Accessibility taskforce joins forces with wider initiative

30th September 2008

The impact of EFD's 'Business Taskforce on Accessible Technology' (BTAT) continues to grow as we link up with a UK wide accessibility initiative, driven by leading accessibility consultants AbilityNet.

Along with other key players, including the British Computer Society, Intellect and disability charities RADAR and Leonard Cheshire, the group share the belief that the UK business community have a significant role to play in shifting attitudes towards accessible technology.

The approach is two-fold, to help the business community become more accessibility confident and to mobilise their purchasing power as a means of gathering commitment from within the ICT industry.

BTAT will support the group in developing the accessibility business case. We will work with senior business leaders to understand why accessibility is often viewed as a hindrance when it actually has the potential to increase the wider productivity of the workforce and to increase customer spend.

Over the coming months EFD members will be invited to take part in a 'state of the nation' questionnaire designed to gather a snap-shot of commitment to accessibility from within the UK business community.

Ends

Notes to editors

Media enquiries, please contact:

Brenda Otema, Communications & Marketing Officer
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: brenda.otema@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020

About Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 300 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

www.efd.org.uk