18 Nov 2008

Extending Access to ICT

Currently in Hampshire, there are some 30,000 individuals categorised as being out of, but actively seeking work. There are a similar number of individuals receiving incapacity benefit.

Although many people who are registered ‘disabled’ can use ICT, equally many cannot because of physical or visual impairment.

Indeed, authoritative estimates suggest that around 100,000 people in Hampshire may be ‘ICT disabled’, and the total across the UK is approaching 5 million.

What is probably not realised is that many of these apparent inhibitors can be removed or lessened by using assistive ICT. This however, requires specialist support and assessment which, when completed, needs to be followed by empathetic forms of training and other ‘soft skills’ support aimed at building confidence and motivation.

The increased reach of technology, through the virtually all-pervasive medium of Broadband, itself provides increased work-opportunities for not only the disabled but for the many people with other constraints that limit their mobility. Amongst this number will be carers and single parents.

The eHampshire Partnership with its contribution to programmes such as the Havant and Andover ‘Everybody Online’ initiatives and ‘Silver surfer’ programmes in Hampshire proposes over the coming three years to increase its role in this important area of ICT application.

eHampshire Partnership sees the accessibility challenge being fundamentally to; ‘help ensure that everyone who wants to, has an opportunity to learn, understand, have access to and exploit ICT for their own personal, professional or community requirements’. This will help ensure that the ultimate goal of ‘an open and equitable ICT society’ is attained.

Accordingly the Partnership, with the help of Local Authorities and partners like BT and Ability Net, will be pleased to receive information on any such community oriented proposals that set out to achieve these goals.