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About these guides

We understand that while there can be common aspects, organisations work in different ways and what works for one, might not fit so well with another. These guides are written as an example of what best practice might look like in your organisation, but it may be that you have to adjust what is recommended to accommodate your particular circumstances.

Similarly the guides do not include detailed technical information as this would tie them to a specific technology or set of circumstances.Instead the guides convey important principals and approaches that can be applied in any industry and using any technology.Where appropriate the guides reference other sites and resources which contain more technical detail at the time of publication/last review.

Authors:Neil Miliken, Atos

Contributors:Paul Smyth, Barclays, Sean Smith, HMRC

Editors:Lucy Ruck and Bela Gor

Introduction

The Accessibility Champion Is An Essential Role

The Champion Creates the Business Case:

  • Why the business needs accessibility
  • Identify Risks
  • Benefits – Use BDF TT Materials
  • Why we should do this
  • Benefits to our organisation
  • What does it mean for us?
  • Why it can’t be delayed
  • Use the maturity model to help understand and communicate the state of play.
  • EA 2010 – Anticipatory Duty (you cannot wait for people to identify a need).
  • Early engagement saves money

What Makes An Accessibility Champion?

A Champion Is:

  • Passionate about the topic
  • Supported by a Senior Manager (The Sponsor)
  • Keen to learn
  • Collaborative / An Enabler
  • A Change Agent
  • Proactive
  • Pragmatic

A Champion is not:

  • Doing it because they have been told to
  • (Necessarily) A Very Senior Manager
  • (Necessarily) Technically Knowledgeable about Accessibility.
  • Afraid of challenges
  • A Crusader / Blocker
  • Reactive
  • Dogmatic

The Champion Identifies and Engages Key Stakeholders

To lead the formation ofTaskforce / Steering Group (drawn from Stakeholders)

The champion will need to manage up as well as down.

Taskforce helps formulate and monitor – Ideally meets on a regular basis.

  • Report Progress (use the Maturity Model)
  • Discuss Challenges
  • Policies
  • Procedures
  • Benchmark with other BDF Members
  • Use available resources

Technology Taskforce is committed to ensuring that all its products and services are as accessible as possible to everyone, including disabled people. If you wish to discuss anything with regard to accessibility of this document please contact us, via email: one: (0)20-7403-3020
Registered charity no: 1018463.

Registered Office: Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY.

Registered in England under Company No. 2603700

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