Inclusive design
Communicating with others and seeking out information are very important aspects of everyone's daily life, and technology plays a large and increasing role in both activities.
As a result, making technology more accessible, easy to use and affordable for a range potential users is an essential objective for BT.
Inclusive design ensures that the process of creating a new product or service is focused, from the outset, on how to make it as useable as possible for as many people as possible.
As a result, many of our products can be used by any of our customers, regardless of ability. BT offers a range of telephones that include accessible features, for example, with our 'Big Button' and Converse models proving very popular over many years.
Across BT we prioritise the importance of inclusive design in many aspects of our business, from billing to broadband, always working with disabled customers and specialist organisations to get input from the people who know best.
Meeting the need
We have provided bills in alternative media for more than 15 years, with new options such as audio bills on CD now available from BT. We continue to improve accessibility in other areas, making information about our services available in a range of formats, such as large print and Braille.
As a commercial organisation, it also makes good business sense to foster and promote inclusion. Designing products to accommodate the needs of more people extends the potential market.
It is estimated that more than ten million people in the UK have some form of disability, many of whom are able and willing to spend money on 'inclusive' products that improve their lives. Where people cannot afford products and services themselves, they can often get financial assistance.
To help other businesses develop products that are more accessible for people with reduced capability, BT commissioned the creation of the online Inclusive Design Toolkit in 2007.
BT's own websites also follow accessibility principles and takes into account the different access requirements of our customers and the technology they may be using, such as screen readers. You can find out more about this in our Web Accessibility section.
BT is proud of its accessibility credentials and continues to develop new ways of enable people through technology Visit the BT Innovation site.
