Click Start: New project launch
The learning disability community to benefit from accessible web site ‘pilot roll out’ across East London boroughs on ‘Click Start’
The learning disability community will benefit from Rix Centre research and development work on a new accessible web site ‘roll out’ in a project called ClickStart in 2009.
In this latest stage in the Rix Centre’s research of accessible communications, thousands of people with learning disabilities, their carers and families will be able to exploit newly designed accessible Web sites in 2009 to transform their lives as a result of a new project, Click Start, which kicks off this week.
The Rix Centre will play a central role in this project, refining the technology, training and implementation for this innovative accessibility solution and evaluating the way it is used in a project that is funded through the Learning and Skills Council.
The Rix Centre will build and trial version 2 of its innovative ‘Easy Build’ Website Templates and train representatives in nine East London Boroughs in pilot its implementation. Nine London Boroughs will be able to help local groups supporting the learning disability community to easily build their own Web sites, which will also feed into a special highly accessible ‘easy-read’ web portal for each borough. Research suggests that at least 17% of all families in these boroughs are affected by learning disabilities.
One key feature of version 2 of the Easy Build websites will be a template for local authority services such as swimming pools to quickly build a web page easily accessible for people with learning disabilities giving details of their services.
Andy Minnion, director of the Rix Centre, says: “People with learning disabilities often have difficulties with, among other things, reading text and manipulating conventional multimedia interfaces with mice and keyboards. Easy Build overcomes these problems with built-in accessibility."
Creating common interest in the learning disabilities community
The Rix Centre has high expectations for this new phase of research activity in partnership with the East London community and there are immediate benefits for those with learning disabilities, their families and supporters.
“Making Web sites accessible for people with learning disabilities by involving those people in their creation also helps develop a community of common interest and link together the various agencies that are there to support them in their daily lives. People with learning disabilities change their role from being simply ‘recipients’ of services to being active participants, creators, advocates and advisors,” Minnion says.
The pilot ‘roll out’ of Click Start in January to March 2009 will be based on the pioneering research work the Rix Centre has already done with Newham Borough Council to build the Newham Easy Read transitional portal www.newhameasyread.org.
