A network of Knowledge to get you in.
To build a web and mobile based platform to share information that enables people to make informed decisions to plan a trip if they are disabled, elderly, are carers, have disabled family members, carrying heavy luggage, temporarily disabled or have young children with pushchairs.
It harnesses the ethos of crowdsourcing and collaborative consumption so that local knowledge we have of our own area could be shared with others to make a big difference to everything you do everyday. It makes the real world and virtual world more accessible and welcoming.
It offers realtime information and updates - it's the little things that also matter.

The problem

Every day, due to their disability, 27% of the UK population (over 16.8 million people) face major barriers accessing and engaging with everyday tasks most people take for granted including accessing public services, employment, shopping, education, social and cultural activities.

Access information online is poorly presented, often hidden and difficult to find. Visiting multiple sites  to plan a trip, factoring in additional access issues such as being unable to read the screen if you are blind or dyslexic, lack of access symbols, lack of realtime information, videos without subtitles or sign language.

These barriers are cited by BIS in the '2012 Legacy for Disabled People inclusive and accessible business' results in 1/4 of potential customers being turned away from businesses either physically or virtually.

In addition only 1% of websites world wide are fully accessible world-wide (source: UN 2006).  The Oxford Institute of Internet Surveys 2009 cited disability as the main cause of  digital exlcusion.

There is a rising elderly population (50% of over 50% have some age related disability). Yet in the UK economically Disabled people are worth £80 Billion per annum.

The UK has the 2nd highest disabled population worldwide (behind Finland 32%, the USA has 18% disabled population worth £220billion p.a.).

1 in 3 people know someone who is disabled and being prevented from doing our shopping, going to the cinema etc. has a wider impact on not just preventing us from doing things but also affects our family and friends.

Access audits are expensive, what do you know about your legal requirements under The Equalities Act 2010?

Many companies struggle to address their legal responsibilities to their disabled customers, cannot afford to purchase expensive equipment that is used once in a blue moon. Do not know where to go when things go wrong, who to talk to, who to use to provide Disability and Deaf Awareness Training.

What services are offered are not always the reality. Wheelchair accessible routes are padlocked, security staff refuse entry to drop off points, staff unaware how to communicate with a Deaf person.  Induction loops are switched off/broken (RNID found in 2011 that 86% of high street businesses don't have working induction loops)

How do you complain when it goes wrong? How do you let others know of your experience? How do you praise and recommend when you have a great customer service? 

The idea

Make the world more accessible if you are Deaf or Disabled by connecting people online and off using Go Genie by:

1. Harnessing the best of digital platforms to crowdsource access information and local knowledge of accessibility of all buildings, transport etc.
2. Enable companies to use Go Genie to find cost effective solutions to improve their access  for disabled customers with disabled people the best judge of what is accessible and offering solutions. Sharing of portable access equipment, training,  portable ramps and induction loops etc.
3. Enable and encourage disabled people to use the web as a useful tool to improve their quality of life
4. Encourage disabled people to use digital platforms that they wouldn't necessarily access.

What we need

1. Dynamic web developers who can build flexible platforms (whether for fixed fee or further involvement
2. Technical and digital expertise to guide Pesky People to make informed decisions.
3. Business planning support - as a disabled led company this is new ground for us.
4. Investment and funding - we want it to be sustainable not to just have a shelf life.
5. Somewhere to work in Shropshire where can mix with other creative people (ideally free wifi)
6. People who want to make it happen and can help.

We have already received support from Arts Council England West Midlands (Digital Content Development Programme) which enabled us to do user consultation in the West Midlands from September 2010 to January 2011.

We have received a further £20,000 from NESTA Reboot Britain fund  towards a small pilot build (April - July 2011).

Our partners include Telford and Wrekin Council, Audiences Central, Black Country Touring, Enabled By Design.

It will go a long way but we need further support to make Go Genie a reality.

Tags

Disability, Deaf, crowdsourcing, Apps, Inclusion Accessibility

Go Genie