Adapting Technology - Changing Lives

AbilityNet is a national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. Our special expertise is ensuring that whatever your age, health condition, disability or situation you find exactly the right way to adapt or adjust your ICT to make it easier to use.

View our Annual Report.

Enable children with a disability in Northern Ireland

Are you an Education or Health Professional based in Northern Ireland who wants to enable children with a disability to access a computer? AbilityNet have a further 2 years funding through The Roald Dahl Foundation to train and support an additional 50 Nursery schools and associated professionals to enable children with a disability access a computer. This project includes training a loan bank of specialist equipment including accessible toys, keyboards, mice and switches.

For more information please call 0800 269 545 or email preschool@abilitynet.org.uk

Accessibility code of best practice and standards development funded by Nominet

With funding from Nominet we are developing a code of best practice and a Standard of Accessibility, we will be working with tutors to enable identification of improvements to content to both web and printed materials for students within Primary, Secondary and Higher Education provision and Public Access Centres. We are able to deliver training for you within your School or Education Establishment for you to look at the best ways of making your documentation used accessible. We can also audit your website for accessibility.

Please contact us on 0800 269545 or email accessmaterials@abilitynet.co.uk

BT Community Connections

If you are a community or charitable organisation that is looking to extend your work through use of the internet and ICT but don’t have the means, apply for an award today!

Find out more about BT Community Connections

Free Support Packages for AAC/AT Services

Boy using assistive technology (headset)

Free AbilityNet support packages for AAC / AT services supporting children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs

We are offering Local Authorities and PCT’s in England a number of free funded one year “Local Capacity” Service Level Agreements (SLA) to support their students and staff in their use of assistive technology to overcome communication difficulties. Find out more about our Free Support Packages for AAC/AT Services.

Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan

HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution which scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report. Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.

Sustaining Switched on Communities

Are you a voluntary organisation supporting individuals within your local community with ICT or is ICT part of the service you offer within your local community? With funding from the Big Lottery AbilityNet and with our Community Partners in the North East, West Midlands, East Midlands and London we have the opportunity for Voluntary and Community Organisations to join us as part of this funded project. Your organisation will receive an accessibility kit, initial and ongoing training and support , access to the our extensive loan bank of equipment, the full range of individual assessment options, and advice about adaptive technology for your centre and individuals using your centre.

If you would like to be part of this project please email switchedon@abilitynet.org.uk or call 0800 269545.

Get the most out of your computer

View our Factsheets and Skillsheets.

Visit My Computer My Way.

Find out about myguide.

Exploring AAC

A website for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, their families and the people who support them, and aims to show them a selection of different AAC devices.

Find out about AAC.