The document summarizes a webinar about how technology can support those with multiple sclerosis (MS). It provides an overview of the speakers and topics to be covered, including apps that can help with MS symptoms and medical situations, case studies of technologies helping those with MS, ways to make offices and work environments more accessible, and the MS Society's efforts to build an accessible digital culture. The webinar consisted of presentations on these topics, demonstrations of assistive technologies, and a question and answer session.

1. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can
support you
Chris Parker, MS Society
Teresa Loftus, AbilityNet
Alex Barker, AbilityNet
Gordon Curry, AbilityNet
Annie Mannion, AbilityNet (host)
25 April 2023

2. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Welcome
• BSL translation. Slide panel to increase size (desktop/laptop)
• Live captions during the online event – toggle on/off
• Slides, a transcript and recording will be made available:
www.abilitynet.org.uk/MSWebinar
• Please use the Q&A window to ask questions
• Chat function is disabled
• Feedback form to ask any follow up questions post-event

3. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Who are we?
AbilityNet supports people of any
age, living with any disability or
impairment to use technology to
achieve their goals at home, at
work and in education.

4. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Today's speakers
• Chris Parker, Head of Digital and Content, MS Society
• Teresa Loftus, Senior Workplace and Education Inclusion
Consultant, AbilityNet
• Alex Barker, Disability Consultant, AbilityNet
• Gordon Curry, AbilityNet volunteer

5. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Poll 1:
Do you use any assistive technologies to help with
your MS symptoms?
Yes, loads
Yes, some
Not yet, but I’m hoping for ideas from this webinar
No

6. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Apps that can help with MS
Alex Barker, AbilityNet

7. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Seeing AI

8. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Alexa

9. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Bezzy MS: Multiple Sclerosis

10. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
My Computer My Way

11. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Apps that can help in medical situations
• Text to speech (built in sometimes) or browser extension eg. ReadAloud tool
• Look Out (Android version of Seeing AI): can use read paper-based letters (fast)
• Be My Eyes: Look for volunteer / medical condition /confidentiality/correct
medication etc/timelag
• Google Keep/Apple Notes: can identify text in pictures / saved images (eg.
medical letters, shopping list shared document)

12. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Case study: Helping a client with MS
Gordon Curry, AbilityNet volunteer

13. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Broadlink

14. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Join our Tech volunteers!
www.abilitynet.org.uk/volunteers
“I get lots of support from AbilityNet staff,
and from the excellent website. I always
feel valued when I'm working and never feel
judged when I'm not.” - AbilityNet Tech
Volunteer
“Welcoming, supportive environment.
Excellent training. Totally rewarding!” -
AbilityNet Tech Volunteer

15. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Office adjustments – work and home
Teresa Loftus, AbilityNet

16. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
• Hardware
• Software
• Accessibility
• Productivity
• Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Adapting your working environment

17. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Digital Accessibility at the MS Society
Chris Parker, MS Society

18. Accessible by
culture

19. We're the MS
Society
19
Our vision is a world free from the effects of MS.
We are:
• Funding world-leading research to find treatments for
everyone.
• Providing information and services so everyone can
live well with MS.
• Making our voices heard and campaigning for
everyone’s rights.
Everything we do is guided by people with MS. Because
together
, we're stronger
.
And together
, we will stop MS.

20. Developing a culture of
accessibility
20

21. Step 1
Understanding
where we are
21
And ultimately where we are
failing.
• Legacies from a world before digital
accessibility.
• Complex and varied condition.
• Limited budget and capacity.
• Technology moves fast.

22. Step 2
Putting
accessibility
at the core of
our brand
22
By always being accessible
Everyone should be able to use our resources and
read our words. We work to make our content
accessible from the outset of every project.
"
"

23. Step 3
Establishing
(and enforcing)
our principles
23
• We always achieve WCAG AA.
• Accessibility is a 'must' requirement
when we build or buy a new system
or platform.
• We always provide experiences
in alternative formats.
• We're not afraid to send people
elsewhere.

24. Step 4
Training,
continuous
learning and
passion
24
• Writing skills – plain English.
• Technical skills – AbilityNet training.
• Skills sharing from subject experts.
• Show and tells.

25. Step 5
Focusing on
our users
25
Researching. Listening. Testing. Responding.
Repeating.

26. Accessible culture in
action
26

27. Disease
modifying
treatment
tool
27

28. Disease
modifying
treatment
tool
28
Use of plain English

29. Disease
modifying
treatment
tool
29
Best practice way-finding – tab-able
and selected states

30. Disease
modifying
treatment
tool
30
Best practice visual cues

31. Disease
modifying
treatment
tool
31
Alternative options – tool,
video, printed booklet,
speak to a person.

32. Audio
description
as standard
32

33. Audio
description
as standard
33

34. 'Alt-tagging'
of social
media images
34

35. 'Alt-tagging'
of social
media images
35

36. Webchat
36
• Making communicating with us
accessible to all.
• A fully accessible solution was a
core requirement.
• Extensive testing to make sure
it is set up in an accessible way.

37. Evolving
our brand
for a digital
world
37
Changing our font

38. Evolving
our brand
for a digital
world
38
Aiming higher with colours

39. 39
Thank you
.

40. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Panel discussion

41. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Open Q&A
Please use the Q&A window, not the chat window
Slides, transcripts and a recording of this online event will be made available

42. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Free IT Support at Home and online
• Factsheets, webinars available: abilitynet.org.uk
• Helpline: 0800 048 7642 – 9am to 5pm,
Monday to Friday
• Free tech support for disabled and older people:
www.abilitynet.org.uk/at-home
• 300+ tech volunteers who can solve IT issues either
remotely or in person

43. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Accessibility and inclusion training courses
• Accessible events using Zoom and Teams: 27 April
• Removing disability barriers in the workplace: 3 May
• Accessibility for developers courses: 4 May and 18 May
• Save 10% on 2023 training courses: discount code AbilityNetWebinar10
• Book now: www.abilitynet.org.uk/training

44. Multiple Sclerosis: How technology can support you – April 2023
Keep in touch
• AbilityNet newsletter: abilitynet.org.uk/newsletter
• Accessibility services: abilitynet.org.uk/accessibility
• Next free webinars: abilitynet.org.uk/webinars
• Coming soon: Tech4Good Awards – entries open until 5 May:
www.tech4goodawards.com