Useful links

In this section you will find a wide range of useful links taking you to other websites. We know that the list is not exhaustive, but these are sites that we have found to be helpful.

If you know of other sites that would be of interest then please contact us and let us know.

Please note: We are not responsible for the content, accuracy or accessibility of the information provided by these external websites.

You can find useful links to sites providing information on:

 

ICT Help

BCS IT Can Help are a network of volunteers who are able to offer free local computer assistance to disabled people.

There are a number of organisations that provide help and ideas on assistive technology to help disabled and older improve access to their computer and the internet. Try Better Living Though Technology and Abilitynet.

ICT standards

Accessibility guidance

The aim of Cardiacis to create a platform that can bring together the various stakeholders in the area of accessible and assistive ICT with a view to identifying Research & Development gaps and emerging trends and generating a research agenda roadmap.

Tiresias, offers knowledge and tools for researchers and designers of information and communication technology (ICT) systems, on designing accessible ICT and how it will benefit the general public, such that it is also accessible by those with sight problems and other disabilities.

Inclusive design

The Inclusive Design Toolkit provides a useful resource for product designers and developers and anyone who wishes to know more about inclusive design. It provides guidance for designing for people with impairments, shows the impact on the potential market by designing inclusively and includes vision and hearing simulators.

A useful article about inclusive design written by Professor Roger Coleman can be found on the Design Council's website.

www.bt.com/inclusivedesign will help you get the most from communications. Of particular interest is the output from the February 2010 Conference Designs on a Bigger Market: The Business Case for Inclusive Design

KT EQUAL and SPARC are working to bring together researchers, practitioners and policy makers with an interest in the well-being of older people through communicating the latest ageing-related research. The programme covers all aspects of independent living including inclusive design. Free seminars are held throughout the year. 

Regulation and legislation

The future funding of long-term care for older people is widely recognised as one of the biggest public policy challenges confronting the UK Government. The cost of long-term care is set to increase in coming decades as a result of demographic change, increasing longevity, as well as the widely acknowledged need to spend more on care to raise quality. This report sets out a new approach based around the model of a social insurance fund.

Cost 219

Information about the final Cost 219 project and it's publications can be found on the Tiresias website.

Wireless accessibility 

General Information on accessibility and wireless technology

 http:// www.accesswireless.org

OneVoice Coalition

The Onevoice for Accessible ICT Coalition was formed to bring like-minded organisations together to act as one voice in support of ICT accessibility and usability. Of particular interest is the January 2010 report Accessible Information & Communications Technology (ICT): Benefits to Business & Society.

http://www.onevoiceict.org

Digital Inclusion

Middlesex University is starting an MSc course in digital inclusion. The first of its kind in Europe, the course is a groundbreaking programme designed to meet the existing and continuing demand for experts in inclusion.

The Communications Consumer Panel is an independent panel of experts established under the communications Act 2003. Its sole is to influence Ofcom, Government, the EU, and service and equipment providers so that the communications interests of consumers and citizens are protected and promoted. The Panel pays particular attention to the needs pf older people and people with disabilities, to the needs of people in rural areas and to people on low incomes. It also pays particular attention to the needs of small businesses, which face many of the same problems as individual consumers. Among its many activities, the Panel has developed a framework for digital participation, which starts with the consumer experience and breaks down the journey that people make in getting online and then enjoying the benefits.

Employers' Forum on Disability

The Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) is the world's leading employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects business. Members of the Forum's Business Taskforce on Accesible Technology have developed interesting case studies that identify aspects of the ICT reasonable adjustment process.

EFD is a member of the OneVoice coalition. 

Project Canvas

Project Canvas, the proposed partnership between the BBC, ITV, C4, Five, BT and TalkTalk to build an open internet-connected TV platform, has been given approval by the BBC Trust. The full BBC Trust press release is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/june/canvas.shtml

An Accessibility tab has now been added to the Project Canvas websitewith information about accessibility features. Additional enquiries can be directed to accessibility@projectcanvas.info

Accessibility of Mobile Phones

Go to the very useful website www.mobileaccessibility.info to learn about the features that a mobile phone may have and link through to the manufacturer's website for specific information on particular models.

Ricability

Ricability is an independent consumer research charity that provides free, practical and unbiased reports for older and disabled people. Of particular interest is their digital TV site, possibly the only consumer programme that comparatively tests and reports in detail specifically on the ease of use of digital TV products from an inclusion perspective.