Technology Toolkit

Full of practical advice and tips on how technology can improve disability inclusion in your organisation.

Last Modified: 10 May 2024

Technology Toolkit

This Toolkit includes guidance on how technology can make your organisation more inclusive. Created by our Technology Taskforce, a group of senior IT accessibility individuals from leading UK and global organisations.

All the resources in this Toolkit are free and open to all. Members and Partners enjoy exclusive access to the full range of Knowledge Hub resources plus additional membership benefits.

Join us

Technology can be a vital tool for disabled employees, customers, clients and service users – but only if it’s used in an inclusive way. Our Technology Toolkit, available free for everyone, is full of practical advice and tips on how technology can improve disability inclusion in your organisation.

If you need to create an inclusive technology strategy, not sure how best to integrate assistive tech, want to get your technology procurement right or to access the latest on accessibility standards, this Toolkit is for you.

Created and reviewed by our Technology Taskforce, (a group of senior IT accessibility individuals from leading UK and global organisations), this Toolkit will be useful to organisations of all sizes, sectors and industries, and is also a helpful reference for organisations conducting our Accessibility Maturity Model self-assessment.

Watch an introduction to the Technology Toolkit below.

Thank you

Business Disability Forum would like to thank the members of our Technology Taskforce for creating and reviewing the resources in this Toolkit and the Accessibility Maturity Model.

Toolkit resources

Section 1: Inclusive technology strategy

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How to avoid barriers in technology

Disabled people often encounter barriers to their full participation in society, related to their disability. These can arise from every aspect of society – including the technology we use. 
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Accessibility Maturity Model

Download our self-assessment tool to check your organisation’s progress on digital accessibility. This page also has guidance on how to use the AMM.
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How to measure and report on accessibility

This resource addresses the challenge of turning accessibility from a cause championed by a few passionate enthusiasts into a mainstream concern within the organisation.
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Obtaining management buy-in

This page sets out some shared experience in how to obtain it building on the experience of members of the Technology Taskforce.
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Accessibility Champions and Sponsors

In order for an organisation to move their accessibility agenda forward, it’s important to have Accessibility Sponsors and Champions.
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The Accessible Technology Charter

This guide will talk you through the process of signing up to the Charter, the commitment that you are making and how it will help you to embed accessibility into…
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Creating an IT accessibility policy

This resource provides guidance about what organisations need to consider when creating an IT policy on accessibility.
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IT accessibility funding

This resource has been produced to help organisations consider the different types of activity that need to be funded, and to identify and manage their budgets.
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Disability Smart webinar – Technology

This video explores the role of technology within our Disability Smart Framework, including how businesses can use technology to improve disability inclusion.

Section 2: Assistive technology

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What is assistive technology?

Our Technology Toolkit talks a lot about assistive technology (AT) – but what do we mean?
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Assistive technology catalogues

Many people with disabilities or impairments benefit from the use of assistive technology (AT) in the workplace.
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Supporting staff with assistive technology

Assistive Technology can refer to any kind of device, software or system that helps people with disabilities perform tasks with greater confidence, accuracy and independence.
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Assistive technology and IT security

Many people with disabilities or impairments benefit from the use of assistive technology in the workplace. However, the use of such technologies can introduce additional information risks that need to…

Section 3: Everyday technology

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Everyday technology and disability

In this resource, we explain the ways in which organisations can use everyday technology to support disabled people.
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Making Microsoft Word documents accessible

This guide is for people who are producing Word documents for internal circulation, to upload to the Internet, or to load into Adobe presentations.
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Creating accessible PDFs

This guide is for people who are producing PDFs documents for internal circulation, to upload to the Internet, or to load into Adobe presentations.
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Making Excel spreadsheets accessible

This guide is for people who are producing Excel 2010 (or later) documents for internal circulation, to upload to the Internet, or to load into Adobe presentations.
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Making PowerPoint presentations accessible

This guide is for people who are producing PowerPoint documents for internal circulation, to upload to the Internet, or to load into Adobe presentations.
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Artificial intelligence and new technologies

This resource explores some of the ways in which businesses should engage with new and emerging technologies in order to obtain the benefits of innovation without sacrificing disability inclusion.

Section 4: Adjustments for employees and customers

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Barclays – Diverse Personas

In 2015, Barclays consulted with accessibility experts and disabled people to create a range of personas, representing people with different disabilities.
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