Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical disabilities"’ Sort:
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Equal measures: closing the accessibility gap
- Editors:
- SHIPLEY Tony, GILL John, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- COST
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The European Union has produced a set of Directives governing the provision of electronic communications facilities. People who have disabilities, or who are elderly and are now experiencing some loss of function, are at risk of exclusion from this new world of electronic communications unless special note is made of their needs. However, the pace of technological change is such that specific technical measures are quickly rendered obsolete, and so have no place in legislation that is intended to be of lasting value. If the primary legislation can only point to the basic fundamentals, and if the market-place is not yet ready to acknowledge a wider spectrum of functional ability amongst its customers, how can this risk of exclusion be addressed? The aim of this publication is to show how, with a degree of European co-operation, the powers devolved to national regulators can be applied to close the gap and bring in short- term measures that are consistent with the overall framework while addressing immediate problems of accessibility.
E-accessibility for all
- Author:
- PIGGOT Maureen
- Journal article citation:
- Scope, February 2002, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
The information society presents challenges and opportunities to all citizens and to those who govern or provide goods and services to them. The author discusses the issues affecting access to information and communication technologies for people with disabilities.
Teleshopping for older and disabled people: an evaluation of two pilot trials
- Authors:
- BARLOW James, BREEZE Mary
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 66p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- York
Home shopping is an important aspect of community care services for older and disabled people, but is costly and complex to administer. As social services struggle to find the necessary resources to support them, new approaches involving internet- or phone-based 'teleshopping' services are being explored. This research, designed and tested several models for teleshopping. It has provided new information on user needs, possible teleshopping models, and on technology options and financial and legal issues. An intermediate teleshopping model, for use before internet access becomes widespread, is identified. The project also explored the technology requirements for a more sophisticated internet-based service that might be developed in the future.
Teleshopping for people with limited mobility
- Author:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- York
Home shopping is an important aspect of community care services for older and disabled people, but is costly and complex to administer. As social services struggle to find the necessary resources to support them, new approaches involving internet- or phone-based 'teleshopping' services are being explored. This research, designed and tested several models for teleshopping. It has provided new information on user needs, possible teleshopping models, and on technology options and financial and legal issues. An intermediate teleshopping model, for use before internet access becomes widespread, is identified. The project also explored the technology requirements for a more sophisticated internet-based service that might be developed in the future.
In whose service? Technology, care and disabled people: the case for a disability politics perspectives
- Authors:
- JOHNSON Liz, MOXON Eileen
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 13(2), April 1998, pp.241-258.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Discusses the introduction of telematics technologies, which are advancing rapidly in Britain and throughout the world, and which impact increasingly on the lives of disabled people. Argues that technology based services have been largely determined by the interests of care service professionals, technologists and the commercial sector. Missing from the debate has been the perspective of the disability movement, which challenges professional hegemony, and introduces important issues such as choice, control and access to the wider environment.
A common open space or a digital divide?: a social model perspective on the online disability community in China
- Authors:
- GUO Baorong, BRICOUT John C., HUANG Jin
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 20(1), January 2005, pp.49-66.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper explores the use and impact of the Internet by disabled people in China, informed by the social model of disability. Based on survey data from 122 disabled individuals across 25 provinces in China, study findings suggest that there is an emerging digital divide in the use of Internet amongst the disability community in China. Internet users in the study do not appear to be representative of most disabled people in China. For the minority of disabled people who do have access to the Internet, however, its use can lead to significantly improved frequency and quality of social interaction. Study findings further suggest that the Internet significantly reduced existing social barriers in the physical and social environment for disabled people. Implications for future research, and strategies for increasing reducing the digital divide between the minority of Internet users and the majority of disabled people in China are discussed.
Disabled people and the internet: experiences, barriers and opportunities
- Authors:
- PILLING Doria, BARRETT Paul, FLOYD Mike
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 90p.
- Place of publication:
- York
The Government intends to make all government information and transactions available electronically by 2005. An increasing proportion of useful commercial and social information is available online. However, disabled people can face particular challenges using the Internet - for example, cost, access difficulties and unfamiliarity with electronic technology. (These limiting factors can be exacerbated for older age groups to which many disabled people belong.) This research examined whether the provision of information, goods and services through the Internet removes many of the access barriers faced by disabled people, or adds to them. Views were obtained from enquirers to AbilityNet, a UK charity giving free computing advice to disabled people, and from focus group participants.
Assistive technology: independence and well-being
- Author:
- AUDIT COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Audit Commission
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 50p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper looks in more depth at the role of assistive technology (AT) in supporting independence. It examines the place of AT in the current policy context and describes the current evidence to demonstrate how AT can support independence. It analyses the current obstacles to progress and explains how change can be introduced. New assistive technology can play a vital role in supporting the ways in which millions of older or disabled people can maintain or regain their independence. It also has the potential to modernise the way in which many aspects of health and social care are currently delivered to the benefit of users, carers, service providers and the taxpayer.
Does the Internet open up opportunities for disabled people?
- Author:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- York
The Government intends to make all government information and transactions available electronically by 2005. An increasing proportion of useful commercial and social information is available online. However, disabled people can face particular challenges using the Internet - for example, cost, access difficulties and unfamiliarity with electronic technology. (These limiting factors can be exacerbated for older age groups to which many disabled people belong.) Almost all questionnaire respondents welcomed the Government's initiative to put all services online, provided that alternative communication methods remained available. Internet usage enabled questionnaire respondents to communicate with others, and to reach a variety of information resources in spite of difficulties. These groups included those who were unable to leave their homes, those who found writing or reading common forms of print inaccessible, or those with speech impairments. Two-thirds of Internet users in the survey wanted to use the Internet more, cost being the main reason holding them back. Cost - of buying a computer, of online access and of assistive devices - was also the most common reason preventing Internet non-users getting online. Questionnaire respondents and focus group participants who needed assistive devices had significant problems in identifying what to use, in affording it, and in getting guidance or training with the equipment. Disabled Internet users who needed assistive devices to use a computer and the Internet found fewer websites that were easy to use and navigate than did those not using assistive devices. Only about one in ten respondents knew the location of their local UK Online centre (where help is available to learn initial Internet-using skills); there was little knowledge of the training provided by UK Online centres or other organisations. About 40 per cent of Internet-using respondents had tried but had been unable to find suitable training locally.
The web: access and inclusion for disabled people: a formal investigation conducted by the Disability Rights Commission
- Author:
- DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 48p.
This report demonstrates that most websites are inaccessible to many disabled people and fail to satisfy even the most basic standards for accessibility recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium. It is also clear that compliance with the technical guidelines and the use of automated tests are only the first steps towards accessibility: there can be no substitute for involving disabled people themselves in design and testing, and for ensuring that disabled users have the best advice and information available about how to use assistive technology, as well as the access features provided by Web browsers and computer operating systems. Disabled people must frequently overcome additional obstacles before they can enjoy the full range of information, services, entertainment and social interaction offered by the Web: blind people need sites to provide, for example, text as an alternative to images for translation into audible or legible words by specially designed screenreading devices; partially sighted people may be especially reliant upon large-format text and effective colour contrast; people who are dyslexic or have cognitive impairments may benefit in particular from the use of simpler English or alternative text formats, such as Easy Read, and from the clear and logical layout of an uncluttered website; people whose first language is British Sign Language may also find Plain English indispensable; and people with manual dexterity impairments may need to navigate with a keyboard rather than with a mouse.