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Online Information on Employment and Training Opportunities for Disabled PeopleConference Presentations |
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This is the text version of a Powerpoint Presentation
The project started in January 1998 and will run until June 2000, but before further details about the project some brief information about Toucan Europe.
The project came out of developments across Europe and in the UK identifying the emergence of a new information society for the 21st Century in which all human activities are underpinned by the services provided by information and communication technologies. At a European level there is a clear need to consider the requirements of disabled people in the access, use and design of information services available through the Internet.
In terms of Population Estimates Disabled People make up 12% of total European Union population 44,845,560 (total population 373,713,000), of this disabled population (figures taken on 1st Jan 1997):
There are problems in using estimates since there is a wide variance due to the different ways in which countries record the area of disabilities, although the statistics are important since they form the basis for funded work.
The EU has recognised the need and attempted to address through past project activity:
TIDE: HYPIT integration of disabled people into economic and social life through equal access and use of new technologies.
Current project activity under EMPLOYMENT is a Community Initiative funded through the European Social Fund, one of the Structural Funds. The Initiative targets groups facing specific difficulties in the labour market. It provides financial support for innovative and transnational projects providing for vocational training and guidance, job creation measures, information and awareness raising and the development of new training and guidance systems.
HORIZON, a strand of the EMPLOYMENT initiative, funded projects aim to support the integration of disabled people through the improvement of labour market opportunities.
Area as the UK enters the Information Society then it must prepare all of its people to live and work within it. Conceptual 'bandwidth' needs to be considered to enable disabled people and local communities to come under the umbrella of the Information Society.
We have the concept of the Citizen accessing information through a variety of access points, whether they are Electronic Village Halls (EVH's), Libraries or community computer centres. Yet we have to ask if this is truly happening, does the Citizen have full access to these new 'gateways' or 'Community Portal Information points'?
At issue is the potential for Disabled People to take full advantage of emerging telecommunications technologies and products that would enable them to function and compete fully in society.
In the NW of England population estimates show that from 7 million people, 14% of the NW adult population have some form of disability. Of this group some 4.2% (300,000) are under 30 years old.
Also the 2.2% is the take up rate for disabled people to education and training in the North West of England. Yet generally the take up rate for disabled people to education and training is 24%.
Disabled people are not accessing current education and training opportunities because of:
NW England has established an information strategy with 5 other regions of the EU, to promote universal access to the opportunities and advantages of the Information Society. This has been done with a view to generating new employment and training opportunities, improving the quality of life, and addressing the challenges of structural adjustment and sustainable development.
The Online Project has, and will continue, to develop an electronic network available through the Internet providing support and facilities for disabled people to access information on training and employment opportunities.
The network allows integrated access to sources of information and advice on:
There is a clear need to consider the requirements of disabled people in the access, use and design of information services available through the Internet. There is also a need to develop services, network services that disabled people want access to, and train and support disabled people for independent use.
Fostering of co-operative links (and provision of physical links) with organisations was a major task within the project. In order to achieve this result the project worked in partnership with various organisations and projects locally, regionally and nationally. More specifically:
The project last year trained a total of 84 people from 12 disability organisations, in Internet related skills:
The organisation of training and 'taster' events itself presented difficulties through the general absence of:
Present provision for supporting disabled people into work and education has received criticism,
".. (the) system which helps disabled people to find training and jobs and to retain work is multilayered, fragmented and incoherent, even to those who live in it." (Susan Scott-Parker - UK Employers Forum on Disability)
The project has collated existing information and learning resources, identified by disabled organisations and people to make them more widely accessible as a resource using information and communication technologies.
The availability of local information has added a dimension well beyond the aspect normally associated with projects that simply connect individuals to the Internet.
The concept of the Citizen accessing the Information Society has already been mentioned, stating that the Citizen can have full access to this Society, yet it is clear that this concept is simply not happening.
This issue was particularly highlighted in September 1998 during the AccessibilITy '98 event, co-hosted by the project, held in Manchester. Points raised included:
This work is being carried out with reference to the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Project.
It is relatively easy to criticise but it is important that the issues raised are highlighted and promote change. To this end the project has and will:
CEPES - The Spanish Business Confederation for Social Economy:
Project Cepadite based in Madrid, Spain.
This project has set up a Telecentre for disabled and non-disabled to examine the best ways in which Telework can be carried out and what support is needed for the workers etc.
Retinitus Pigmentosa Sardinia and the International Labour Organisation:
Project Contatto based in Calagaria, Sardinia
The project is looking at the ways in which people with RP (a gradual loss of sight) can continue their economic and social lives, as well as establishing a social economic co-operative to provide alternative means of employment and translation services.
Aims of the partnership:
Outputs of the partnership:
Other links:
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Last updated: 6 August 1999
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