Business leaders call for accessible technology
11th March 2008
Senior business leaders have joined forces in a unique taskforce launched by Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD). They are calling for technology to deliver its promise of making it easier to employ, and do business with, disabled people.
The ‘business taskforce on accessible technology', chaired by Steve Lamey, chief operating officer, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) had its inaugural meeting on 31 January in London.
Members of the taskforce include chief information and technology officers or senior IT directors from B&Q, BUPA, Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC, IHG, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, Lloyds TSB, Royal Mail Group, Sainsbury's and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
The taskforce will define and share best practice on accessible technology and encourage ICT suppliers to deliver accessible products and services.
It will also help global regulators understand what business needs from IT related standards if business is to make it easier to serve disabled customers and employ disabled people.
Members of the taskforce are among some of the IT industry's biggest customers.
EFD chief executive Susan Scott-Parker said: "Technology has the power to empower disabled people but it risks becoming the new - and serious - disabler.
"Employers find it unnecessarily difficult to employ disabled people because the technology which should liberate everyone, increasingly gets in the way - and because their IT professionals are simply not disability confident.
"The business case for accessible technology is compelling. IT that is accessible for disabled people is easier for everyone to use and improves everyone's productivity.
"Indeed, it's estimated that over 60 per cent of the workforce would be more efficient were they to use existing accessibility features."
HMRC chief operating officer Steve Lamey said: "We want to raise the profile of the business case for having a disability competent IT sector, not just to suppliers but to every chief information officer in Europe.
"The taskforce on accessible technology will take a very pragmatic and collaborative approach. We need to start the dialogue with suppliers and with disability advocates regarding how we can improve access to technology to the mutual benefit of business and people with disabilities."
Ends
Notes to editors
Media enquiries, please contact:
Liz Nightingale, Communications Manager
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: liz.nightingale@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 400 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.