1. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Top tips for boosting your digital skills,
with BT Group and Age UK
Amy Caton, BT Group
Kathleen O’Donnell, Age UK
Alex Barker, AbilityNet
Annie Mannion, AbilityNet (host)
Tuesday 12 September 2023

2. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Welcome
• Live captions during the online event – toggle on/off
• Additional captions available via streamtext.net/player?event=AbilityNet
• Slides, a transcript and recording will be made available:
www.abilitynet.org.uk/OlderPeopleTech
• Please use the Q&A window to ask questions
• Chat function is disabled
• Feedback form to ask any follow up questions post-event

3. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 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. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Today's speakers
• Amy Caton, Senior Manager, Digital Talent and Impact at BT Group
• Kathleen O’Donnell, Digital Inclusion Learning Manager at Age UK
• Alex Barker, Disability Consultant at AbilityNet

5. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Poll 1:
What best describes your reason for attending
today? (Choose just one)
I am here to learn how tech can help me
I am here to learn how tech can help someone I know - a relative or friend
I am here as a professional to learn how tech can help a client I work with
I am here to learn more about tech and accessibility in general
I am here for another reason (feel free to share why in the Q&A area)

6. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Tech adjustments and tools including
My Computer My Way
Alex Barker, AbilityNet

7. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Addressing different disabilities
• Sight loss
• Hearing loss
• Motor skills
• Cognitive disabilities

8. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
How My Computer My Way can help
Link:
https://mcmw.abilitynet.
org.uk/

9. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Sight loss tech tips
Vision apps such as Seeing AI,
Lookout and Be My Eyes
Magnifying the screen, using My
Computer My Way

10. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Making text bigger
Link: https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk/how-
to-make-text-and-icons-larger-in-macos-
Mojave

11. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Hearing loss tech tips
Speech to Text apps - Apple Live
Transcribe and Google Transcribe
Hearing aids - some have Bluetooth functionality
and can connect to mobile devices
Doorbell technology: mobile alerts to see who is at
the door. Flashing or vibrating ring doorbells
Hearing loops - easier to hear in busy areas eg Post
offices, train stations, cinemas – setting to ‘T’

12. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Motor skills issues tech tips
Slowing the mouse down
Alternative keyboards and alternative mice and pointer
devices - compact keyboards/larger keyboards with
keyguards
Dwell Clicker software
Phones designed for older people: eg. Doro
There are many companies that can offer equipment to
trial out on a sale or return basis. Contact us for details!

13. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Accessibility Settings – use
filter keys eg for Parkinson's
Link:
https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.
uk/how-to-avoid-unwanted-
keystrokes-using-filter-keys-
in-windows-11

14. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Cognitive disabilities tech tips
GPS Watch – tracking
Smart sole – GPS tag into shoes
Amazon Alexa – pill reminder,
scheduling

15. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Smart Technology
1. Amazon Show
2. Smart plugs
3. Smart door locks
4. Smart watch
5. Smart coffee maker
6. Smart hoover
7. Smart lightbulbs
8. Security camera
9. Smart thermostat
10. Location tracker

16. BT Group and digital
skills
Amy Caton – Senior manager, Social Impact

17. 17
BT Group PowerPoint |
BT Group Manifesto: Accelerating
growth through technology that is
responsible, inclusive and
sustainable.
Digital Voice: Our new home
phone service, powered by your
broadband connection. Part of the
UK’s transition to a full fibre digital
future.
BT Group and digital skills

18. BT Group PowerPoint | 18
- Help 5,000 older (over 65) and digitally excluded
people develop their digital skills
- Onboard 50 new BT Group volunteers for AbilityNet
Learning is delivered 1:1 or in small groups to help:
- 90% Better able to use their tech & more
confident about digital
- 90% Better able to participate in new activities and
find info
- 80% More independent and able to manage day-to-
day life
Intro to tech
Building
confidence
Thriving in
the digital
world
Focus on the following regions:
- Edinburgh and Glasgow
- London and the South East
- Cardiff and the South West
- Manchester
- Birmingham
Together we will:

19. 19
BT Group PowerPoint |
BT.com/SeniorSkills

20. BT Group will create a tech café – the BTea Room - to tackle UK’s
intensifying digital divide. Serving up scones and skills, to over 65s
struggling to get to grips with the digital age.
Welcome to attend alone, or with others
‘Byte-size’ fun learning sessions.
Birmingham 26 – 28 September
Glasgow 4 – 6 October
Bournemouth 18 – 20 October
Topics will include:
• Get started using the internet​
• Staying safe online​
• Online shopping​
• Video calls​
• Social media​
BTea rooms

21. Age UK’s Digital Champion
Programme
Kathleen O’Donnell, Digital Inclusion Learning Manager, Age UK

22. Digital exclusion: older people
Key services such as health and banking are
moving to be online focussed.
Digital exclusion refers to those people who
aren’t online, and who are therefore excluded
from the many benefits it can bring.
82% of all digital exclusion is among those aged
65 and above.

23. Digital exclusion: the barriers
Access
Skills & knowledge
Confidence
Motivation
Accessibility barriers

24. Digital Champion Programme 2022 - 2026
“The Digital Champion Programme aims to
tackle digital exclusion by recruiting and
training Digital Champion volunteers, who will
support older people to improve their digital
skills, as well as providing loan technology to
those without access.”

25. Digital Champion Programme 2022 - 2026
Volunteer Digital
Champions recruited
and trained to support
older people.
Awareness raising to
help older people
understand the
benefits of being
online and build self-
efficacy.
Providing access to
technology and
connectivity on a loan
basis.
Older people access
digital support
sessions to develop
their digital skills and
confidence, including
how to stay safe online.

26. Age UK Gloucestershire
Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire
Age UK East London – Low income
Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham
Age UK Lambeth
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove
Age UK Portsmouth – Mobility issues
Age UK Teesside – Memory Loss/Dementia
Age Cymru Dyfed
Age UK Lancashire
Age UK Devon
Age UK South Gloucestershire –
Housebound
Age UK Isle of Wight
Age UK Milton Keynes
Age UK County Durham
Age UK Herne Bay & Whitstable
Age UK Lindsey
Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland
Age UK Norfolk
Age UK Worcester & Malvern Hills
– Memory Loss/Dementia
Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering
Age UK Solihull
Age UK Wakefield District
Age UK Oxfordshire – Living alone
Map of Age UK locations

27. Want to get involved?
If you are interested in signing up to the Digital Champion
Programme to learn digital skills or volunteer, you can find out
more information by either:
Visiting the Age UK website to find out the contact
details for the local Age UK, at: www.ageuk.org.uk
Calling the Age UK free support line on: 0800 678 1602

28. Age UK resources: making the most of the internet
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/inf
ormation-advice/work-
learning/technology-internet/

29. Age UK resources: digital inclusion guides
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/inf
ormation-advice/work-
learning/technology-
internet/digital-instruction-
guides/

30. Age UK resources: awareness raising videos
Age UK have created 5 stories to motivate and inspire older
people to get online:
• Jean
• Jean and Lauren
• Dereck
• Ruth
• Compilation
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBszkWChYeWJ9
5KTsx6TGs6rUGH4gMRi0

31. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Talking about the benefits of tech with Jean
https://youtu.be/eANYlCKES
jE?si=kI43Khz0tCsScUsv

32. Thank you
For me more information, or if you have any questions please visit:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/programmes/digital-skills/digital-champions/
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/work-learning/technology-internet/
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/work-learning/technology-internet/digital-instruction-guides/
Or contact me at:
Kathleen.O’Donnell@ageuk.org.uk
02030331197

33. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Poll 2: Feeling inspired?
Are you now feeling inspired to share or try out
some new tech or adjustments ideas?
• Yes, I'm going to try some of your suggestions from today
• No, I’m still not confident
• I'm not sure. I am going to think about it
• Not applicable

34. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Panel discussion

35. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 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

36. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 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
• 350+ tech volunteers who can solve IT issues either
remotely or in person
• Fancy volunteering? /volunteer

37. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
How do you feel about accessibility?
• Third annual Attitudes to Digital
Accessibility survey is now live!
• Please complete if you work in an
organisation
• Closes 30 September:
abilitynet.org.uk/Attitudes

38. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Accessibility and inclusion training courses
Save 10% on 2023 training courses: discount code AbilityNetWebinar10
Book now: www.abilitynet.org.uk/training
• Embedding accessibility in your organisation - 21 September 2023
• Accessibility for copywriters - 28 September 2023
• Accessible Content Hub: help your organisation learn best practices:
www.abilitynet.org.uk/accessible-content-resources

39. Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK - September 2023
Keep in touch
• AbilityNet newsletter: abilitynet.org.uk/newsletter
• Accessibility services: abilitynet.org.uk/accessibility
• Free webinars: abilitynet.org.uk/webinars
• How will Artificial Intelligence change accessibility testing?: 26 September
• Dyslexia-themed webinar: Tuesday 3 October