Get Online Week boosts Digital Skills for People in Shropshire
Get Online Week, the UK’s largest digital inclusion campaign, kicks off on October 14, with Sight Loss Shropshire and Shropshire Council’s Digital Skills Programme joining forces to help people get connected.
Get Online Week is organised by UK charity The Good Things Foundation. The campaign emphasises that everyone, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to benefit from being online. Whether it’s learning to manage money, recognising scams, or gaining essential skills, the focus is on inclusivity, especially for people with sight loss who face unique barriers to digital access.
Sight Loss Shropshire is delivering its Digital Skills Programme in partnership with Shropshire Council, offering free support, including one-to-one sessions.
Sight Loss Shropshire also facilitates Digital Drop-Ins for technical help at the twice-monthly In Touch Telford Group at Telford Southwater Library.
Digital Volunteers and staff, who are well-versed in accessibility tools like screen readers and voice assistants, are ready to assist people with sight loss in developing their digital skills.
As part of Get Online Week, several events have been designed across Shropshire for people wanting to learn how digital technology can enhance independence, and highlight how accessible technology, such as screen readers and voice-activated devices, can make everyday tasks easier for visually impaired individuals.
Key events to look out for:
- Monday, October 14 to Friday, October 18
A series of daily Tech Talks will be released, featuring Sight Loss Shropshire’s Tech Coordinator Vicki, who will explain how technology like smartphones, apps, and voice-activated tools can assist people with sight loss in their day-to-day lives.
- Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – 1:30 to 2:30 pm
A session at Bethphage, Shrewsbury, specifically designed for adults with learning disabilities or sight loss. The team from Sight Loss Shropshire will demonstrate how to use devices like Alexa to assist with everyday tasks.
- Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – 11:00am to 1:00 pm
Free drop-in session for people with sight loss at Telford Southwater Library. These tech training sessions cover everything from magnification, voice commands, talk back, useful apps and so much more, with demo devices available to try. The free sessions are held every first and third Wednesday of the month, excluding January and December.
For more information on these and other events happening across Shropshire across the week, visit Shropshire Council’s newsroom.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to get online—let’s make the digital world more accessible for all.
Part of Shropshire Council’s Digital Skills Programme and supported by funding from Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust and Wenlock Forester Trust, Sight Loss Shropshire offers free digital skills and accessibility training for visually impaired people, tailored specifically to the needs of each person. For more information, get in touch with our team on 07778 956096.