16 May 2006

A group of organisations have developed a new charter to help ensure that information and communication technology (ICT) and access to the Internet and online tools such as emails is given to disabled and older people.

The eInclusion charter has been commissioned by the Alliance for Digital Inclusion and put together by a consortium of charities such as the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) and the Disabled Living Foundation and technology consultants Scientific Generics.

It has three different sections for the government, business and industry and the voluntary sector, although each has the message that disabled and older people should not be left behind as technology advances further.

If these groups follow the consortium's recommendations then these people will be able to access more specialised ICT, they will be designed and programmed in such a way to appeal to them and appropriate training will be given so that they know how to use them if they did not know already.

Guido Gybels, director of new technologies at RNID, said: "All parts of society should work together constructively to harness ICT, such as PCs, the web, mobile phones and digital television, to make the world a more equal place for everyone.

"New technology has great potential to overcome barriers in education, the workplace and social life for disabled and older people."

© Adfero Ltd

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