Tech help for people experiencing traumatic stress
Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Wed, 28/07/2021 - 16:49
Following a successful pilot project, AbilityNet will provide ongoing support to people with PTSD through a partnership with the NHS, Jangala, Lenovo and ASDA.
"Isolation can make PTSD symptoms worse," said Dr Julia Gillard, a clinical psychologist at Camden and Islington NHS FT. "With face-to-face appointments cancelled, we urgently needed to find a solution to ensure we could reach all of our patients."
Dr Gillard and fellow clinical psychologist Jocelyn Blumberg began approaching organisations that could help.
The result was a coming together of healthcare, charity and business to provide connectivity, technology, and community-based support.
Former Tech4Good Award winner Jangala provided the clinic with Get Boxes so that those without an internet connection could keep in touch with therapists.
Lenovo supports Jangala in a technical, financial and advisory manner, providing equipment and expertise to help with the development and rollout of its products.
The clinic also secured several tablets received as a donation from Asda, secured by healthcare charity Helpforce as part of its #TabletsWithLove campaign.
"The clients who received the tablets and Get Boxes were so grateful that they were so easy to use," says Abbie Maulkerson, an assistant psychologist at Camden and Islington NHS FT. "Setting up Wi-Fi can be complicated. With Get Box, they were immediately up and running, able to join online therapy sessions in next to no time."
AbilityNet stepped up to provide FREE support to recipients of the Get Boxes and tablets. In addition, our volunteers offered support as part of the initial pilot.
"Access to digital has enabled people to continue accessing essential services during lockdowns," says Sarah Brain, free services manager at AbilityNet. "Our volunteer network understands how making simple adjustments can help people to do key tasks. Volunteers work alongside clients, at their pace, so that they learn and grow in confidence."
For FREE support call our helpline 0800 048 7642
"Even before the virus outbreak, people would say they'd email me, and I had to explain that I didn't have the means for this," explains Jason, a client at the clinic.
Jason continued: "I already felt outside of the bubble by not being connected. Then last year, it became even worse. The world went online, and I continually had to explain that I couldn’t use Zoom or Teams.”
Support from AbilityNet volunteers
AbilityNet ran a pilot programme to support ten clients, including Jason.
Volunteers took part in a training session for volunteers working with clients with mental health difficulties, run by Dr Gillard and Blumberg. Following this, AbilityNet volunteers and Jangala team members were on hand to provide personalised support.
“You can’t just hand someone a tablet and hope they’ll be able to figure it out,” adds Sarah Brain. “One aspect is setting up the tech so users can get started. But it’s just as important to empower users to apply what they’re being taught and maintain the knowledge.”
For clients at the clinic, a digital connection transformed their lockdown experience.
“It’s been absolutely everything, and I don’t know what I would have done without it,” says Jason. “I dropped into remote sessions and attended video appointments. I could order food deliveries online, so I didn’t need to keep going to the supermarket. And I could speak to my son over Zoom, seeing him on-screen when I couldn’t see him in person. It really has made such a difference.”
Dr Gillard feels digital support should become a fundamental element of healthcare with the world permanently changed post-pandemic.
“Access to healthcare is a basic human right, and if everything including healthcare is going remote, access to the internet should be ensured,” she explains. “Not only that, but bringing therapy into the home can be a huge advantage for those suffering from mental health disorders. They are no longer required to leave their comfort space; support can come to them.
Continuing support for the future
Following the pilot's success, the scheme will now roll out across the trust, with tablets being given to people with a diverse range of needs.
The Trust has hired a Digital Inclusion Officer who will help with the distribution of 180+ tablets. In addition, AbilityNet will continue to offer specialised support to recipients.
Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Wed, 28/07/2021 - 12:55
A deaf woman has won a high court ruling against the UK government over the lack of British Sign Language interpreting at official Coronavirus briefings in England.
Self-employed actor and writer, Katie Rowley, brought the action against Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove. She claimed that the government had breached its obligations to make broadcasts accessible to deaf people under equality legislation.
Originally, the government refuted the claims saying BSL interpreters were offered by the news channels carrying to Covid broadcasts. However, Rowley focussed on briefings in September and December 2020 where BSL wasn’t available as part of the broadcast.
The judge ruled in her favour and will award compensation.
Similar briefings by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford included interpreters in the room.
A report by Disability Rights UK (DRUK) in December 2020 found that through the pandemic the majority of health information provided by the government has not been in BSL.
A survey by DRUK of BSL users in England and Wales found that 64% feared for their health because the information is inaccessible, 58% said that they look outside of the government for information, and 77% of individuals said that they had found it challenging to find government-sponsored information on rules during the pandemic.
There are around 151,000 BSL users across the UK, of which 87,000 are Deaf, according to the British Deaf Association.
The webinar will feature Lloyds Bank and Microsoft talking about how they’re making services available to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. We’ll also hear from Signly, which helps Deaf customers self-serve on the web using BSL.
In addition, RNID will share tips on assistive technology and devices.
Pat is County Coordinator covering Cumbria. She has been in the role for 7 years, giving up her time to support older and disabled people by providing support, advice and training, and coordinating a small local team of volunteers to do the same.
Pat has been involved in computers for over 25 years and is passionate about the power of tech to transform lives.
“I was absolutely delighted to receive the award not just for me but for all our other volunteers and the support of the Free Services Team,” said Pat.
She added: “I love what I do and will continue as long as I can to assist our clients.”
Managers and clients praise Pat
Sarah Brain, Free Services Manager, AbilityNet, said: “I am so thrilled that Pat has been recognised with this award. She has been the most amazing support before, particularly during the pandemic, to both the central team and her clients.
She has the unique ability to connect with anyone and find an individual way to support them on their digital journey. Well done, Pat!”
Pat is part of our network of 300+ volunteers supporting people across the UK. She has been running a Crowdfunder to enable us to help others.
If you or someone you know needs tech help, call our helpline on 0300 180 0028
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
The impact of digital volunteers
The Digital Volunteer Award was hotly contested like all categories. Pat’s fellow finalists included Bernadette Bourgoin and David Mallory, both Digital Champions with Clarion Futures; Jordan Pearson who works at NatWest where she designs and develops Cora, the bank's customer-facing chatbot and Libby Swan, a Graduate Analyst at Barclays who is a digital volunteer for the platform Ethical Angel.
Digital champions have played a significant role during the pandemic, with a recent report by Citizens Online highlighting the difference they have made specifically to older people.
How AbilityNet can help
Call our helpline. We’re open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm on 0300 180 0028.
Remote support We have a network of AbilityNet ITCanHelp volunteers who can help if you have technical issues with your computer systems.
Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Wed, 14/07/2021 - 14:25
One of the legacies of Covid-19 will be that it shone the spotlight on the digital divide, which disproportionately impacts older and disabled people.
Pre-pandemic, the number of people who had never or not recently used the internet were more likely to be in mid to later life, according to the ONS. Of those who had never or not recently used the internet, 32% were aged between 50 and 69.
For FREE help and support, Call the AbilityNet Helpline on 0800 048 7642
Lack of motivation is a common barrier to doing more, says the Centre for Ageing Better report. But, with support, people can achieve more, as our own research shows. Of those who receive support from AbilityNet:
What next? Recommendations to close the digital divide
The report makes recommendations to continue to close the digital divide. Recommendations include greater recognition of the role of national and local organisations supporting people with technology and more devices being delivered into community settings.
10 ways to build a business case for digital accessibility
Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Wed, 14/07/2021 - 08:48
How do you secure the budget you need for digital accessibility?
We asked industry experts and renowned TechShare Pro speakers for their top tips on building a business case for digital accessibility. Based on those interviews, here are ten tips on how to build a business case for accessibility.
We are running a FREE webinar on the Business Case for Accessibility
There's no doubt that Covid-19 accelerates the business case for accessibility.
Having almost everyone work from home during the pandemic highlighted the demand for accessible digital platforms. If nothing else, it showed up the accessibility issues that may not have been seen before.
For example, Caroline Casey, the founder of The Valuable 500, recalls having to ask colleagues in virtual meetings to stop using text chat because, as a blind woman, she can't read it.
Using online platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom provides an opportunity to include all your employees, whether it’s online captions for people with hearing impairments or by including audio descriptions for visually impaired people.
The pandemic prompted a seismic shift in shopping habits.
In March 2020, 40% of UK shoppers said they'd been shopping more online than pre-pandemic. By February 2021, 75 per cent of UK shoppers said they were shopping online more.
However, if your website isn’t accessible, you’ll lose customers.
In 2016, the Click-Away Pound Survey found that 4 million people abandoned a retail website because of the barriers they encountered, taking with them an estimated spend of £11.75 billion. In 2019, it grew to £17.1 billion.
Big numbers make an impact, but there’s no substitute for customer feedback, says The Business Disability Forum’s Lucy Ruck. “Personal storytelling of someone you know, or someone you have a connection with, means so much more than a big figure,” she says.
Call us to find out more about our Diverse Accessibility User Testing: +44 (0)1926 465 247
4. Boost profits by driving inclusive policies
The literal bottom line is that money talks, and a diverse workforce is proven to boost profits. Accenture's 2018 report "Getting to Equal; the Disability Inclusion Advantage" identified a range of “champions”, best-in-class companies that excel in disability inclusion and equality – and are twice as likely to outperform competitors.
The report also found that champions achieved 28% higher revenue and a 30% better performance on economic profit margin.
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) reflects the growing focus on ESG (Economic, Social and Governance) among businesses, markets, and consumers.
Buy-in from your senior team is essential in building a business case for accessibility, and multinationals are leading the way. For example, the Valuable 500 brings together the "world's biggest CEO collective for disability inclusion".
Members include Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Nestle, Unilever, Shell, the BBC, and Vodafone. The list also includes 36 FTSE 100 companies, 46 of the Fortune 500 and 28 of the Nikkei. The organisations have a combined revenue of $8 trillion.
“If we do not have leaders at the top of their businesses, advocating and speaking to this as a strategic business imperative, it's not going to get done,” says Caroline Casey, founder of The Valuable 500.
Companies riding the crest of the wave towards Economic, Social, Governance – or ESG – are likely to win customers and customer loyalty.
For example, 87% of millennials indicated the importance of ESG in investment decisions. In 20 years, ethical consumerism has grown three-fold from £11.2bn to £41.1bn in the UK.
A 2005 study examining consumer attitudes towards companies that hire people with disabilities found that 92% of consumers felt more favourable toward companies that hire individuals with disabilities.
A hot topic in the business community is ESG, and you don’t want to get left behind.
ESG stands for Economic, Social and Governance. Seen by some as a successor to corporate and social responsibility, ESG demands that a business has measurable objectives against each area.
This performance benchmarking is important to shareholders and customers. Factors companies can measure performance against include:
Environmental: How a company addresses climate change such as energy consumption, recycling rates and greenhouse emissions.
Social: A company’s record on diversity and inclusion, pay, equality, social justice, and data privacy.
Governance: How the company manages executive pay, the diversity of board directors and shareholder transparency.
The Disability Equality Index helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality.
8. Use digital accessibility to close the disability gap
A diverse workforce benefits everyone within an organisation.
“Having someone with impairment [within your organisation], it is an additional reminder that this is a community that we're building for,” said Christopher Patnoe, Google's head of accessibility programs and disability inclusion.
However, The Valuable 500’s Caroline Casey says there’s a lack of senior management openly identifying as having a disability:
15-20% of the global population has some experience of disability
80% of disabled people have invisible disabilities
7% of C-Suite executives have a lived experience of disability
“If we do not have leaders at the top of their businesses, advocating and speaking to this as a strategic business imperative, it's not going to get done,” says Casey.
According to a report from the International Labour Organization, digital investment can help close the gap. “Digital accessibility investment has a universally positive impact on all users, internal and external, and is a pre-requisite for sustainable and scalable hiring in serving people with all different abilities,” it says.
Increasingly, there’s recognition that investing in digital accessibility benefits your brand, particularly within the technology sector.
"Now we're in this really interesting place where the Googles, the Apples and the Microsofts are competing on accessibility," said Google's Patnoe. "It is a business advantage to have a good story. It has a halo effect in terms of your brand," says Google’s Christopher Patnoe.
He cites Microsoft, who put an ad for its Xbox adaptive controller in the middle of the Super Bowl, the most-watched sports event in the US.
That says Patnoe, "raised the visibility of accessibility from a major corporation, from being something you do to feel good, to something that you can compete on.”
It’s easier than ever to make information accessible to all using assistive technology. Microsoft, for example, has turned on its accessibility checker in Microsoft Word by default. The checker sits beside the spell-checker within the Word Ribbon. The software giant hopes the accessibility checker will become as ubiquitous as its neighbour. Microsoft is also bringing Immersive Reader to PowerPoint. Both are a step forward for making documents more accessible in the workplace.
VoiceOver in iOS15 will read out audio descriptions of images, but only if the people building those web pages and apps add the alternative text descriptions that enable this. If you don’t, you’re increasingly likely to be caught out, risking customers clicking away from your website and services and turning to providers who do.
The Click-Away Pound found that 63% of people use Assistive Technology – up from 53% in 2016. The survey also saw an increase in those using screen readers (58%), magnification (27%) and speech recognition (23%).
Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Thu, 08/07/2021 - 10:53
Why should you invest in digital accessibility? What is the return on investment, and how do you measure success? Our infographic below includes a range of related statistics.
We'll share these numbers and more on our upcoming webinar on The Business Case for Digital Accessibility. Hear from global accessibility leaders as to why your company should meet the digital needs of disabled and older people - it's the right thing to do and good for your bottom line.
How UK government enforces digital accessibility compliance
Submitted by Annie Mannion on Thu, 08/07/2021 - 09:40
"We have assessed over 360 websites to date. Sampling is done at random across a range of domain names on Public Sector top level names," said Richard Morton, Head of Accessibility at the UK government's Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) in our webinar earlier this week, Accessibility Insights with the UK Government.
CDDO (formerly the Government Digital Service) is responsible for reviewing, monitoring and potentially reporting and enforcing the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations across Public Sector organisations.
Richard was asked on the webinar by Robin Christopherson MBE, AbilityNet's Head of Digital Inclusion, to provide any insights about CDDO's monitoring process and how many websites and mobile apps the department is reviewing a month.
"It includes things like academia, and the NHS and transport, public transport services. But we are prioritising larger public websites, Public Sector websites... councils, local authorities, central NHS websites, higher education and further education," Richard continued. "It's a mix of simplified tests and detailed tests."
Watch the webinar playback
You can watch a captioned recording of the session below, and download the transcript. You can also access our year's worth of interviews with individuals who are working to improve digital accessibility in our free Accessibility Insights webinar series.
Sharing non-compliance
In the webinar Robin asked Richard if it would be possible to find out which organisations have been audited as part of the CDDO's compliance monitoring efforts.
"We plan to report publicly on these by the end of this year. So sites that have received a report but haven't responded or haven't fixed things properly, that will get publicised. And it's going well. You know, it's certainly raising awareness of the need to do this stuff," Richard explained.
"One of the slight frustrations we get, is we get asked 'What do we need to do? What's the minimum we need to do? What's compliance?'. I'm always trying to encourage people to go beyond compliance, but it can be quite difficult. People have budgets, people have tight timescales - particularly when it came to the major deadlines of 2019 in September and 2020 September for new and existing websites," said Richard.
"Now I'm trying to get people to understand this is not a requirement, it is something we do," Richard continued.
"It is a requirement under the Equality Act to not discriminate. Also a requirement under the Public Sector equality duty for Public Sector Bodies to make sure they are not just doing this stuff, but doing it proactively in a sense that they can't just rely on someone complaining saying 'I can't access your information'. They do have to supply that facility, but can't work on that basis. They have to provide reasonable adjustments and alternative formats and all those sorts of things. The work continues," Richard explained.
Mobile-first approach
The latest deadline associated with the Public Sector regulations has just passed (23 June 2021). Public Sector regulations have really focused minds, so what, asked Robin, is the Government strategy towards digital going forward?
"The majority of digital interactions with the Public Sector are now through mobile devices. I know I had quotes that it was 60% plus in local authorities. I imagine that figure has gone up in the last year or so as well. It just continues to rise, as more and more people have predominantly mobile devices," said Richard.
"I think the mobile-first approach... is starting to be really important. If you design services in a responsive way that work well on both mobile and devices that really works well there is a blurred distinction between things like tablets and laptops, even though they work in different ways. A laptop is a mobile device but not treated as a mobile device."
"There will be other challenges around other platforms. Obviously people are looking at things like artificial intelligence, and virtual reality situations and things like that... I think there is still a lot of work to be done to deal with the current platforms. Mobile being the biggest one in terms of not just native apps, but responsive apps. There is a lot of work to be done in that area," Richard continued.
Submitted by Annie Mannion on Thu, 01/07/2021 - 12:13
In our latest workplace focused webinar 'How to excel at inclusive onboarding and induction' we shared top tips from Trevor Jennings, Risk Manager at Lloyd’s, a specialist insurance and reinsurance market, about how it approaches inclusive and accessible onboarding/induction.
AbilityNet's accessibility and usability consultants Rina Wharton and Daniel McLaughlan also shared best practices for onboarding staff with different disabilities including autism.
Below, we've picked out five of the key points made by the experts on the webinar that you can put into action to ensure an inclusive onboarding experience for new staff at your workplace.
1. Follow through on the promises you made in the recruitment phase
"Take into account all the things that you said you would do during the recruitment process. This is a good opportunity to do that during the onboarding process," said Daniel McLaughlan.
As onboarding only happens once, here are five points to remember:
Focus on the experience and the process
Demonstrate your commitment to inclusion through words and actions
Prepare and include the team
Take time to get it right
Invite regular feedback
2. Remember that good onboarding boosts loyalty
A survey by Bamboo HR of 1,000 employees found that they were 18 times more likely to feel highly committed to their organisation if they felt they had an effective onboarding experience. And if they were satisfied with their onboarding experience overall they were 38% more confident in their ability to do their job.
"So the key takeaway here," Daniel said, "is that by providing that inclusive onboarding experience, colleagues will feel supported, they will feel that loyalty to the organisation."
When discussing technology processes in the workplace, Rina and Daniel pointed out that some planning tools are useful for enabling visibility of a team's work and schedules.
But they also noted that it's important to build in time for conversations and face-to-face induction, and not rely solely on technical solutions, video guides or making guidance documents available online, particularly during the crucial onboarding period.
"Having great documentation is really useful, but it's also no substitute for having conversations. I think too often we can write something and assume that everyone will read it and understand it," said Daniel.
4. Make your organisation inclusive by design
When asked 'What aspects of the working environment at AbilityNet do you think are particularly inclusive by design?, Rina responded:
"We get the opportunity to feedback, not just around working from home, but we also get the opportunity to feed back about the workload and the culture of the organisation. I feel that is putting the employees first and asking them their opinion rather than assuming that everyone is happy with the way things are and nothing needs to change."
So, invite feedback and be transparent about how you are responding to suggestions.
5. Ensure there are formal and informal processes set up
Particularly during the pandemic, many new starters have been onboarded remotely, so it has been tricky to have informal discussions with new employees. Try to build in social opportunities as well as the formal onboarding processes.
Trevor Jennings, Risk Manager at Lloyd’s: "One of the things we have lacked in having to work from home is that discussion in the workplace."
"We have the formal process... through ClearTalents," he said, but "the one thing I do say to everybody is if you have an issue drop me an email, let us have a discussion."
His team is also developing a remote working package. "Now we have had to make it more formalised as suddenly everybody is working from home. I think we got through it [the lockdown periods] really well. We provided a lot of support, but that support now has become more formalised as well."
Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Wed, 30/06/2021 - 09:15
Spurred by the impact of Covid-19, telecom companies are offering services designed to close the digital divide and create equal access to technology.
BT has launched its low-cost fibre package, Home Essentials, as research reveals that access to technology is essential for those on low incomes.
Over half of people from lower-income homes say that connectivity is more important than ever to manage finances, learn new skills and help improve job prospects, according to research released by BT.
The need for online access to services is particularly high among disabled people. Yet 31% of disabled people reported difficulties accessing groceries, medications, and essentials because of the pandemic compared to 12% of non-disabled people, according to a briefing by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The impact of Covid-19 has also increased financial pressures. Nearly one in three (30%) need additional financial support, claims BT.
Financial pressures are likely to be higher among disabled people. People with a disability are more likely to report household outgoings have increased as a result of the pandemic as of September 2020, according to Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
They are also more likely to be facing redundancy and have had work adversely affected, the foundation says.
Supporting access to technology for lower-income households
A raft of government and company initiatives are stepping up in a bid to close the digital divide. AbilityNet is proud to be part of the Digital Lifeline Fund, which has helped people with Learning Disabilities on low-incomes access technology.
Vodafone has also made a raft of announcements designed to bridge the digital divide. Under Buy One Give One, Vodafone has pledged that for every new and existing Vodafone Together customer, it will donate a SIM card to someone in need of connectivity in partnership with the Trussell Trust foodbank charity.
Recipients will receive free connectivity for up to a year.
“Digital poverty will not go away when COVID finally ends. This is a problem with deep roots, and there is no vaccine to fix it. So, we need to stay engaged and make big and lasting changes,” said Helen Lamprell, General Counsel and External Affairs Director for Vodafone.
Many will need help using technology once they can access it. As part of BT’s announcement, BT will provide its 12,000 service colleagues with extra training to better identify those who need assistance and help keep them connected.
AbilityNet partners with Be My Eyes to support blind and visually impaired clients
Submitted by Sarah Botterill on Mon, 28/06/2021 - 09:56
AbilityNet is proud to announce our partnership with Be My Eyes, an innovative app that provides real-time video assistance for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
From June 28, AbilityNet support staff will be able to field calls from the specialised help section of the App.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Be My Eyes to enable us to support more disabled and older users with their digital tech with one easy click,” said Sarah Brain, Free Services Team Manager for AbilityNet.
What is Be My Eyes
Now with more than 5 million users and a growing family of company partners, Be My Eyes is one of the largest “micro-volunteering” platforms in the world. The innovative app is a former AbilityNet Tech4Good winner.
It has more than 4.5 million volunteers on call at all times to assist those who need an extra pair of eyes at short notice. Volunteers can, for example, tell someone the number of a house they’re standing outside or let them know what’s on their computer screen.
How AbilityNet will support people using Be My Eyes
At a time when technology is making it possible for anyone in the world to connect, we’ll be able to provide remote guidance and consultation about accessing the digital world and support people who need visual assistance.
Our 300+ volunteers span the UK offering support to disabled and older people by helping them to adapt their technology.
Our volunteers offer free computer and technology support to older people and people with disabilities of any age. You may have a problem with a computer virus, need some help installing broadband or be confused about updates or error messages. They have been working hard to support people during Covid-19.
Our friendly volunteers are disclosure checked and can assist you by phone or over the internet.
For support from an AbilityNet volunteer call 0800 048 7642
"AbilityNet provides an incredibly important service to people all over the UK,” says Alexander Hauerslev, Chief Commercial Officer at Be My Eyes.
“We are thrilled to have them in the Be My Eyes family."
We’re proud to join companies such as Google, Microsoft and P&G as organisational supporters of the blindness community and to lead the way for charities leveraging technology to connect with their users and deliver services in a whole new way.
Following a successful pilot project, AbilityNet will provide ongoing support to people with PTSD through a partnership with the NHS, Jangala, Lenovo and ASDA.
The result was a coming together of healthcare, charity and business to provide connectivity, technology, and community-based support.
A deaf woman has won a high court ruling against the UK government over the lack of British Sign Language interpreting at official Coronavirus briefings in England.
Pat has been involved in computers for over 25 years and is passionate about the power of tech to transform lives.
Pre-pandemic, the number of people who had never or not recently used the internet were more likely to be in mid to later life, according to the ONS. Of those who had never or not recently used the internet, 32% were aged between 50 and 69.
There's no doubt that Covid-19 accelerates the business case for accessibility. 
Over half of people from lower-income homes say that connectivity is more important than ever to manage finances, learn new skills and help improve job prospects, according to research released by BT.
The impact of Covid-19 has also increased financial pressures. Nearly one in three (30%) need additional financial support, claims BT. 
AbilityNet is proud to announce our partnership with Be My Eyes, an innovative app that provides real-time video assistance for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. 
Our 300+ volunteers span the UK offering support to disabled and older people by helping them to adapt their technology.