Sponsored by Microsoft in association with AbilityNet
WINNER
Lifelites www.lifelites.org
- This children’s technology charity provides a package of fun and educational technology to every children’s hospice in the UK. This gives children the chance to: take control of something for themselves; spend quality time with their families; keep in contact with their school and friends; and simply enjoy themselves away from the constant reality of their illness.
Finalists
The Clear Company www.theclearcompany.co.uk
- The Clear Company works with some of the UK’s leading employers to inspire, educate and empower them to adopt a more diverse workforce. It has received the backing of Government and corporate partners in making sure that employers can recruit and retain disabled talent.
National Star College/Accessible Digital SLR
www.natstar.ac.uk and https://moodle.natstar.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=358
- Andrew Sparkes and Lois Thomson, tutors at National Star College in Gloucestershire, have opened up the world of digital photography by enabling a tetraplegic person to operate an SLR camera using switch controls and sharung their solution freely so that others to benefit.
Drake Music Scotland
www.drakemusicscotland.org/about/technology/
- Drake Music Scotland creates music-making opportunities for people of all ages with disabilities in Scotland. Its main aim is to use new music technology to enable those with very limited physical movement and other disabilities to play music as independently as possible.
Frenchay Computer Assessment & Training Service
www.cacfrenchay.nhs.uk
- Based in Frenchay Hospital in Bristol a small team of specialsists help people access their computers no matter what their physical, cognitive or language difficulty. They see people in the centre, in their own homes or via video conference and provide equipment for people to borrow for 6-8 weeks to see what a difference it would make to their lives.
The Epilepsy Society’s Chalfont Centre
www.epilepsysociety.org.uk
- Residents and service users create and distribute their own accessible film-based newsletters amongst their fellow residents, highlighting activities at the community centre in the village, places to go and eat, and lots more. This has had a fantastic impact on residents and has really helped break isolation.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 7 June.
About the Accessibility Award
We are looking for inspiring stories of how computers, assistive technology and the internet have been used to change people’s lives, by helping them to meet their needs and participate fully in work or any other aspect of their life.
Who is eligible?
This Award is open to any UK-based partnership or organisation, including businesses, charities, community groups, public bodies or an individual.
Judging criteria
The winner will show that they are using some form of digital technology to help an individual or groups of people to overcome their disabilities. The entry must identify:
- The nature of the disability that it addresses;
- How digital technology or assistive technology has been used to address the issue;
- The impact that has made on the lives of people with disabilities;
- How the lessons learned in developing this solution can be shared with others.
Nominations are now closed and the finalists will be announced on this site on Friday 20 May 2011.
