Parliament Welcomes the Access and Assistance for All Champions

What is the Access and Assistance for All (AAA) Campaign?

The Access and Assistance for All (AAA) campaign aims to increase access to assistive technology within Further Education (FE) colleges and to ensure that their resources are accessible by design.

How Did the Campaign Start?

The campaign began with a group of Youth Champions who were passionate about making a change, all of whom have lived experience of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and have personally struggled as a direct result of the lack of awareness and support when it comes to the use of assistive technology in an education environment. The Champions partnered with University College London (UCL) and Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) and began to contact FE colleges across the country to ask them to agree to five pledges. When a college agreed to commit, or showed interest in the aims of the campaign, we would provide them with resources to use to better support students who require assistive technology to thrive.

AAA Parliamentary Event

Earlier this year, we hosted a special parliamentary event at the Palace of Westminster, aiming to raise awareness about our campaign and encourage MPs to support accessibility by design in FE settings. Our aim was to inspire them to promote the campaign to their contacts and local colleges. The event was organised by TPT, alongside ten Youth Champions (including me, Zehra). We invited MPs to learn about the campaign, hear our stories, and show their support. Many MPs joined us for photos with our selfie frame to publicly stand behind our message. A total of 30 MPs attended, along with representatives from the Association of Colleges and eight FE colleges that actively support the campaign.

The day was full of energy and passion. We gave presentations about the campaign and our lived experiences, showcased accessible websites and assistive technology, and held open discussions where MPs could ask questions and engage directly with us. As a Youth Champion, I found the day incredibly inspiring. The enthusiasm and confidence of all champions was amazing. We all spoke passionately, shared our stories honestly, and showed real professionalism. The MPs were genuinely engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and spent time talking with us about the issues.

We wanted MPs to understand the importance of assistive technology, highlighting the difference accessibility by design can make and the barriers students face when accessibility isn’t part of the design process. By speaking directly to them, we hoped to raise awareness of the AAA campaign’s aims and inspire them to promote the campaign to their local colleges and key contacts. The event made a real difference. 30 MPs heard directly from us and pledged their support. Many promised to promote the campaign and discuss it with colleges and policymakers.

This event reminded me of the impact we can have when we speak up, share our stories, and work together. I really hope this event will help to create lasting change—where accessibility by design and assistive technology are promoted in all FE colleges ensuring a true equal playing field for all students.

How Do Colleges Support the Campaign?

The AAA campaign is supported by a variety of organisations, including Association of Colleges (AoC) and Nasen who have previously featured articles written by the Youth Champions. As a result, more colleges and college groups are making commitments to follow the Campaign’s five pledges. These pledges include

1. Working towards making learning resources accessible.
2. Choosing an accessibility champion.
3. Promoting comprehensive information about assistive technology.
4. Using the AAA templates and other resources.
5. Ensuring staff members understand what the campaign is about and how it can benefit students.

Where can I find out more?

The stories of the Youth Champions involved in the campaign can be found on the campaign website; AAA Student Stories | Make Things Accessible. Making sure resources are accessible to everyone, and that the materials provided by colleges are compatible with assistive technology is the essential goal of the campaign.

To get involved or find out more, please contact EducationPolicy@pocklington.org.uk or explore the existing resources on our website Access and Assistance for All | Make Things Accessible