UCanDoIT petitioned the Prime Minister, the petition and response are shown below:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to make funding available for one-to-one computer training for all disabled people in the UK.
We believe that all disabled people have the right to be included in the digital age. We state that most disabled people get greater benefit from tailored one-to-one tuition in their own homes than they would in a classroom situation.
We also believe that the government should fund this teaching and all training opportunities for disabled people in order to enable them to find work or further education where appropriate. Funds for teaching I.T. skills for social and daily use should also be made available.
We also believe the government should fund the provision of computers and specialist software and hardware where appropriate"
Response from No. 10 Downing Street to the UCanDoIT petition:
David Lammy, Minister for Skills, recently met Anthony Wigram the founder of UCanDoIT, and was very impressed by the work being done by the organisation. He has given a strong steer to officials to find ways of taking up the challenge presented by Mr Wigram, and as rehearsed in the e-petition. Another colleague minister, Stephen Timms, Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions is also committed to the promotion of computer training for disabled people in their homes and is sponsoring a reception in the House of Commons in October. This has also attracted the interest of the Department for Work and Pensions in how computer training in the home can help prepare disabled people for entry to work.
DIUS is actively looking at how we can support the expansion of training for disabled people in the home. We recognise the benefits, both social and economic, and in particular the impact on disabled people’s confidence in moving on into further training and work. This is essential if we are to ensure that all groups in society are able to benefit from our drive to improve the nation’s skills and enable people to lead fulfilled lives.
Officials from DIUS are working closely with Mr Wigram and will be reporting progress to David Lammy in October. The support for the e-petition demonstrates that disabled people do need a better range of support measures to ensure they are not left behind in the fast-moving world of technology and I look forward to seeing progress soon in this vital area."
