In partnership with Disability Rights UK, academics from the University of Salford are set to launch a series of events that will aid disabled people in entering the world of entrepreneurship. The “In the Making” project will concentrate on digital businesses and the way disabled people can harness the power of new technology to create their own business. Experts from the world of business will hold digital business taster sessions where they will share their knowledge in product design and allow people to try out cutting edge 3D scanners and printers for themselves.
International 3D fabrication experts “Fab Labs Manchester” will be in attendance to give people a taste of up to date digital technology. Staff will be on hand to help people create new products and prototypes ranging from musical instruments and furniture to jewellery and art work. Now growing in popularity digital fabrication allows anyone with a computer and 3D printer to produce 3dimensional objects from computer files. These files can be sent and downloaded anywhere in the world.
The first “In the Making” event will be hosted by the BBC at Quay House in the heart of Media City UK on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th July 2015 from 9am till 1pm. The event will then go on the road round Salford heading to Eccles, Swinton, Walkden and Irlam.
Speaking ahead of the first event the University of Salford’s Dr Ursula Hurley, the ‘In the making’ project leader said: “Everyone involved in this project is incredibly excited about the launch of our first event at Media City UK and for our Salford Roadshow. The digital technology boom has opened the door to a new generation of entrepreneurs and we don’t see why disabled people should not be at the forefront of this.”
“New technology has helped disabled people improve their lives and many disabled people have more interaction with new technologies than the rest of the population. This means they are at an advantage and understand keenly how technology can radically improve lives. This knowledge and understanding can and should be harnessed, that’s what our Digital Fabrication Project is all about.”
Philip Connolly of Disability Rights UK said: “At the heart of this project lies a disruptive proposition. If, in 1985, young unemployed disabled people had been trained in the use of personal computers then probably by 1990 they would be the ones in jobs helping companies to digitalise their services. Fast forward to 2015, imagine if young unemployed disabled people had first access to the technology that will drive development and manufacturing in 2020. They could be not just the ones in jobs, but also driving the economy.”
Details of the project, which has been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, are available from www.inthemaking.org.uk.
For further information, please contact;
Ross MacRae
Senior Press & PR Officer
University of Salford
R.D.Macrae@salford.ac.uk
0161 295 6363
Ben Furner
Disability Rights UK
Ben@furnercommunications.co.uk
01273 463461
