07 September, 2017

TechShare Pro to bring together accessibility professionals to explore inclusive design for people with disabilities

TechShare Pro, a new accessibility and UX conferencefor digital design professionals delivered by AbilityNet and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), will take place in London this November.

It will help accessibility and UX professionals, digital designers, developers and product managers to learn more about how inclusive digital design is being embedded into product design and development to help people with disabilities including sight loss.

At the conference on 23 November at IBM Southbank, global experts from companies including Google, O2 and Microsoft will explore the accessibility and inclusion challenges of the next generation of digital services.

The one day conference, sponsored by Barclays, IBM and Microsoft, will look at how to manage change, the skills needed for a rapidly changing technology landscape, and how accessibility fits into it.

Topics already confirmed include artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR), and each session will offer valuable insights and practical solutions from global experts.

Designers and developers who attend will be able to hear about the latest developments and take part in practical challenges to test and grow their knowledge.

There will also be numerous opportunities for delegates to network with fellow accessibility industry professionals.

TechShare Pro is also supported by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) which will launch itsUK chapterat the conference. The IAAP UK chapter was founded by AbilityNet, Atos, Barclays, Lloyds and TextHelp, and it promotes certification and the raising of professional standards in accessibility.

Nigel Lewis, CEO of AbilityNet, said:

"TechShare Pro will be a great help to a range of professionals from digital designers and programmers to accessibility and inclusion practitioners.

"If you want to hear valuable insights about the future of inclusive design from global experts then you should book your ticket now.

"Over 150 people are expected to attend TechShare Pro, and we are looking forward to offering a fascinating and insightful experience to everyone who comes."

Robin Spinks, Senior Strategy Manager (Solutions) at RNIB, said:

"Digital inclusion is becoming more important in society and organisations are recognising the need for all digital communications, products and services to be accessible to everyone.

"That's why we have worked with AbilityNet and our other partners to create a specific inclusive design event for digital design professionals.

"It will offer them a great opportunity to keep up-to-date with industry developments and to grow their skills and knowledge, whilst networking with like-minded professionals."

Tickets forTechShare Proare on sale now at £150 or £75 for anyone from a not-for-profit organisation.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available, including keynote sponsor slots, providing an opportunity to be a major contributor to this unique thought-leading event.

For more information about TechShare Pro and to book your tickets visit: https://www.abilitynet.org.uk/techshare-pro-london-23-november-2017

Ends

Editors Notes

For more information on TechShare Pro please contact Catherine Grinyer:

Email: catherine@bigvoicecommunications.co.uk

Mobile: 07713 248387

About AbilityNet

National charity AbilityNet has over 20 years' experience enabling people with disabilities touse technology to change their lives at home, at work and in education. Globally acclaimed for its expertise in workplace disability management and digital accessibility AbilityNet works with clients in the private, public and voluntary sector including all major Departments of State and many FTSE top 100 indexed companies. The Charity's Patron is Baroness Martha Lane-Fox.

About RNIB

Every 15 minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and we're here for everyone affected by sight loss - that's over 2 million people in the UK. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem, RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visitwww.rnib.org.uk