Transcript: Go ON Gold video, Robin Christopherson.

Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet, and an experienced campaigner for accessible technology, talks to Go ON Gold.

“The power of technology, and in particular, inclusive technology – that’s technology that has been designed in such a way that almost everybody, regardless of their impairment and their ability, are able to use it – cannot be underestimated. 

“The pure, transformative ability for somebody who has got no access to handwriting, to – in my case – seeing, to mobility, to be able to overcome those barriers, through adaptive technology, inclusive technology, just opens up every life’s opportunity for them, through education through employment, to just be able to socially interact with people or do their shopping independently and have things delivered to them.

“Every day, AbilityNet assesses disabled individuals in the home, in education, in the workplace, and takes a wide range of different technologies and adaptations and makes sure that they’re able to use those technologies to the full. 

“For example, not being able to see – if it hadn’t been for technology, I wouldn’t have been able to get through my education, I wouldn’t have been able to have a job, and I would be one of those, sadly, 73% of visually impaired people in the UK at the moment that are still out of work. 

“It’s a huge problem. Technology is the solution, technology bridges that gap. But nevertheless, we still have this huge journey to go on with employers, to make sure that disabled people are able to realise their full potential. 

“This lack of awareness does lead to real discrimination. So there are disabled individuals out there that are, frankly, terrified to tick the box that discloses that they have a disability, for fear of employers not offering them to apply, not shortlisting them for interview, and sadly, there is hard evidence that does reinforce that, and of course this is discrimination and it’s totally illegal. 

“So the biggest challenge is helping employers, line managers, HR, occupational health, to realise that, often with a very few simple adjustments, these people will be able to be recruited and give the value to the organisation that they’ve got to offer.”


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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

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