Transcript: Go ON Gold video, Julie Howell.

Julie Howell, Freelance Writer for disabled technologies, talks to Go ON Gold from the hub-bub of the exhibition hall at the 2012 Internet World event in London.

“We’re here at Internet World today and everybody here is talking about the cutting edge of new technology, and that cutting edge has got to include older and disabled people. It just doesn’t make economic sense not to.

“I think the biggest barrier disabled people face when it comes to technology is ignorance. Many of us have spent some years educating designers in the importance of creating products and designs that disabled people can use. But there are new designers coming up all the time, and we have to keep making sure those messages are getting through.

“It’s also about understanding what disabled people’s aspirations are, and what we can and want to do with our lives, that includes hobbies of course but also everyday living skills like shopping and voting online. Those things are really really important, because that’s all about inclusion in society, as well as having access to work.

“Increasingly, technology is part of being in the workplace, and if technology is not accessible to disabled people, they are going to find themselves frozen out of many job opportunities, and that’s just not acceptable.

“There are some guidelines that have been published, there is a British Standard, BS8878, which is all about how to design information systems so that disabled people can use them, and that’s available from BSi Standards. There are also international guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative, that’s part of the World Wide Web Consortium, that explains to web designers very clearly what’s required to make sure that websites work with the technology that disabled people use.

“It’s also very important to consult disabled people. Now that makes an awful lot of people scared when I suggest that but you don’t have to consult very many people. Even if you can just get eight people with different kinds of disabilities and impairments that affect their sight, their hearing, their motor skills, and also cognitive ability, and get their feedback. Because while you can follow as many guidelines as you like, it’s the experience of real people that counts. So make sure you do get some real people to test your designs before you go live with them.”

---

Go ON Gold is a campaign to help disabled people get online and access digital technologies that are essential to modern life. Whether you are an individual or an organisation, we can help you and we need your help.

To find out more about how to get online; help others get online; or ensure your own digital services are accessible, please visit our website:
www.go-on-gold.co.uk

Spread the word, embed this video, join us. Pass it on.

CREDITS:
Film by Catch21 Productions.
The campaign is supported by Nominet Trust - making change happen.