By Polly Raymond, 12 May 2000 00:30
COMMENT Never before has the UK been so obsessed by its rich and successful. National papers and magazines rarely miss a chance to run a rich list or single out the technology entrepreneurs of the moment. But while the high-tech sector is breathing new life into the UK economy, the gap between the IT haves and have-nots is growing ever larger. The digital economy is in danger of leaving behind large parts of the population, including people with disabilities. Yesterday IT directors and other industry members gathered in London to address this problem. The British Computing Society's 'Access for All' conference considered the rights of people with disabilities and the role the IT sector should play. The aim was to place social responsibility alongside the insatiable desire to move as quickly as possible towards an e-society. On the whole, workplaces cater poorly for the UK's 2.2 million workers with disabilities. Technology has all too often been developed without this sector of the population in mind. Until recently, it wasn't even designed for anybody other than techies. This must change. Organisations must start to use technology to break down the barriers that currently prevent the employment of people with disabilities. The Disability Discrimination Act, passed in 1996, is a compelling reason for this to happen. Tapping into all available resources in an age of skills shortages is another. Nobody can honestly accept that tomorrow's economy can exclude this sector of society. IT vendors must rise to the challenge. What's needed is more thought and action.
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