APART Consultancy and Demon


In 1997, after several months of negotiation, our Company, APART Consultancy Limited, became contracted by Demon Internet, to provide technical support for their blind and visually impaired customers via a dedicated telephone line.
APART Consultancy is a company completely owned and operated by blind people. We were able to demonstrate to Demon how important the internet would become to visually impaired people of all ages and that by providing this service, Demon would be complying with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Demon Internet a brand of THUS Plc., is the only UK internet service provider to implement and fund a support service for the blind and visually impaired. Specialised support can be obtained during office hours, Monday to Friday, tel. 01702 547876 and outside these times, Demon's own technical help desk is able to give both professional and sympathetic support, tel. 0845 2722444

Initially, as well as providing a dedicated telephone support line, Demon funded the provision of their magazine, @demon on audio cassette, later it was distributed on cd until the publication became available only online. Demon also provided the web space for the magazine to be accessed online in real audio.

In 1997, many internet users were still using DOS software, Demon funded the production of the KA9Q software manual in braille, now there are very few DOS users and this particular service is no longer required.

Once a visually impaired customer has signed up with Demon, and providing they have made the sales or technical support team aware of their special needs, the customer is given our support number. We always return calls on the line funded by Demon. Initially we help to set up dial up accounts and more recently, adsl connections.

As we have knowledge in the use of several screen readers and screen magnification software packages, we are able to help customers install, configure and use their choice of email client in a way that makes them feel confident and comfortable. Many calls can take an hour or more.

We have access to Demon backline support and Customer Service personnel which means, when necessary, we can escalate queries directly and obtain speedy resolutions.

There is no extra charge for these services.

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