The £20 guide, available on a CD, is described as a
user-friendly source of practical information designed to enable
anyone to set up their workstation correctly, adjust their computer
settings to suit their individual requirements and maximise their
personal comfort.
These straightforward modifications are easy to implement and
can significantly reduce the risk of staff taking time out for
stress, back, wrist or eye strain or RSI, which currently costs the
economy over four million working days a year, according to the
charity.
A 2003 survey of 15,000 US adults of working age, carried out by
Forrester Research, showed that 60% could benefit from the use of
accessible technology due to physical or visual difficulties and
impairments which have a negative impact on their computer use. And
AbilityNet reckons that whatever is good for employee health and
morale is undoubtedly good for the bottom line.
Its "Very Best CD of Office Sense" covers all the common
mistakes with photo illustrations and includes a summary of the
legislative context for employers. It advises on inexpensive
hardware and software solutions – many of which are available for
free as standard accessibility options in Windows – to prevent and
manage temporary loss of function and longer term disability.
AbilityNet's Operations Director, David Banes said:
"Many problems which affect PC use can be avoided with the
appropriate technology. Simple adjustments can be of tremendous
help to staff with dyslexia or poor sight, in addition to temporary
conditions such as whiplash, a neck injury or a broken arm. None of
these should prevent an employee from gaining full and effective
computer access."
The charity says that only 42% of the seven million disabled
people of working age in the UK are in employment. Around one in
five become disabled whilst in a job and it points out that losing
their contribution deprives organisations of a considerable asset
often representing a significant investment, in terms of the skills
base and experience they will have accumulated over the years. The
Employers' Forum on Disability has reported that losing such an
employee can cost organisations around £160,000.
