The Museum of London’s Podcasts from the Past initiative has won the Jodi Awards Digital Access Online category. The annual awards are for the best use of digital technology to enhance access to culture for disabled people.
Podcasts from the Past involved long-term unemployed people describing museum objects for the visually impaired, working with audio-description company VocalEyes. The judges described the project as “a timely inspiration for museums, galleries and heritage sites”.
Imperial War Museum Duxford and its partner Antenna Audio won the prize for Best Digital Access Onsite. Their work, Airspace, tells the story of British and Commonwealth aviation, the development of which was aided by local disabled people. The resulting tour was described as “a sophisticated interplay between handling originals, models, immersive sound and different styles of description”.
Leeds Library and Information Service won an award for its Boardmaker project for children with autism and communication difficulties.
Artist Sally Booth won the Digital Access Online (low-budget) award for her website, which the judges said “oozes accessibility”.
The awards are in memory of Jodi Mattes, a campaigner on accessibility issues. Speaking at the ceremony at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Martha Lane Fox, the government’s digital inclusion champion said: “All winners have thoroughly involved disabled people in service design.
“They showcase many ways of digital inclusion for disabled people who have a right to the same choices and benefits that those who take digital media for granted do.”
