Website will help those with learning disability

Dec 3 2009 By Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A NEW website designed for people with learning disabilities by people with learning disabilities has been launched in the region.

Ourvoiceoursay.com will make socialising, information sharing and networking simple, and will feature easy layout and screen set-ups, enlarged text for those with visual impairment and for those hard of hearing the site will also read words out aloud.

It is hoped that the site will gain an army of followers and be a useful link for this group of people by allowing them to share life experiences, make new friends and find out what’s going on in their local area.

Its creation has been possible due to the hard work of volunteers with learning disabilities some of whom live independently and others who live in managed small group homes.

They have been helped by staff at Sunderland People First and Sunderland City Council.

Senior care worker Stephen Thompson said: "Advances in technology have meant that running a website is much easier to do.

"People who were once unable to manage a website are now empowered to do so. Our Voice Our Say is an excellent example of this. It was created and will be managed by those people who will most benefit from it"

Lisa Wilkinson, a volunteer who worked on the project, said: "We are excited about the launch, having a site like this will enable us to connect with others across the North East and even the UK.

"Seeing the site come to life has given me a real buzz I can’t wait for others to see it and try it out for themselves."

The site was launched yesterday at the IT in the Community conference at the Stadium of Light.

The conference also played host to representatives from a number of heavyweight technology players including Microsoft and BT.

Stephen Uden, Microsoft’s head of skills and economic affairs, spoke about the role of digital skills in creating sustainable employment, particularly during an economic downturn.

Meanwhile, Ian Kennedy, Cisco’s head of technical operations in Europe, discussed the future of the internet and what opportunities and challenges there are for consumers and businesses.

Telecoms giant BT took the opportunity to talk the region’s digital community through its plans to invest £1.5 billion on bringing fibre broadband to 40% of the population by 2012.

Simon Roberson, BT’s regional manager for the North East, also said the company’s plans to help more digitally-excluded people on to the internet were being held back by political uncertainty.

He said: "The most important thing [in the Government’s Digital Britain report] is the proposal that there should be a universal service commitment to have a minimum speed of two megs across the entire UK.

"A fund was proposed for that but unfortunately it’s one of those things where, because there’s a general election approaching, nothing more will happen until then."

He also said the firm was keen to work with local communities to get people who have so far missed out on the advantages of using the web, online.

"The more we can work with local communities to identify areas where there is strong demand and applications that will stimulate that demand.

"It may be with community groups or anyone that can convince us that to go into these areas and invest in this infrastructure."