Workbook final

077 - Digi Place for all, NCBI, Ireland

ONTACT

NCBI

Mr. Mark Magennis

Ireland

+353 (0)1 882 1956

VERALL GOAL

MISSION

Digital literacy is essential for inclusion. However, despite advances in assistive technologies students with disabilities

still face significant barriers to access training in digital skills due to factors such as cost, difficult physical access and lack

of information. Online communities and mailing lists already exist where information about technology and disability

could be shared. But the needs of persons with disabilities joining such communities are often drowned out by the

larger non-disabled community. Also the websites often present barriers for people with sensory, motor or intellectual

impairments and users of assistive technology.

DigiPlace4all is a community website focused on disability, accessibility, digital skills, inclusive education and

employment. The website enables people with disabilities to support each other in building the digital literacy skills

needed to transition from Vocational and Educational Training to mainstream education and employment. It provides a

space for members to request and offer support and to share news and information about topics related to disability.

HE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED

DigiPlace4all is a social media based website, currently running in four different languages (English, Dutch, Polish and

Bulgarian) providing a space for people with disabilities, educators and employers to post, respond to requests and offer

one-to-one peer support. Members can describe what help they need or can provide and how they would like to

communicate with the other person (for example by email, phone, skype, face to face meetings,) DigiPlace4all also

provides a public blogging space where members can post news or information concerning topics like technology,

funding sources, events, training sources, inclusive education and employment. In the “My Story” section, members can

share their experiences of the technological challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them. Lastly

members can propose themselves or others to become Digital Champions who help to promote and grow the

DigiPlace4all community within their peer networks.