It's never easy to talk about abuse - and for disabled children or children with special educational needs it can be even harder. That's why the NSPCC has added new accessibility features to its website for teenagers, worriedneed2talk.org.uk, which go live on 17 November.
The website helps young people understand how to deal with issues such as abuse, bullying and relationship difficulties - and by increasing the accessibility of the site, even more children can get the information and advice they need.
New features on worriedneed2talk.org.uk include:
- A British Sign Language (BSL) video version of the entire site - video clips can be played alongside the text for BSL users.
- A spoken version of the site, for people who find it easier to listen than read.
- A fun online game, 'Demon Dash' - navigate your character away from menacing 'worry ghosts', and talk to a trusted grown-up to banish them. Bright graphics and cute characters get the message across in a fun and involving way.
- The Worried? Need To Talk? Video, which features young people explaining the different types of abuse and encouraging others to find someone to turn to if they have been affected by abuse - using video instead of text can help engage more children and young people.
- The site has been re-written in plain English, making it easier to understand.
- The site is accessible for assistive technologies that help visually impaired people such as screen readers (software that 'reads' web pages).
David Miller, development manager of services for disabled children and their families at the NSPCC, said: "These innovations will allow more young people to access this important website and open up about their experiences of abuse. They represent a positive step towards our goal of making cruelty to children stop."
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For more information please contact Bronwyn Friedlander or Clare Foges at the NSPCC media office on 020 7825 2739/ bfriedlander@nspcc.org.uk or 020 7825 2514/ cfoges@nspcc.org.uk. Out-of-hours mobile 07976 206625 (SMS and voice only).
Editors notes
The NSPCC's purpose is to end cruelty to children. Its vision is of a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. We seek to achieve cultural, social and political change - influencing legislation, policy, practice, attitudes and behaviours for the benefit of children and young people.
