Wales

Access Technology in Communities (ATIC) at RNIB Cymru

Summary: RNIB Cymru launches a project to promote accessible technology in communities across Wales.

• Project Information
• Background
• Accessible Technology in Communities: The Barriers to Digital Inclusion
• Information Line
• Training Programme
• Volunteering
• Access to work
• Contact us

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Project Information

The Accessible Technology in Communities (ATIC) project is funded by Communities @One and aims to help blind and partially sighted people access technology in communities by:

• Supporting blind and partially sighted people.
• Training volunteer ‘Digi Champions’.
• Providing taster sessions across Wales for those organisations that are interested in accessible ICT.
• Delivering an accessible technology training programme to ICT providers.
• Providing an Accessible Technology Information line to allow people to learn about accessible technology and how to get involved.
• Producing an 'Accessible Toolkit' for community ICT providers across Wales

Background

Only 11 per cent of blind and partially sighted people use ICT because:

• Transport barriers prevent access to local ICT providers like libraries or community centres.
• Local providers may not have the software and equipment needed to make their computers accessible to people who are blind and partially sighted.
• Local providers may not know how to adapt their training to suit blind and partially sighted people.

This project aims to make a difference by improving access to technology in communities by breaking down the barriers that prevent blind and partially sighted people participating in technology.

Accessible Technology in Communities: The Barriers to Digital Inclusion

21st May 2008: 10.00am - 13.00pm

Future Inns Hotel, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4JY

RNIB Cymru is hosting a morning conference event, taking place on the 21st May 2008. The event includes the launch of our recently developed 'Accessibility Toolkit'. The Accessibility Toolkit, which includes a range of solutions for improving access to information and ICT, is available for organisations supporting them to provide their services to blind and partially sighted people.

The event also showcases an in-depth report looking at the provision of accessible ICT in communities. Key speakers during the morning event will include Leighton Andrews AM, the Deputy Minister for Regeneration.

The event is open for organisations and individuals that provide services in their communities such as local authorities, community service providers and organisations with an interest in digital inclusion. The event will be particularly relevant to those groups who advise and represent community groups, disability lobby groups, and other intermediary organisations.

If you would like to join us for the morning event, please contact RNIB Cymru's ATIC team on 0845 602 0893 or email at atic@rnib.org.uk.

Information Line

As part of the project we are launching an accessible ICT Information Line to provide support across your community in order to link ICT and blind and partially sighted people across Wales. The information line will act as a signpost to people in your community to promote access to technologies.

How can the Information Line help you?

People with Sight Problems:

• Free information and advice.
• Put you in touch with accessible ICT providers in your community
• Put you in touch with specialist technology advice services.
• Help you break down the barriers to technology including any transport and training issues.
• Register for volunteer ‘Digi Champion’ support.

Community ICT Providers:

• Signpost for information regarding accessible hardware and software technologies.
• Further information about possible grant or funding opportunities to provide accessible technology services.
• Information about accessible ICT Training from RNIB Cymru.

Volunteering:

• Provide you with information on how you can get involved in volunteering and become a 'digi-champion' helping blind and partially sighted people in your community.

The Information Line is available Monday to Friday between 11am and 4pm. Please call 0845 602 0893 or e-mail us atic@rnib.org.uk.

Training Programme

Did you know that there are at least 100,000 people in Wales who have sight problems?

Knowing how to use technology is an essential skill for blind and partially sighted people. ICT opens doors because it enables blind and partially sighted people to:

• Write letters and shopping lists.
• Use the Internet and e-mail to communicate with the outside world.
• Independently read post and other written material.
• Study effectively.
• Use access technology to gain and retain employment.

These are just some of the benefits of ICT for blind and partially sighted people. How can you improve access to technology for people with sight problems?

• Be aware of the basic changes that you can make to create more accessible information technology services.
• Train staff in accessible hardware and software technologies in order to offer training and advice to people with sight problems.

RNIB Cymru are delivering a training programme so that you can ensure your ICT training provision is accessible to blind and partially sighted people.

We provide:

• An ICT Trainer
• 6.5 days of training
• Portable training equipment
• Work around your time constraints

Your organisation may be eligible for full funding for this training programme.

For booking form and full details of the training programme please click here.

Volunteering

• Are you interested in supporting blind and partially sighted people?
• Are you interested in IT?
• Are you interested in accessible technology?
• Are you interested in training?

If you have answered yes to any of the above, then we would welcome your application to be a volunteer Digi Champion.

The ATIC project is about enabling blind and partially sighted people to become involved in IT opportunities in their own community.

We provide:

• Full training
• Regular support
• Cover expenses

Access to work

As a result of the quality of the service we provide, we have achieved approved supplier status for Jobcentre Plus. Our Technology Officer undertakes regular Access to Work assessments and conducts training for Jobcentre Plus in Wales. We can also install and configure equipment for employers

Contact us

Please feel free to call the Information Line on 0845 602 0893 or email the team at atic@rnib.org.uk.

This project is funded by Communities @One. Communities @One is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to help people in Communities First areas make the most of new technology.  The programme is jointly funded through the European Union’s Objective 1 and 2 programme and the Welsh Assembly Government. Communities @One is administered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Content author: policy@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 10/04/2008 19:12