{"id":1201,"date":"2012-07-05T08:28:06","date_gmt":"2012-07-05T07:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=1201"},"modified":"2012-07-05T08:28:06","modified_gmt":"2012-07-05T07:28:06","slug":"go-on-uk-launch-campaign-to-help-disabled-people-surf-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2012\/07\/go-on-uk-launch-campaign-to-help-disabled-people-surf-the-internet.html","title":{"rendered":"Go ON UK Launch Campaign to Help Disabled People Surf the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Go ON UK<\/a> (formerly RaceOnline 2012) has today launched a new national campaign (Go ON Gold<\/strong><\/a>) that aims to help disabled people<\/strong> get online. Apparently 43% (4 Million) of disabled people in the UK have never surfed the internet, which equates to roughly half of the UK’s total offline population.<\/p>\n

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The campaign, which is supported by the BBC<\/a>, Age UK, the Post Office and Paralympic athletes, claims that many disabled people don’t use the internet due to design barriers<\/strong> or because they may be unaware of advances in technology<\/strong> that can make access easier.<\/p>\n

Go ON UK Chairman, Martha Lane Fox, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Disability often leads to a lack of independence and social isolation. Full access to the internet can be hugely empowering and even transformative for people with disabilities, whose mobility may be compromised or who lack the resources to get out and about as much as they would like.<\/em><\/p>\n

Digital inclusion can be life changing \u2013 socially, psychologically and economically. In front of the screen, we can all be equal and Go ON Gold is set to make this a reality<\/em>!”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So how will they do it? Firstly, some 1,000 new digital champions will be trained<\/strong> in the use of accessible technology and commanded to help educate businesses and other groups to be more aware of the needs of disabled people, not to mention what benefits they can bring. The campaign will also highlight what help and new technologies are available for those who might want to get online.<\/p>\n