research lockdown and internet use

azealia84

New member
I'm researching for an article for Big Issue North. I'm trying to get a picture of some of the struggles people have had through lockdown where it comes to accessing online services.
Do you normally rely on public computers or public wifi?
Have you spent more than normal on Pay As You Go top-ups?
Have you struggled to apply for benefits, do your shopping, access health services or information because you didn't have access to the web?

Any opinions/experiences would be very welcome
🙂
 
I'm researching for an article for Big Issue North. I'm trying to get a picture of some of the struggles people have had through lockdown where it comes to accessing online services.
Do you normally rely on public computers or public wifi?
Have you spent more than normal on Pay As You Go top-ups?
Have you struggled to apply for benefits, do your shopping, access health services or information because you didn't have access to the web?

Any opinions/experiences would be very welcome
🙂
Hi @azealia84 i dont Know if you are still working on this but my specialist art studio I belong to (for learning disabled artists) switched to zoom back when lockdown first started and most of us had our sessions switched to zoom, one of the biggest barriers for me was speech,being a non verbal autistic but the studio had raised a lot of money for iPads to go to the artists who needed one and they gave me one so I coud use mine for talking with (an AAC program called Proloquo2go)and the other iPad for the Zoom camera.

I have been able to access a lot more through zoom,for example I spent 10 weeks working with a big London Gallery remotely with a fellow artist from the studio and one of our staff,because we all got on so great together I’ll be starting work with the same artist and staff again next week with an an arts workshop up in Scotland.

like many from my art studio I am Also part of an arts organisation called outside in,and the owner of the organisation actually set it up for me while I and the studio owner was on zoom with her,we are hoping to meet at some point......I woudnt ever have interacted with people who are not in my routine before so zoom has actually made me a bit less rigid and more confident.

i am going through a lot of tough stuff at home outside of the unknown of covid as my mum has a very serious cancer and skype Has helped me keep in contact with her and my dad,as I struggled a lot with this for months,and my care facility not allowing me out as it’s what they believed Had to happen, part of my routine was to go to the local shop every day to buy a drink,and I didnt react well at all to being suddenly told I’ve got to stay in and I can only go shop once a week.

I was being charged £50 a month by BT just for broadband and it’s not very strong either so I was swapped to Vodafone By my appointee and staff, but Like every company or place they refuse to speak to my support staff on my behalf without me giving verbal permission which obviously won’t be happening any time soon when I can’t verbally speak or interact in real time with people I don’t know,that Was probably my biggest problem when it came to getting help.

I also have no debit card,due To having A appointee who looks after my moneys and bills etc,so it was impossible to do online food shopping.
my appointee eventually got me a mastercard pay card thing a few weeks ago, so I can buy online but it usually flags up anything I buy to the appointee,so she has the power to make it go through or not,and there are lots of limits to it.

so yes online has been difficult, but it has had its positives for me.