Paul Smyth, Head of Accessibility at BATA member Barclays, has been appointed by the government to ensure technology and online businesses are not forgetting about their disabled customers.

He is one of two new disability champions – the other is from tech giant Fujitsu – who will use their influence to remove obstacles faced by disabled people buying goods and services online.

Smyth will focus on web accessibility, encouraging businesses to build better feedback mechanisms for disabled customers, raising concerns and supporting government in enforcing digital accessibility compliance.

“I firmly believe in the power of accessible technology to level the digital landscape – enabling and empowering all people to participate in society and ultimately reach their full potential,” said Smyth.

“Realising this accessible future – underpinned by inclusive technology that works for everyone – will require more collaboration and above all participation from everyone involved in making, buying, selling or using technology.”

The technology champion is Patrick Stephenson, Fujitsu’s Client Managing Director for Central and Local Government.

Using their industry influence, the new champions will remove the obstacles faced by disabled consumers who struggle to purchase products or services online and are often locked out of benefitting from the latest innovations in technology.

The assistive technology sector currently contributes £85 million to the economy, says the Department for Work and Pensions, and has enriched many disabled people’s lives across the world.

But many mainstream businesses are still missing out on disabled people’s custom by failing to design technology with their needs in mind.

Social Media: Accessing knowledge and learning from fellow educators. Tuesday 2nd April at 3:45pm  by Educationalist SIG 

In the latest in our series of one hour online webinars from BATA , we’ll be helping attendees understand how best to leverage and use social media such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to build knowledge of current good practice; learn about the latest changes in assistive and educational technology and understand the power of social media to build their own personal learning network  ( PLN).

If you’re new to social media, amateur or expert; teacher, advisor, assessor or supplier – this webinar is for you.

With less opportunity and budget to attend conferences, exhibitions and events, social media can help bridge the gap and point to useful resources almost instantly, cheaply and effectively. It’s a powerful way to connect with peers and experts in their field and seek advice from the education and technology community.

We’ve some great guests to help guide you through the maze of social media and provide practical, relevant advice to get the very most from it, including:

 Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-your-knowledge-through-social-media-an-educators-guide-tickets-58540252471

Catherine Grinyer of BIGVoice Communication  has worked in the area of social media. Catherine is the Director and owner of Big Voice Communications, a specialist inclusive communications consultancy advising organisations on how to remove barriers from their communications to reach the widest possible audience and make every word count. She will demonstrate how to not only use social media but how to create content that catches the eye and engages the audience.

Ben Whittaker is a part time secondary teacher who also teaches college level ‘Digital Marketing’. Ben uses social media to understand and promote good practice. The rest of Bens time is spent delivering CPD as a Google Innovator. As a director of Edufuturists Ben also presents a weekly podcast.  Ben uses Twitter extensively and compliments Catherine and will explain what social media has brought to him as an educator in building an effective PLN.

Patrick McGrath, EdTech specialist at Texthelp will chair the webinar and share his experience of the effectiveness of social media and deliver a practical guide to Twitter – including where to get started, build a following and get involved!

We’ll also be joined by Myles Pilling, Director of BATA who’ll be taking your questions for the panel in our Q&A.

The Workplace Summit last week tackled the question of how AT can help more people into work.

Hosted by Atos at its London HQ, the Summit saw attendees working in groups on solutions to what Workplace Special Interest Group chair Noel Duffy dubbed employer fear: the concern employers have, especially smaller ones, about the difficulties they might face in employing disabled people.

With just 49% of disabled people in work, compared to over 80% of non-disabled people, the Government has pledged to get 1m disabled people into work by 2027.

The Summit looked at how this gap might be bridged beginning with the business case for investing in assistive technology to enable disabled people into work. Attendees also considered how an organisation could move from just complying with regulations to gaining a competitive advantage, with presentations from Barclays and Atos.

Finally, the groups turned their attention to how to gain the attention of influencers inside and outside organisations with the assistance of representatives from the All-Party Parliamentary Group amd MicrolinkPC.

BATA’s Workplace Special Interest Group was able to draft a six- programme for 2019:

• Overhaul of Access to Work: discussions about A2W were the most lively of the day reinforcing the group’s intention to hold an A2W event to explore how the scheme works now and how it could be improved.
• Loans to buy AT in a Motability-type scheme were suggested by RNIB.
• SMEs, many of whom struggle to create a disability friendly workplace, need advice and information to encourage them. Employers groups such as Chambers of Commerce were identified as the way to reach SMEs.
• Develop stories and case studies in text and video that demonstrate the power of AT.
• Support efforts to develop apprenticeships in AT, a particular project of Neil Milliken of Atos.
• Curate an online resource to help employers.

We are delighted to announce our official partnership with the Smart Home Expo, the UK’s leading event for the smart technologies revolutionising the way we live, coming to the NEC Birmingham on the 26th & 27th of March 2019.

They say home is where the heart is, but nowadays, home is also where an industry revolution is taking place! Within the next few years, the smart home sector is set to become one of the fastest growing markets in the world. If this wasn’t enough, there’s a growing opportunity for the so called smart technologies to be applied to many other areas beyond the home.

The Smart Home Expo is completely free to attend, and the organisers have confirmed an unparalleled lineup of speakers and exhibitors, who will be coming together to provide you with the best technologies, innovations and insights that are completely revolutionising the way homes are built, and the way people live in it.

From smart lights that help with energy saving, to assistive home technology that enables ultimate independence, the show will redefine what constitutes a home.

Key features at this year’s event include:

• 150 seminars by an incredible speaker lineup
• Interactive panel debates where you can have your say among the greatest minds in the industry
• Live demos that allow you to try before you buy, and interact with the most innovative products in the industry
• 200 exhibitors, putting together the most comprehensive marketplace of smart technologies and solutions
• Innovation awards, featuring the latest technologies being judged by industry experts
• Launches of the very latest products and solutions that are changing the way people live
• Exclusive show offers and competitions available to visitors only

And much much more.

Completely FREE to attend, the Smart Home Expo really is the hub of the innovations changing the face of Assisted Living. For more information or to register for your free ticket, visit

www.smarthometechlive.co.uk.