Who we are
Donna Smillie – Senior Consultant
I started out writing data analysis programs on early desktop computers in the 1970’s, spent a few years on the day-to-day running of Geac library computer systems in the 80’s, and then provided customer technical support with a CD-ROM research database and software publisher in the 90’s. A contract post at British Airways Property then led to me creating and managing several department websites on the BA intranet.
I’ve been an enthusiastic user of online systems for over 20 years (does anyone else remember Micronet?!), and have seen at first hand the positive impact they can have on the lives of people with disabilities. So when I found myself developing and managing those BA intranet sites, I became quite passionate about the need for accessibility (and I’m very glad no-one will ever see the first draft website I produced there, as it was quite dire!).
I joined RNIB in March 2000 and set up the accessible website consultancy. Then in 2001-2002, we launched the ‘See it Right’ Accessible Website logo.
I give a lot of talks about web accessibility at conferences and seminars, and hate the fact that I often remember faces without being able to remember the name that matches the face or where I met the person!
I have my own blog, Off and On, where I talk to myself a lot, photoblog my various journeys around the UK, and occasionally ponder issues of web accessibility.
Henny Swan – Senior Consultant
I have been working with the web since 1995 when, after living in China for almost a year, I managed to get my hands on a PC with Internet access and send my first email home - access indeed! Issues around clunky hardware, slow dial up and old software further drove the point home, and led me to focus on access for all users.
I went on to work for a Chinese search engine and shopping channel, managing the development of dual language e-commerce systems, where I found myself championing usability and accessibility. Once back in the UK I worked as a web producer in local Government and was heavily involved in implementing best practice accessible web design by cascading techniques down to designers, developers and content authors, applying WAI guidelines to the sites I worked on and developing style guides.
A major area of interest for me is internationalisation, and mobile access and how these complement accessibility. I also focus on the accessibility of virtual worlds. I’m an active member of the Web Accessibility Initiative Education and Outreach Working Group as well as the Web Standards Project (WaSP) International Liaison Working Group (ILWG). Whilst writing about accessibility on the RNIB blog I also collect my thoughts on my own blog, iheni, which looks at accessibility, internationalisation and mobile access: making the web truly world wide.
Out of work my passions are kick boxing and kung fu, I also travel wherever and whenever I can. Most of my time however is dedicated to running the website Stuff4Sam along with some friends raising funds for a colleague’s son who was paralysed in a car accident last year.
Bim Egan – Consultant
I’ve been working with computers since 1981 and using access technology since 1990.
I ‘discovered’ web accessibility when, as a mature student in 1999, I tried to use the web to supplement other accessible study materials during my degree IT course. It was incredibly frustrating to be unable to access information, despite having a computer running a full suite of access technology, to the extent that I changed the direction of my studies from training to web accessibility.
While I was still studying, in 2000, I started work as a web author for Salford University School of Construction, and developed an online information resource for environmentally friendly planning and building practices for the construction industry.
In 2001, after gaining my BSc in IT, I joined the BBC as a web producer and acted as an advisor to the BBC’s web accessibility workshop.
As someone who is entirely reliant on screen reader output to use my PC, I bring a wealth of personal knowledge and experience of using assistive technology to the team, in addition to my technical skills.
Andrew Ronksley – Consultant
I’ve been working and studying in computing and IT for 9 years with a particular focus on website accessibility and assistive technology for the last 4 of those years. During my final year at university, I specialised in website accessibility and user agents. Since then, I went on to work for another charity for just under 2 years specialising in assessing disabled children and adults for assistive technology and providing them with an installation and training service in their own homes. I also ran training courses to promote awareness of assistive technology and its applications.
Website accessibility has always been a passion of mine since leaving university however and is something I studied a lot outside of work. Working at the RNIB now gives me the opportunity to put this knowledge into practice. One of the main points about accessibility which I think often gets overlooked is that there are benefits for all users, not just the disabled. A well designed, accessible website often has usability benefits for all users as well as other spin-off benefits.
Now feels like a very exciting time to be working with the web as it becomes an increasingly interactive part of everyday life. There are new accessibility challenges to be faced as the web changes and evolves.
Outside of work, I enjoy being as active as I can. I play football at the weekends and I’m currently training for the London Marathon in April 2008. I have a tendency to get involved in things which makes other people think I’m mad such as planning to do my solo skydiving course in summer 2008 and trekking to the base camp at Everest in late 2008 - all good fun in my book!
What we do
- We help companies and organisations make their websites accessible, in particular to blind and partially sighted people.
- We award the See it Right Accessible Website logo to websites which meet the required standard of accessibility.
- We provide free advice on all aspects of accessible web design.
- We publish the Web Access Centre – a complete online resource on accessible web design, from planning and testing to design and build.
- We carry out See it Right audits and provide consultancy and training.
- We publish the See it Right accessible website directory, which lists all the websites which currently display the See it Right accessible website logo.
- We carry out the accessibility testing of all local authority websites for the annual Socitm Insight “Better Connected” reports.
- We run technical and non-technical workshops and seminars on many aspects of accessible web design.
Contact us
Tel: +44 (0)20 7391 2178
Email: webaccess@rnib.org.uk
Post: RNIB Web Access Consultancy, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE
