How Alexa – and AbilityNet – are helping older users feel more connected
Submitted by Robin Christopherson on Wed, 20/12/2023 - 14:36
Loneliness and isolation among older adults are pressing issues.
According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, half a million older people in the UK go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone. For those aged 85 and over (and 38% of those aged 75 to 84) living alone is a stark reality. In England alone, an estimated 1.4 million chronically lonely older people seek connection and companionship.
Technology can be a lifeline, bridging the gap and connecting seniors to essential services. During the pandemic, organisations distributed tablets and devices to older populations, helping them stay in touch with loved ones. But what about voice assistants? How can they play a role in combating loneliness?
“We’re heartened to see that Alexa can be truly helpful for the older population, reducing their sense of loneliness, increasing human interactions and making aspects of daily life easier," says Eric King Director of Alexa Europe in the Amazon article.
Angela Rippon lends her voice
Well known (and well loved) public figure, Angela Rippon, has joined with Amazon to help raise awareness of the power of voice assistants to help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
“People often talk about how technology can confuse and cut off older people, but it can also offer solutions,” says Angela Rippon.
“AI voice services like Alexa can bring family and friends into your home and because it’s voice activated, there is no complicated technology involved. I often use Alexa for relatively simple tasks like making my shopping list, but it’s amazing how much it helps,” Rippon continues.
She also echoes a key aspect of AbilityNet’s mission; “We need to continue to make technology more accessible for elderly people and to encourage friends, families, charities and volunteers to help us along the way."
AbilityNet’s Role in the Alexa Study
Amazon approached AbilityNet to help undertake the study. We recruited a wide range of participants, ensuring representation across various age groups and disabilities. Our mission: to explore how Alexa could enhance the lives of older adults.
Our approach:
Tailoring Solutions: We understand that one size doesn’t fit all. We worked closely with older participants to understand their unique needs. The result? A customised approach that maximised the potential benefits of Alexa.
Empowering Seniors: We provided support to set up and use Alexa devices. Our volunteers guided them through the process, making sure they felt comfortable and as confident as possible when interacting with the technology.
Interviews and Insights: Participants were interviewed three times during the study: before starting, after two weeks, and after four weeks. We gathered valuable insights into how Alexa impacted their daily lives, combatting loneliness, and fostering connections.
Alexa: A Companion for Seniors
Alexa isn’t just a voice in the room; it’s a companion. You can ask Alexa to play music, read audiobooks, provide news updates, and even make video calls. The simplicity of voice commands makes it accessible to all, regardless of tech expertise.
With the help of AbilityNet's 450+ network of volunteers, we are able to take it a step further. AbilityNet’s Tech Volunteers offer free support to seniors, helping them set up not only Alexa but also other smart devices from tablets to Smart TVs, from laptops to laser printers.
You might also be interested in learning about how technology can help older and elderly people, via our online factsheets, including:
Podcasts: Also check out the Dot to Dot podcast for brief daily tips about how to use Alexa well, or The Echo Show, a weekly look at all things Alexa with myself and co-host Shaun Preece.
Everything you need to know about BT's Digital Voice
Submitted by Annie Mannion on Mon, 18/12/2023 - 08:51
* Originally published May 2023. Last updated March 2024. *
In 2023, BT announced the switch to its new digital home phone service, Digital Voice.
The upgrade to Digital Voice means calls will be made over the broadband network rather than the 40-year-old analogue network.
AbilityNet, as a charity that supports older and disabled people, will be helping with the region-by-region Digital Voice rollout.
The rollout of Digital Voice
Between now and 2025 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from older analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology - this is collectively known as 'the digital switchover'.
Lucy Baker, All-IP Director at BT Consumer explained more about BT's digital switchover to Digital Voice on a blog on the BT website.
You can also learn about the changes on this captioned video from BT Group:
Following successful pilot trials in areas of Wiltshire, Suffolk, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Northern Ireland, and now having around two million customers across the country using Digital Voice, BT announced the next phase in the rollout of its new home phone service.
The remaining regions and nations set to make the switch are:
Spring 2024
West Midlands
South East
Wales
East Anglia
Summer 2024
North East
Scotland
South West
On 18 December 2023, BT Group, along with the wider telecoms industry, announced it will pause migration for customers who are unsure or who have informed the Group that they have a telecare device which isn’t compatible with a digital landline - their systems will not be switched until those customers are ready.
Free webinar: Digital discovery at any age: your guide to the online world with BT Group and Amazon
From buttons to bytes, learn how to enjoy a digitally connected life with your guide to becoming tech savvy at any age: watch our free webinar recording. In the webinar, expert speakers from AbilityNet, plus a special guest from Amazon, will share helpful tips on understanding and getting the most out of the online world.
"Over the past week, we've been informed about incidents involving telecare users from another communications provider who had been switched to a digital landline. In light of this news, the telecoms industry, including BT, has agreed that the right thing to do is to temporarily pause all non-voluntary, managed migrations to a digital landline where there is any risk that a customer's telecare service will not continue to work."
Voluntary migration
Throughout the programme, BT will also be contacting some broadband customers in England, inviting them to switch their landline to Digital Voice in advance of local and regional campaigning in their area.
In addition, any BT customers who want to make the switch to Digital Voice can also contact BT at any time.
BT will not be proactively switching customers who fall under any of the below criteria:
Customers with a healthcare pendant
Customers who are over 70
Customers who only use landlines
Customers with no mobile signal
Customers who have disclosed any additional needs
BT will delay switching these customers while it engages with stakeholder groups to share more about its new solutions, shape the ones it's building, and better understand the support available to help customers.
What to expect when upgrading to Digital Voice
For most BT customers, the upgrade to Digital Voice is simply having a landline phone connected to a BT broadband router. More than 99% of phone handsets are compatible with BT’s Digital Home Phone service.
BT customers will also be supported by awareness campaigns delivered across local and regional media that will explain the simple steps required to make the move to Digital Voice. Plus, BT will also be present in local high streets or town halls to answer customer queries directly.
Frequently asked question: What if there’s a power cut?
BT highlights in its Digital Voice information:
"We understand that for many, particularly those with additional needs, the landline is a lifeline. We want to be sure everyone remains connected. We've been working to make battery back-up units available to those that need them. Customers with additional needs such as health pendants or without mobile signal, can take advantage of free additional support, on request. We’re also working closely with the power companies to establish processes which help them to restore power as quickly as possible."
Supporting older people with their digital skills
In April 2023, AbilityNet announced its partnership with BT Group to help improve digital skills among older people, as research by BT Group and OnePoll has shown a need for boosting digital skills in the older age group.
As part of the Digital Voice region-by-region rollout, our team will also be ensuring customers understand the changes and how they can make the most of Digital Voice.
Sarah Brain, Free Services Manager at AbilityNet, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with BT to support older people with their digital skills. In a world where digital is so essential to daily life it’s crucial no one is left behind, and with this partnership we can help bridge the digital skills gap."
"Plus, as the digital switchover rolls out throughout the UK our team can use their knowledge and networks with older and disabled people and organisations to support people make this change as smoothly as possible.”
Submitted by Robin Christopherson on Fri, 15/12/2023 - 13:59
Leading game developer, Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that it will make five of its proprietary accessibility tools free to use by other game developers. Four of these tools are part of EA’s Positive Play Patent Pledge that launched in August 2021. With these new additions, EA has open-sourced a total of 15 patented accessibility tools through this initiative.
“Our patent pledge was created on the principle that everyone, no matter their background, should be able to enjoy video games,” says Kerry Hopkins, SVP of global affairs at EA. “We want to enable developers across the community to break down barriers to participation, create safer, more inclusive, more accessible, and ultimately more fun experiences for players worldwide.”
The pledge covers five patents around accessibility at present, but EA will be adding more to the pledge as it continues to innovate in this space.
Web developer accessibility training
AbilityNet's expert-led course, Accessibility for developers - JavaScript and SPA Considerations, offers you an introduction to the key aspects of web accessibility and inclusive design, relevant to web developers using modern JavaScript frameworks.
The five new open-source accessibility tools are designed to support disabled players.
The Automated Player Control Takeover detects when a player disengages from a game and converts their character into a bot. Using data it already knows about the player makes the system-controlled character resemble the player’s gameplay style. This feature makes games more accessible for disabled players who not be able to interact with the game temporarily.
The Adaptive Gaming Tutorial System lets games give players personalised in-game guidance based on their skill or play style. This technology uses data from both the user and other players to determine what commands it recommends to players. This lets developers reduce specific in-game barriers for disabled players.
Similarly, EA’s Animated and Personalised Coach for Video Games allows developers to give players a personalised in-game coach. These coaches give players tailored insights to improve their skills, which enhances their gaming experience.
Another patent is for EA’s Route Navigation System was initially implemented in ‘Mirror’s Edge Catalyst’. The tool makes it easier for players with sight loss or neurodiverse conditions to navigate complex game environments. The system generates several route options based on aggregated player data and displays guiding lines to direct players through the levels.
Finally, EA has also made its IRIS photosensitivity test available to all developers. IRIS simplifies the process of detecting flashing lights or rapidly changing spatial patterns that could trigger photosensitivity issues during game development.
Electronic Arts Accessibility Portal
Alongside its Patent Pledge, the company also launched the Electronic Arts Accessibility Portal in which players can find game-specific information on accessibility features, voice concerns and suggest improvements.
The opening statement on the portal sets out their mission for a more inclusive gaming future; “At EA, our mission is to inspire the world to play. As part of our commitment to this, we want to make sure that gaming is inclusive for everyone and that nothing comes between our players and our shared love for video games.”
EA’s commitment to making video games more accessible to disabled players is commendable. The company’s patent pledge and open-sourcing of accessibility tools will help developers create safer, more inclusive, more accessible, and ultimately more fun experiences for players worldwide.
Submitted by AbilityNet on Thu, 14/12/2023 - 10:34
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 has been a long time coming, and as Accessibility experts at AbilityNet, it’s exciting to see it go live!
WCAG 2.2 became a W3C recommendation on 5th October 2023. This is the latest version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, a set of internationally recognised standards for making web content more accessible to disabled people.
This blog covers key changes in 2.2, considerations moving forward and how to comply with WCAG 2.2 guidelines.
Key changes in WCAG 2.2
The new updates in WCAG 2.2 focus on improving accessibility for users with cognitive, learning or mobility disabilities and low vision users. This is a beneficial update, showing a positive step forward for the web accessibility standards.
Within the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, there are three conformance levels: A (lowest), AA (mid-range), and AAA (highest). The WCAG 2.2 update has the following key changes:
Six new Level A and AA success criteria were introduced (plus three success criteria for Level AAA);
Summary: When an individual uses a keyboard to navigate to an interactive element, such as a button or a link, the interactive element and respective focus indication remain visible.
This success criterion aims to enhance web accessibility for sighted users who rely on keyboard navigation by ensuring that no interactive component or its focus indicator is obscured by other content on the page.
While 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) (Level AA) requires that at least a portion of the focused element is visible, having the entire element and its focus indicator visible is required to meet 2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced) (Level AAA).
2.5.7 Dragging Movements (Level AA)
Summary: Individuals are not required to use dragging gestures, either with a mouse or on a touch screen.
The aim of this success criterion is to support individuals with motor disabilities who may struggle with precise movements and sustained pressure. Dragging movements that require the user to use a mouse movement or a finger drag to move something from one point to another (for example, drag-and-drop) can also be achieved using a single pointer, such as a button.
2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) (Level AA)
Summary: Individuals who use a mouse pointer or a touch screen have enough space to operate interactive elements, such as buttons or links.
This success criterion introduces a minimum target size for an interactive element and, if applicable, a minimum distance around an interactive element. This aims to address the challenge of pressing small interactive controls, to help reduce the risk of accidental activation. This can affect several user groups, but especially those with fine motor skill challenges.
Summary: When completing an authentication task, such as logging in, individuals are not required to memorise their details, transcribe one one-time passwords, or completing other types of cognitive tests.
This success criterion aims to simplify the authentication processes for users, particularly those with cognitive differences, such as memory issues, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and similar conditions. It calls for authentication methods that do not rely on cognitive function tests, such as transcription, memory or puzzle-solving.
3.2.6 Consistent Help (Level A)
Summary: When help is available and repeated across several pages, individuals can always find it in the same place.
This success criterion aims to enhance user accessibility by ensuring that help features, like contact information or self-help options, remain consistently located across a set of pages. By maintaining a uniform placement for these support resources, individuals with cognitive disabilities can easily find the assistance they need to accomplish their tasks on the website.
5.3.7 Redundant Entry (Level A)
Summary: When individuals are required to enter the same information in the same process, such as creating an account or answering a questionnaire, they do not have to type the information all over again.
This success criterion addresses the issue of redundant data entry in forms, which can be challenging for users with cognitive, learning or mobility disabilities. It emphasises the importance of either auto-populating the information for the user, or providing a user-friendly way to reuse previously entered data, such as selecting it from a dropdown.
The removed success criterion
4.1.1 Parsing (Level A)
With the new updates to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, the success criterion 4.1.1 Parsing (Level A) was removed. This criterion was originally adopted to address problems that assistive technologies had directly parsing HTML. These problems, however, either no longer exist due to improvements in technology, or are addressed by other criteria. Thus, this requirement has been removed.
WCAG 2.2 compliance
The WCAG 2.2 update builds upon the existing WCAG 2.1 and 2.0 guidelines. This means that if you meet the requirements of WCAG 2.2, you will automatically meet the requirements of WCAG 2.1 and 2.0 (except for the Parsing requirement).
These changes also have legal implications. One implication to note within the UK is within the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations (PSBAR). The PSBAR currently requires that public sector bodies publish an accessibility statement detailing the conformance of their digital platforms with WCAG 2.1. This has now been updated so they must be conformant with WCAG 2.2, applicable from October 2024.
How to comply with WCAG 2.2
If you are responsible for creating or maintaining web content, there are several things you can do to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2:
Learn about the new WCAG 2.2 requirements: The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provides resources to help you learn about the WCAG 2.2 requirements, including a reference guide and a checklist.
Learn more about WCAG 2.2 in our online training on 29 February!
The training will include demonstrations of the tools and techniques available to test your content for compliance and provide an opportunity to ask questions about the standards and how they will impact your work or the content you produce.
Test your web content: Once you have made changes to your web content to comply with WCAG 2.2, it is important to test your content to make sure that it is accessible. You can use a variety of tools to test your content, including screen readers, keyboard navigation tools, and colour contrast checkers.
You can learn how to begin your own accessibility testing on diverse tools with our range of online training courses.
Get help from an expert: If you need help complying with WCAG 2.2, you can get help from an accessibility expert. Accessibility experts can help you to identify and fix accessibility barriers in your web content.
If you are responsible for creating or maintaining web content, it is important to start preparing for WCAG 2.2 now. By learning about the WCAG 2.2 requirements and testing your web content, you can help to ensure that your content is accessible to everyone.
WCAG 2.2 considerations moving forward
While these updates bring about beneficial changes, it is important to remember that while WCAG is a solid base for a range of disabilities, it can be built upon to further benefit all users (of all ages and cultures) and build an accessible and usable digital world for all.
At AbilityNet, we believe in helping our clients go beyond compliance through user testing. We always recommend putting disabled people at the heart of every project by getting a diverse range of user testers to regularly review your digital content and services.
According to the latest W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 updates, WCAG 3.0 may also introduce "assertions", which are statements confirming if a process, like a usability testing, was done. These assertions document the process itself and do not directly test its results.
This blog was written by Alice Taylor, our Principal Accessibility Consultant Team Leader and Joana Condeço, our Senior Accessibility and Usability Consultant and reviewed by the accessibility consultant team at AbilityNet.
How can I use technology to support an elderly person from afar?
Submitted by Annie Mannion on Thu, 07/12/2023 - 09:57
Juggling the demands of daily life can often leave us with limited time to connect with loved ones who live far away, or some disabled people who might have additional support needs.
Fortunately, smart technology offers innovative solutions to bridge the distance, offer hands-free support and stay connected with vulnerable friends or relatives, such as elderly parents or partners who you care for, without being overbearing.
Download our factsheet about offering support from afar
Our new factsheet Using technology to help elderly relatives from afar offers a glimpse into how smart gadgets can help us maintain meaningful and vital connections with those we care about, even when miles apart.
Devices such as video doorbells or external security cameras can help provide peace of mind to assess who may be visiting the person you care for.
Several affordable video doorbell options are available, including Amazon's "Ring" and "Blink" brands and Google's "Nest" devices.
These options offer robust security features and can be linked to a screen within your relative's home, allowing them to see and communicate with visitors without opening the door, providing an additional layer of protection and convenience.
What if we aren't technically-minded?
Perhaps the idea of setting up smart technologies in your relative's home, or your own home, is overwhelming.
There are other low-tech solutions available.
If your relative prefers not to have smart technology installed in their home, charities like Age Concern offer medical alarm systems that connect directly to a 24/7 call centre. With a simple press of a button, a trained operator can assess the situation and dispatch emergency personnel if necessary.
These alarms also provide reassurance for family members, who can be confident that their loved one has immediate assistance at hand in case of a medical emergency.
Free webinar recording: How to avoid the 12 Scams of Christmas
Experts from Greater Manchester Police and AbilityNet advisers Alex Barker and Lucy Walsh shared information about 12 common scams to be aware of, and lots of practical tips to help avoid becoming a victim of digital scams.
If you work in an organisation with clients who could benefit from learning about online scams, please do share this session and encourage them to access the recording. It's also a great session for organisations who provide digital inclusion support to service users.
This webinar is part of AbilityNet's Digital Skills project with BT Group to support people 65+ with getting online and using technology - sign up for Free BT Digital Skills sessions for people over 65 in your area.
How AbilityNet can Help
Call AbilityNet's 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
Submitted by Annie Mannion on Mon, 27/11/2023 - 13:33
At this year's AbilityNet TechShare Pro conference, which discussed key accessibility trends and developments, we also revealed a selection of bitesized 'Lightning Talks' from accessibility experts, highlighting top tips and advice on accessibility topics.
We're now sharing some of the key insights from those experts from the event, including here, a trio of top tips for inclusive communication.
Learn from AbilityNet Senior Accessibility Consultant Team Leader, Rina Wharton, about key things to remember to communicate with others in a more inclusive way, particularly when considering online meetings and events, and online communication.
It's a particularly valuable course for event managers, Learning and Development teams, Diversity and inclusion leaders, HR Directors, line managers and anyone organising meetings and events. Book now!
eLearning opportunities
Do you need a cost-effective way to teach your staff about accessibility and inclusion? AbilityNet's online eLearning modules will help you to become a digitally disability inclusive workplace.
You can also choose from our range of training courses for individuals.
Further resources
Keep up to date with digital inclusion and accessibility with the AbilityNet newsletter
Free training: How to avoid the 12 Scams of Christmas
Submitted by Annie Mannion on Mon, 20/11/2023 - 09:38
Could you, or someone in your community benefit from understanding more about the online world, and how to avoid the scams that run rife within it?
Over the festive period scammers are known to target vulnerable online groups, but by understanding the tricks and tactics used by fraudsters, you'll be able to stay safer online.
Come along and join Hollie Bowker from Greater Manchester Police and the team from AbilityNet charity for a valuable training session that's completely free, on Tuesday 12 December 2023, 1pm GMT.
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.
Share within your community
In this free webinar, expert AbilityNet advisers Alex Barker and Lucy Walsh will highlight the 12 common scams to be aware of, and look at where information comes from – can we trust it? How do we report a scam? Learn lots of practical tips.
Sign up for yourself or even better, 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 online scams, 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.
This webinar is part of AbilityNet's Digital Skills project with BT Group to support people 65+ with getting online and using technology - sign up for Free BT Digital Skills sessions for people over 65 in your area.
Purple Tuesday takes place on the first Tuesday of November each year and serves as a celebratory day, promoting accessibility and inclusivity.
AbilityNet supports Purple Tuesday, as we strive to ensure and promote digital inclusion in all we do.
Here are 5 ways to make Purple Tuesday your day to celebrate and commit to disability inclusion:
1. Attend a free webinar: 12 Scams of Christmas
As part of AbilityNet's Digital Skills project with BT Group to support people 65+ with getting online and using technology, we are hosting a free webinar on Tuesday 12 December, 1pm GMT.
In the webinar learn how to protect yourself from the most common online scams that can be especially rife around the festive season. Encourage and help others to attend who might not already be familiar with registering for online meetings and events - log on, bring a friend, relative or client!
Reasonable adjustments at work apply to all workers, including trainees, apprentices, contract workers and business partners. Reasonable adjustments are also referred to as Reasonable accommodations, particularly in the US and Ireland.
3. Speak to your employer about becoming Disability Confident
Disability Confident is creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
AbilityNet is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader: This program provides training and support to leaders in business and government to help them create a more inclusive workplace for people with disabilities.
4. Establish accessible recruitment and customer service practices
Watch our free webinar 'How Microsoft does accessible, inclusive recruitment' for great ideas about what you should expect from potential employers and how your organisation can boost its inclusive recruitment policies and practices.
There are 1.3 billion disabled people in the world that represent 17% of the population, and 75% of disabled people and their families have walked away from a business because of poor accessibility or customer service.
So don't forget about ensuring accessible customer services. AbilityNet can advise about the unintentional barriers that can impact the customer experience and suggest immediate changes to make sure your customer services processes cater to the widest audience.
Disability Inclusion Gap Analysis
Having a clear picture of where you are now with disability inclusion, and a roadmap to move forward, will transform your ability to make meaningful progress.
How to successfully kick off your Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM) journey
Submitted by Robin Christopherson on Tue, 07/11/2023 - 13:55
The AbilityNet Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM) is a free, open-source tool that helps organisations assess their digital accessibility maturity and develop a plan for improvement. The self-service version of the DAMM provides a comprehensive guide to help you get started, including information on the different stages of the process, the stakeholders to engage, and how to set achievable actions.
You may have already explored the download pack, but maybe you haven't quite got started yet. That's not uncommon.
We talk to a lot of people who are a little unsure about where to start and how to get going in that first step, but we've included in the instructions in the DAMM toolkit lots of information about how this works, so hopefully that's becoming clearer to you.
This blog will give you some tips on how to successfully get started with AbilityNet's Digital Accessibility Maturity Model.
Determining who should be involved
The first question you might ask is, "Who should be involved in the DAMM process?" While there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, here are some suggestions:
The right people initially: The right people are those who actively participate and engage in the process from the start. These are the individuals who will be integral to your journey towards accessibility.
Consider senior leadership: Reach out to senior leaders responsible for inclusion, digital services, customer service, or marketing. Their insights can be invaluable.
Involve user experience and research teams: Connect with professionals who already possess knowledge of accessibility and can provide context to your survey results and comments.
Think about HR, Legal, and Procurement: Even though they might not consider themselves initially involved, these teams are integral to the process. You might need to gradually draw them in.
It's also important to include disabled people, who can provide valuable lived experience and feedback.
The value of a comprehensive survey
Gathering as much information as possible in your survey is essential. It provides a rich background that can be used during discussions in the initial workshops. It ensures that you're well-prepared to address accessibility concerns.
The first DAMM workshop
The first DAMM workshop is where you evaluate your organisation's accessibility across five key areas. The key dimensions that are central to delivering a successful Digital Accessibility Strategy are:
Vision: Does your organisation have a clear vision, to help everyone in your organisation understand why digital accessibility is important and what you’re doing?
Leadership: Accessibility belongs to everyone, but you need someone steering them in the right direction – and the backing of senior leaders can be crucial to success.
Processes: Building accessibility and inclusion into every stage of the development process saves time and money because you’ll get it right the first time, every time.
Capability: Ensuring that you have the right skills and people to deliver your vision means you’re working together towards a shared vision – and you’ll go far.
Procurement: You’re confident that purchasing decisions are compliant and contribute to your vision.
These areas help set the stage for your accessibility journey. While the success criteria might not provide all the answers for your specific organisation, they will help gauge your maturity and steer discussions in the right direction.
Who to invite to the workshop
Just like the survey, the more participants, the better. Aim for between 10 and 20 people, drawing them in from your stakeholder group. Some might not initially feel confident discussing accessibility, and that's perfectly fine. The aim is to start the discussion and provide a solid foundation for everyone involved. Over time, even those initially unsure will begin to connect accessibility to their work.
Transforming your organisation into an inclusive and accessible space may seem daunting, but it's a worthwhile endeavour. This process has been adopted by many organisations, and we encourage you to take the first step, send out that survey, and start fostering a more accessible and inclusive workplace.
Get help from AbilityNet
We’re available to help you with your DAMM journey. If you're interested in working with our accessibility experts, you can contact us via our webform.
How to use the AbilityNet Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM)
Submitted by Robin Christopherson on Tue, 07/11/2023 - 13:33
The AbilityNet Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM) is a free, open-source tool that helps organisations assess their digital accessibility maturity and develop a plan for improvement. The self-service version of the DAMM provides a comprehensive guide to help you get started, including information on the different stages of the process, the stakeholders to engage, and how to set achievable actions.
Steps on how to use the AbilityNet's DAMM self-service version
Download the DAMM pack from the AbilityNet website. Everything you will need is included in the pack; read the guide to get started.
Identify the stakeholders you want to engage in the process. This may include people from different departments, such as IT, marketing, and customer service.
Lead the process with your team. Discuss the DAMM guide and identify areas where your organisation can improve.
Set achievable actions. Break down the areas for improvement into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Implement the actions. This may involve making changes to your policies, procedures, tools, and training programs.
Monitor your progress. Use the DAMM to reassess your maturity level on a regular basis.
The process is designed to be straightforward, but sometimes having external facilitation can make it easier to engage the various stakeholders. AbilityNet experts can help with this. If you would like us to facilitate each step and provide our expertise in the discussions and recommendations, contact our DAMM team.
Tips for using the DAMM self-service version
Start by reading the guide carefully. This will give you a good understanding of the process and the different stages involved.
Identify the key stakeholders in your organisation and engage them in the process early on. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the DAMM is implemented successfully.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you need us to facilitate each step and provide expert advice, contact our DAMM team.
Break down the areas for improvement into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will make the process seem less daunting and more achievable.
Celebrate your successes. As you implement the DAMM and make progress, take the time to celebrate your successes. This will help to keep you motivated and on track.
By following these tips, you can use the DAMM self-service version to improve the digital accessibility of your organisation's products and services.
Learn about Totaljobs experience of implementing the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model.
According to the 
Alexa isn’t just a voice in the room; it’s a companion. You can ask Alexa to play music, read audiobooks, provide news updates, and even make video calls. The simplicity of voice commands makes it accessible to all, regardless of tech expertise.
In 2023, BT announced the switch to its new digital home phone service, Digital Voice.
The remaining regions and nations set to make the switch are: 
Free webinar: Digital discovery at any age: your guide to the online world with BT Group and Amazon
Juggling the demands of daily life can often leave us with limited time to connect with loved ones who live far away, or some disabled people who might have additional support needs.
Examples of tech that can help from afar
eLearning opportunities
Over the festive period scammers are known to target vulnerable online groups, but by understanding the tricks and tactics used by fraudsters, you'll be able to stay safer online.
In this free webinar, expert AbilityNet advisers Alex Barker and Lucy Walsh will highlight the 12 common scams to be aware of, and look at where information comes from – can we trust it? How do we report a scam? Learn lots of practical tips.
It's 
Disability Confident is creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
Do you have some spare time available to help people in your community learn basic computer skills?
