Weevles Updates Disabled Bloggers Team
Weevl Bloggers Corner
Geting people digitaly connected is critical at this current time where affordability and disability can preclude individuals from widening there horizons. With the help of our community partner North Tyneside Disability Forum we packed off a new Ipad for Simon. this will help him with his ongoing online studies and create a better virtual learning environment to accomplish his aims.
Whether we like it or not technology is expanding into all areas of our social and economic daily lives. For many, this can be a struggle because systems are not accessible or are complete nonsense to those who recall days gone by when “chatting over the garden wall” was the mainstay of the local neighbourhood. Across the UK local digital support services reach out to those on the digital periphery in lots of ways and, critically, provide social support, in the traditional sense, to make sure people take ownership of their local projects. At Park View we constantly review how we extend our support and always look to improve based on your experience. But we still need to do much more!
The UK’s largest digital inclusion campaign – takes place each October and is coordinated and delivered by Good Things Foundation
Get Online Week was established in October 2007 when what was then UK online centres chose to bring digital inclusion to national attention. Since then the campaign has grown into a week-long annual celebration, with thousands of events taking place each year in centres and more unusual locations, bringing digital skills and know-how to everyone.
Our project will be creating opportunities for our residents faced with the challenges of digital transformation to talk to our volunteer Online Chum Mentors about their role in both addressing social isolation and how they can peer support individuals to take control over day-to-day digital tasks that many take for granted.
Many of our members are vulnerable whether it is Learning Disability, mental heath, digital poverty or personal characteristics that increases dependency on others for help is accessing socially essential services.
To connect with us you can access our member designed website, where you can contact our project. This will be monitored by our volunteer Online Chums who will answer any questions you have about how we can help you. Of course we are acutley aware that even accessing a website is too much for many, which is why we are also making sure more traditional forms of communication are available i.e., telephone contact.
We also want local social support agencies to register an interest so that they to can alert those individuals they feel would benefit from the help on offer.
Find out more from our website: https://www.parkviewprojectne.com/online-week-19th-october-2020
A lovely story of a person’s experience of video calling. For many this is still a very strange interactive experience, but the social benefits are enormous especially for those at risk of social isolation.
Over the past few months video calls seem to have taken over just about everything. Calling friends, work meetings, TV shows, hospital appointments, they are all being done over a video call. It seems to be the safest way to see other people. We haven’t been able to meet in person because of Covid-19, so […]
Discovering Video Calling — Glitter In The Darkness
Park View Project can help with digital self learning, which is half the battle if you are already online! Please see our website for details of ‘Learn My Way’: A digital easy-to-follow basic digital skills module. It is recognised by Online Centres Network where registering allows you to connect to your nearest digital support centre. https://www.parkviewprojectne.com/learn-my-way-digital-access
Bullies get their self-esteem from making others feel bad. They have an insatiable need to feel like they’re better than someone and for power. And if they see someone who’s truly happy, confident, or successful, they will hate that person with a passion and go out of their own way to break them down and…
Making Others Feel Bad is The Only Way Bullies Can Feel Good About Themselves — Chateau Cherie
Further bullying insights from Cherie
cheriewhite
Digital accessibility has been at the forefront of many institutional discussions following the introduction of the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 which came in to effect on the 23rd of September 2018 setting out accessibility standards that must be met by all Public Sector Bodies including universities https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps#accessibility-standards
Digital accessibility and the curriculum — thesedablog
Digital Support and Accessibility Issues
SEDA 2019
Creating opportunities is vital to those students requiring help in accessing online learning. There are a multitude of learning opportunities available with technology and software help to ensure digital inclusion. Go to our website for a selection of learning tools available: https://www.parkviewprojectne.com/ You can also find out more by completing the online form: –
Online learning is on the rise. A recent poll found that 46% of recent graduates took an online credit as part of their degree, while more people than ever are turning to hybrid courses that combine distance learning with traditional classroom methods. Many students are attracted to the flexibility of online learning and combine their […]
The Future of Online Learning — Educational News
Mapping the rise in online learning – An introduction
Online learning is available to all. However, a focus by technology companies to create easy-to-read and navigable content is critical to ensure those with disabilities can particpate in making online learning truly inclusive. However, for many access is dependent on embracing digital processes, which is why we provide local support for vulnerable people living in North Tyneside with solutions to getting involved. We do this by breaking down the barriers that exclude them from taking advantage of all that the internet has to offer by delivering online support close to home and, thereby, increase the level of competency for developing their interests online and. critically, to give them the basic digital skills to tackle online learning.
Online Chum Mentoring Scheme
Established in 2015 as volunteer Information Ranger – which has now morphed into its present format over the succeeding years involving a purely mentoring one – we now call Online Chum Mentor.
The aim is to match a volunteer from the local community to a beneficiary according to the needs of the beneficiary and the complimentary skills of the volunteer. Together they form a trusting relationship for a period of time set out by the beneficiary. The outcomes are linked to what the beneficiary wants to achieve, which may be as diverse as setting up an email address, accessing socially essential services, day-to-day household tasks such as banking or utilities, including how to use a variety apps safely and securely.
The volunteer role is a varied and, although, originally conceived as a ‘remote’ supporter, it can develop into a face-to-face interaction. However, any joint working taking place in the community is within the organisation’s framework rather than as an independently arranged engagement. All volunteers are interviewed with an agreed profile archived on a secure website and DBS checks are undertaken. The timeline of the volunteer from inception is documented and shared with the volunteer; this covers training needs, ideas on ongoing development of the scheme, problems the volunteer encounters, Health & Safety, one-to-one support and invitations to group meetings where experience can be shared with others.
Integral to our mission are the social goals driving our digital project, where volunteers and beneficiaries come together as one family sharing online and offline activities and to participate in organisational events such as outreach, exhibitions, attending community partner drop in sessions, marketing, Active Learning (Community Reporters – Community Reporters), cyber-crime awareness as well as our own drop in sessions we operate two days a week. The overall aim is to integrate the virtual and non-virtual worlds, which is often the best digital learning experience for many older and disabled people living in North Tyneside.
If your interested in finding out how you can get involved visit our website https://www.parkviewprojectne.com/ or drop us an email at: office@parkviewproject.org.uk
We are looking for those who come from a wide range of backgrounds, young or old, disabled or not, who have a passion to help people get access to the internet. No specialist knowledge required and training available online to help you get underway.
The only criteria is you must live or work in North Tyneside.
Thank you for your time in reading this blog.
This year Online Week is on from 19 – 25th October. Many local Online Centres Network members will be hosting events around the country, we will be representing North Tyneside borough as the specialist Digital Disability Support service. We will be posting further information nearer the time. Because of the current restrictions in access to our drop in services, all the events will be held virtually. If in the event we are able to deliver some elements of this years programme with a non virtual space, we will plan this into the forthcoming diary. Hope you can all join us nearer the time?
Email: office@parkviewproject.org.uk for further information
Digital Health Hubs: A UK Charity, Good Things Foundation, Leads the way in keeping this on the agenda, ensuring that the most vulnerable are connected. (FB,Tumblr & Twitter members)
On Tuesday, Professor Sir Michael Marmot released a 10-year review of his 2010 report into growing health inequalities. I’m sure we all agree with health secretary Matt Hancock that “there’s still more to do”. Marmot’s review reveals stalling life expectancy for men and women in England since 2010. The more deprived the area, the shorter […]
The NHS spends more than half its budget on people who can’t access the internet – here’s what I’m doing to change that — Helen Milner
Weevles Updates Disabled Bloggers Team 