Paralympics fever is good news for national online campaign to help people with disabilities

Go ON Gold, an initiative backed by high profile Paralympians such as 16 times medal winner Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson and silver medal winning hand cyclist Karen Darke, is hoping to see a flurry of interest in its work in the wake of the euphoria surrounding this year’s Games.

The campaign, supported by Go ON UK, which is chaired by UK digital champion, Martha Lane Fox, aims to raise awareness of, and remedy, the barriers faced by disabled people in accessing the internet.

Go On Gold co-founder and chair of the RNIB Group, Kevin Carey, said the country was currently experiencing an unprecedented interest in the achievements of and issues affecting disabled people.

“What we’re seeing at the moment would have been unimaginable a year ago,” said Kevin, who is himself blind. “Suddenly people who would otherwise have been invisible to mainstream society are not only in the public eye but have become heroes and role models.

“As our goal is to help the 43% of disabled people in this country – that’s four million people - who have never been online to gain access to the internet we need to capitalise on this overwhelming enthusiasm and harness the passion the British people currently have for what can be achieved by people of all abilities.

“If people with prosthetic limbs can run 400m in 46 seconds, then surely it’s possible for us to help people with a sight impairment to order their shopping online. This is the 21st century and it’s time we brought internet accessibility in line with sporting accessibility.”

The Go ON Gold website acts as focus for key resources and expertise to help people get on line and also features a number of videos by high profile disabled people and disability campaigners explaining how the internet has helped them. With Tanni Grey Thompson and Karen Darke starting the ball rolling, Go ON Gold is aiming to encourage more of this year’s Paralympian champions to add their voice to the campaign.

Kevin’s comments echo those made by London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe who has declared an unprecedented understanding of the achievements of people with disabilities.

Go ON Gold, funded by social investor Nominet, intends to sign up 1,000 new digital champions over the next 12 months in the use of accessible technology. It will also encourage businesses, organisations and policy makers to become more aware of the needs of disabled people - including their own staff and customers – and of the benefits to the economy of enabling everyone to be on line.

To find out about Go ON Gold and become a Digital Champion and help a disabled person to get online, visit www.go-on-gold.co.uk

 
Image:Go ON Gold co founder RNIB Group chairman Kevin Carey congratulates double gold medal winning wheelchair athlete “Hurricane” Hannah Cockcroft on her gold medal at the Paralympics

 
Go ON Gold is a partner project of Go ON UK, the UK’s new digital inclusion charity led by Martha Lane Fox and backed by the BBC, Age UK, the Post Office, TalkTalk, Lloyds, the Big Lottery Fund and Eon.

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For further information on this press release, contact Go ON Gold press officers, Carrie Saint Freedman on 01926 429595 or 07733227003 or at carrie.sf@ntlworld.com or

Helen Salisbury on 01926 495425 or 07966 167269 or at helensalisbury@btconnect.com