MPs on the Work & Pensions Committee in the House of Commons are discussing today new technology from the likes of Microsoft, Apple and Google which will (according to the HoC press release below) “help people with disabilities get into, progress in – and literally get to work.”
Perhaps someone should point out to MPs that if they are really interested in helping disabled people get to work, then perhaps they should discuss returning some of the ‘old’ technology that has been taken away from them in the last few years.
Such as cars:
Motability car loss ‘left me suicidal’ says disabled man
Obviously, all this ‘new technology’ is going to mean handing billions of our money over to high-tech’ companies.
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PRESS RELEASE
Work & Pensions Committee
Immediate: Tuesday 30 January 2018
Committee investigates assisstive technology
On Wednesday morning Work and Pensions enters the brave new world of assistive technology: technology that – should – help people with disabilities get into, progress in – and literally get to work.
Giving evidence we’ve got three people who use – and invent, and campaign on – various types of this technology, which range from sensory aids to AI tools that facilitate access to and use of buildings, or other technology, followed by the experts who make this work in workplaces, and Microsoft, one of the key developers of useable assistive tech.
This is one-off evidence session on the use of Assistive technology (AT) follows on from the predecessor Committee’s inquiry into the Disability Employment Gap. It will focus on how AT can assist disabled people in employment, the reasons why disabled people struggle to use it prior to employment, and the implications of that on disabled people’s employability. It will also look at the role of mainstreamed assistive technology, and how DWP can encourage its use. Questioning will cover:
– Disabled people’s experiences of AT and its limitations
– Why improvements in AT haven’t helped to reduce the Disability Employment Gap
– Whether the Department should encourage or facilitate the use of mainstreamed technologies
– How the Department can improve access to AT for disabled people prior to working
At 09.30 in Committee Room 6
Jo-Ann MoranBEM-Assistive Technology user.
Stephen Duckworth-Assistive Technology user.
Simon Wheatcroft-Assistive Technology user.
Tracey Johnson- Formerly access to work assessor
At approximately 10.30am
Hector Minto – Microsoft
Robin Christopherson MBE – Ability net /ENDS
Notes:
Google and Apple were also invited to give oral evidence
Committee Membership is as follows:
Frank Field – Chair (Labour), Heidi Allen (Conservative), Andrew Bowie (Conservative), Jack Brereton (Conservative), Alex Burghart (Conservative), Neil Coyle (Labour), Emma Dent Coad (Labour), Ruth George (Labour), Chris Green (Conservative), Steve McCabe (Labour), Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party)
groovmistress said:
My immediate thought was the same as you – £££s going the way of the corporations for something that will, in all probability, help very few. Call me a luddite but sometimes I wish these scientists and inventors would stop coming up with things which our Government then feels obliged to find a use for (driverless cars anyone?) then the millions might be spent where it’s really needed – on the welfare/wellbeing of the actual people.
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sdbast said:
Reblogged this on sdbast.
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jaynel62 said:
Given that technology is predicted to replace thousands of workers already, this appears just another way to smack those of us disabled people who’ve survived so far
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epicyclo said:
First, let there be jobs suitable for the less abled.
Without jobs, it’s all talk.
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hilary772013 said:
Reblogged this on hilary77blog.
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Barbara Hulme said:
They have also cut access to work for disabled people which is a budget given to companies to spend on assistive technology for individual disabled people that they employ!
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Florence said:
Is there going to be an app that over-rides discrimination in the job market? Until then, disabled will not be employed. When last employed – with Access to Work support, which is now almost non-existent – I was actually more productive than most of my colleagues, in a senior job. My degenerative condition had started after I joined the company, and many bosses had to be persuaded to take on on “disabled” colleague. However it was also discrimination that drove me from that workplace, and damaged my health to the point of no return. Until this is sorted out, a bit of software or Ai isn’t going to cut the mustard. Getting into a work place is now harder or impossible with AtW and PIP cuts.
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Terry Davies said:
The questions which apply are:
1) has AT improved?
To my observations its not unknown for those with franchises to be economical with truth and likewise government departments. Also 2) how and why does the technology impact on the basic principle that all technologies should effectively reduce the need for workers to attend the workplaces in the UK but theyre still entitled to an income.
All comments welcomed
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seachranaidhe1 said:
Reblogged this on seachranaidhe1.
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Hilde said:
Well said Tom! There should be a complete ban on giving any public money to high-tech companies.
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Bobby said:
This blogpost and the comments are Luddite nonsense. Suppose we had never talked to or given any money to the big tech companies which enabled us to have medical scanners, antibiotics, the internet, etc. and the countless other things which have improved our lives?
The cuts in Motability have nothing to do with high tech companies, and to conflate the two is simply ridiculous.
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jo said:
Bobby ”talked to and given money to” …thats conflating two issues as well.
If I was in the creating technology to improve lives (except the money self money one) it would be free to all ‘that’s why I created it’ …so thats a standpoint from what all the worlds resources are actually for including people and then thats conflated with what tax to govern ..ments is for..allocation of funds to supply …or in the current affair ,help mr and mrs
very rich.
I use my limited simple ‘me’ tech to help people free when or where I can..its like a resource ,I would expect anyone who wants to be a politician to be of the same mind as myself and techy comps or millionaire business comps to also be the same but with a labour charge.
but hey ,ridiculous conflating is very conflated…wish stuff was easy 🙂
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Bobby said:
I said “or” not “and” so that’s not conflation. I’m sorry but I didn’t understand the rest of what you said so I can’t respond further.
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jo said:
thats good you don’t understand ,it helps ‘or not’ to see the different types of people and their inner minds 🙂
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Jonathan Maher said:
A friend of mine, a children’s social worker whose deaf and relies heavily on the access to work fund to provide her with the right equipment for assistive technology to do her job legally and safely.
Except the Thick or more likely mendacious Tories wanted to take away the money that pays for it and keeps a good social worker with a disability in employmenr rather than stuck at home.
Its time there were jobs for real people to do of all abilities, my last job working for a large Trade Union was truly the most boring and complete waste of my talents.
Too many jobs these days require a degree but for work that really doesn’t require it.
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Martin said:
I hear that some local authorities are investigating ways in which Amazon’s Alexa may help the elderly, at home. “Alexa, keep me warm.” “Alexa, help me with my meds.” “Alexa, I’m feeling so lonely.” Yes, I can see how that would work, perfectly.
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jo said:
Alexa could actually help if it was linked to the NHS and the NHS was full of caring on call ”FUNDED” people at the ready to rush to help, as intended…..not the tory /neo liberal underfunded maxed out form filling protocall caring folk that are struggling themselves to work there version of PR management shareholder profit grabbing thing in a lot of cases today.
Or of course Amazon are just thinking great we can do meds and insurence in pokey UK now we have the gov under our coop empire and make a few quid there too, USA style..like maybe ….
”Alexa hellp”..
‘no problem ,just tell us your bank and credit details and we’ll have a medic there in a jiffy’…’oh your not insured with us’..goodbye,have a nice day’.
Well it day say ”may help”.
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Debanjan Saha said:
Good to hear that 👏
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