Barclays
Helping you build a business
tailored to your taste

Apply Now

Easy You Tube

There are many websites, services and tools on the web that are unnecessarily inaccessible to disabled people. But there are also a huge number of geeks out there with the will and ability to fix these problems

Scripting Enabled is a new initiative that encourages people who are web-savvy to use their skills to create accessible ‘mash-up’ versions of popular websites, such as this Easy You Tube.

Scripting Enabled launched last weekend with a conference and ‘hack day’ at London Metropolitan University. The BBC’s on line disability magazine Ouch! describes how one blind user at the event said she had difficulty accessing the available books at Project Gutenberg - the online repository of out-of-copyright books, only to receive a link to a newly created cut down version of the site a few days later.

So if you or your business has difficulty using a popular website it may just be worth keeping an eye on Scripting Enabled - or if you have prestigious web skills maybe you can also help out?


No Comments »

Something Should be Done

  • You can do what you want to do
  • You can be who you want to be
  • You can go where you want to go

This is the motto of Wheelchair Steve, who is a blogger, the inspirational star of the above YouTube film and the first RTS Entrepreneur that I had the pleasure of speaking with.

Personally and professionally, Steve is an Accessibility Champion.

His new Something Should be Done campaign challenges Government to amend the Disability Discrimination Act – ensuring every business in the UK provides signage at every public and visitor entrance advising disabled people how they may gain access to their premises, products and services.

You can find out more and register your support for the campaign here


1 Comment »

Ready to Start Blogging

Stephen Hilton

Stephen Hilton

Hello World!

My name is Stephen and I am delighted to welcome you to the Ready-to-Start-Blogging blog – a place where entrepreneurs who happen to be disabled people can share information and ideas, support and inspire each other and shamelessly plug their own businesses.

So why am I here?

Well, I believe passionately that the Internet and new technology can help make the world a more inclusive place. By day, I work for Bristol City Council on e-democracy and e-inclusion projects, which aim to open up the way councils and the Government make decisions. To find out more about me click here

I am also partially sighted, as is my teenage son. I know only too well how difficult life can be if you are a disabled person. Still, I like to think that this experience has given me a unique perspective on the world and has made me more creative and innovative… There again, my son would say “Dad you are talking rubbish!”

Lastly, I do like to say “Yes!” So when the lovely folk at Leonard Cheshire Disability advertised for a volunteer to help revitalise the Ready-to-Start online forum, I just couldn’t resist.

Enough about me… let’s hear about you and see what we can create together!

Best Wishes

Stephen


1 Comment »