. Details below.

What can I expect during the sessions?

The sessions are designed to address any tech concerns you might have, and empower you with the skills needed to navigate the digital world with confidence

The sessions will cover:

• Learning more about your digital device
• How to get started with being online
• How to use a search engine
• How to stay safe online

Our trainer is dedicated to providing personalised assistance, answering any questions you may have, and helping you become more comfortable with your digital device and the online world.

Where and when are the sessions being held?

The Senior Skills Sessions are available on Wednesdays (EE Store, Westfield Shopping Centre) and Fridays (AbilityNet Central London), starting from 14 February until 8 March.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to boost your digital skills! Below are the full details:

Free digital skills sessions at Westfield London:

Join us at the EE Studio Store in Westfield London on any of the following days:

• Wednesday 14 February: From 10:30am - 12:30pm
• Wednesday 21 February: From 10:30am - 12:30pm
• Wednesday 28 February: From 10:30am - 12:30pm
• Wednesday 6 March: From 10:30am - 12:30pm

EE Store Address: U2073 Westfield London, Ariel Way, W12 7GF

Blue Badge and Disabled Parking: Over 5 percent of parking bays at Westfield London are dedicated to disabled parking, and they offer Blue Badge holders 4 hours of free parking every day of the week.

Travel information on how to get to Westfield London

Free digital skills sessions at AbilityNet London office:

Can't make those dates? Join us at AbilityNet's London office on any of the following days:

• Friday 16 February: From 1pm - 3pm
• Friday 23 February: From 1pm - 3pm
• Friday 1 March: From 1pm - 3pm
• Friday 8 March: From 1pm - 3pm

AbilityNet London office address: 5-11 Worship Street, London, EC2A 2BH

Closest train station (15 minute walk): Livepool Street Station - All Elizabeth Line stations are step-free from station to platform.

Closest underground station (7 minute walk): Moorgate

Google Map of AbilityNet's London office

How do I book my place?

Email digitalskills@abilitynet.org.uk with your name and phone number and our team will be in touch to confirm your place.

You can also call our helpline on 0300 180 0028* during UK office hours to register.

Free webinar: Digital discovery at any age: your guide to the online world

From buttons to bytes, get familiar with how to enjoy a digitally connected life in your guide to becoming tech savvy in your senior years or at any age:


Watch the webinar
 

I don't live in West London, how can I get digital skills help?

We are running the sessions in Glasgow on 27 February, but if you're over 65 years of age and looking to build your skills, we're offering free digital skills sessions in areas in and around London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff. 

Trainers can build something bespoke for your group or for an individual and run sessions including:

• Getting to know your Smartphone or Tablet
• Staying Safer 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
• How to make a video call
• How to manage your health online
• How to bank online

Attend a free session

How AbilityNet can help

• Call AbilityNet's helpline on 0300 180 0028
• Blog: Everything you need to know about Digital Voice
• Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer
• See our database of FREE factsheets
• Access FREE webinars about technology and disability

*Please note: calls to our helpline number cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls, and AbilityNet does not receive any money from these calls