BT helps produce new accessibility and technology charter

BT has played a key role in producing an industry charter that aims to ensure technology and services are fully accessible to disabled and elderly people.

An initiative by the Employers Federation for Disability, the Business Taskforce on Accessible Technology has created the Accessible Technology Charter which contains ten commitments to good practice designed to help organisations embed accessibility in everything they do.

The ten commitments include tackling workplace IT adjustments, designing accessible products and services, and dealing with IT suppliers to ensure accessibility is taken into account in the procurement process.

BT Innovate & Design accessibility champion Chris Bilton who was instrumental in drafting the charter said: “We have sought to establish a common industry approach to ensure internal systems and external services enable rather than exclude employees and customers who may be disabled people and the elderly.”

As well as BT, companies signing up to the charter include the Accenture consultancy group, financial institutions Barclays, Lloyds, and Ernst and Young, BSkyB, healthcare group BUPA, IT solutions groups Fujitsu, Microsoft UK and Oracle, and retailer Sainsbury’s.