Internet services in Australia let down disabled

By Rodney Appleyard

Disabled users in Australia have voiced their disappoint at using internet facilities in Australia, because they say the price of buying computers, paying for internet service providers and buying adaptive software is too expensive.

This follows a recent survey carried out in the U.K. by the Disability Right Commission showing that more than 80 percent of websites are unusable for disabled people.

These internet facilities included booking a holiday, managing a bank account, buying theatre tickets or finding a cheaper credit card.

Deborah Hutchinson, senior information officer for Ideas (Information on Disability - equipment access services inc.), which is an information resource centre that finds computers for disabled people, said that there is need to be an improvement in accessibility. "Disabled people find it very hard to get hold of computers, because they can't afford to pay for them with their disability benefits.

Even when they can get access to a computer, they next difficulty they face is finding money to get a cheap enough internet service provider. On top of that, they then have to pay for adaptive software to help them understand and use websites.

"We help them by putting them in touch with organisations which recycle computers, modify them and then provide them to disabled people. Disabled people can find out about this at: http://www.greenpc.com.au, and www.technicalaid.org.au (TAD). For the cost of 60 dollars a year, disabled people can borrow a computer and pay a one off fee of 20 dollars for a printer. But we need more help like this."

Marianne Diamond, executive officer at Blinds Citizen Australia, who is blind herself, said that the government needs to do more and website builders need to incorporate guidelines to help disabled people access their sites. "The government should make adaptive software more available to disabled people. This software, such as "Jaws" - which speaks in the background, telling the users what is on the screen and what they are typing in, and "Zoomtext", which makes the text larger, is too expensive for disabled people.

"Sure, disabled employees can get this equipment because they have a job, but it also needs to be available for disabled people who can't get jobs.For the disabled people who do have access to the computer, internet service provider and adaptive software, it has a terrific impact, but for too many people, there is just not enough access or help on offer."

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