NETg is claiming to be the first company to enhance its complete IT and
desktop e-learning courses to ensure that workers with disabilities have equal
learning and development opportunities.
The Thomson Learning Company recently hosted a roundtable event at which
representatives from the disability, training and learning sectors unanimously
agreed that many UK companies are unaware how to address the issue of
accessibility when implementing learning programmes for the disabled.
"Many organisations believe there are huge cost and time implications
involved in introducing accessible learning solutions – something which doesn’t
have to be the case," says Richard Orme, head of technology in learning
and employment at the Royal National Institute of the Blind.
"Unfortunately, this fear means that accessibility is quickly thrown
out of the window. The result? The wrong learning solutions are in place for
the wrong people, which not only ends in disabled workers being at a
disadvantage, but all workers."
Organisations don’t have to buy separate NETg courses for disabled users
because the accessibility functionality is built into every course and can be
simply switched on. NETg worked with TecAccess, a technology company
specialising in accessibility for the disabled, and the functionality is
present on a range of its IT and desktop programmes ranging from Microsoft
Office applications to C++ programming courses.
"Many UK companies are neglecting the training requirements of their
disabled staff. This is leading to many workers not reaching their full
potential," says Jon Buttriss, operations and services director at NETg.
"As we have shown with our courses, UK plcs shouldn’t be ignoring the
needs of disabled workers, but neither should they be making a special case for
it. All learners should be able to use the same course and enjoy the same
results regardless of any disability."
NETg has partnered with Safari Books Online to provide an electronic reference
library to supplement its portfolio of courses.
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