As we’ve mentioned before, one of the biggest concerns for clients looking to take their work online is whether doing so is exclusionary to some groups. To a degree this misses the point, that if we believe we currently have a democratic deficit in the UK, then current methods are likely to be being exclusionary themselves. But more important than that, anecdotal evidence has suggested that amongst disability groups, the internet is actually a more inclusionary form of participation, for a whole host of reasons.

So was pleased today to learn from a friend that Leonard Cheshire Disability’s most recent survey of disabled people found;

“90% of respondents said that they had access to the internet at home and they use it for a wide range of activities including paying bills; accessing chat rooms; finding out information and emailing friends and family.”

Compared with the current UK average, 90% is huge, and whilst there is still a range of issues that need careful consideration, using the internet need not be exclusionary for disability groups in and of itself. If anything the situation is quite the contrary.