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Digital public services not working for visually impaired Welsh speakers

Published

11 months ago

August 6, 2025

Blind Welsh speaker calls out digital inequality at Eisteddfod panel event

DIGITAL public services are failing visually impaired users who want to access them in the Welsh language. This was the powerful message from Rob Williams during a panel event at the National Eisteddfod this week.

Hosted on the Welsh Government stand at the Eisteddfod, the event marked the launch of Access for All – a new book from the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) and Cardiff University. The publication brings together real-life stories, global best practice, and practical guidance to support more accessible digital design in Wales.

Rob, from Wrexham, is registered blind and a first language Welsh speaker. He acknowledged improvements in digital accessibility in recent years but said the lack of suitable Welsh-language screen reader technology continues to shut people like him out of essential services.

He highlighted that very few people can afford to buy braille displays, which allow users to read on-screen content in braille. He also noted that Welsh screen readers currently available can only be used for reading long texts or stories, as they’re not suitable for essential day-to-day digital tasks.

“Government websites in English are generally accessible if they follow digital standards. But I’ve never been able to use public services in Welsh,” he said. “There’s no suitable Welsh-language technology that I’m aware of to help me navigate them, so I don’t know what’s available or how usable those services are. I can’t even text my family in Welsh, which is frustrating and makes me sad, as I’ve spoken Welsh to them all my life”

Rob added: “The feeling of relying on someone else to complete a simple task, not because of your disability but because it hasn’t been adapted, is horrible. It could mean missing out on vital support or benefits.”

As a Digital Skills Officer for Vision Support, Rob regularly works with older Welsh speakers who struggle with digital services, sometimes due to low digital literacy, but often because of language barriers. “Welsh-language helplines are often unavailable or just not to the same standard as the English ones,” he said. “We’re encouraged to go digital, but until accessible Welsh-language screen readers are developed, offline services must remain properly available.”

Welsh Language Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones was on the panel during the discussion at the Eisteddfod. Efa said: “It’s important to acknowledge that progress is being made in this field. The Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr, for example, is undertaking excellent work – leading the way in research and development in both text and speech technologies.

“That said, Rob’s story is a powerful reminder that there is much still to do. If we are to ensure that Welsh speakers can fully benefit from language technology, further investment and work is needed.”

CDPS recently ran a research project exploring the state of digital accessibility in Welsh public services. The research found some good practice, but also highlighted major challenges – including unclear enforcement of standards, a lack of in-house skills, and poor accessibility in many third-party supplier products.

Joanna Goodwin, Head of User Centered Design at CDPS, said: “Behind every product, every service, and every policy, there are real people affected by the decisions we make. The stories in our book, as well as Rob’s, challenge us to think differently, to listen more closely, and to design with empathy.

“When we do that, something remarkable happens. Take video captions. Originally designed for people with hearing impairments, they’re now used by anyone watching videos in noisy places, quiet offices, or while learning a new language. Designing for people with access needs improves the experience for everyone.

“The Digital Service Standard for Wales demands that we make sure everyone can use our services. This isn’t just policy, it’s a moral imperative rooted in the Well-being of Future Generations Act. Our new book, launching today with Cardiff University, is more than guidance – it’s a call to action.”

Community

Bongo Clive brings rhythm and smiles to VC Gallery celebration

Published

20 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LEARNING DISABILITY WEEK MARKED WITH MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND INCLUSION IN PEMBROKE DOCK

THE VC GALLERY in Pembroke Dock was filled with music, laughter and energy as visitors came together to celebrate Learning Disability Week.

The event saw popular entertainer Bongo Clive lead a lively session of singing, drumming and participation, with those attending joining in throughout the day.

The gallery said the session had created a joyful atmosphere, with music helping to bring people together and celebrate inclusion, creativity and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for The VC Gallery said: “The smiles said it all. A huge thank you to Bongo Clive for bringing your incredible energy, enthusiasm and positivity to The VC today. You certainly had everyone moving to the beat.”

Learning Disability Week celebrates inclusion and the abilities, creativity and individuality of people with learning disabilities.

The Pembroke Dock event highlighted the role of community spaces such as The VC Gallery in supporting wellbeing, friendship and confidence through shared creative activities.

Community

Sir Karl Jenkins named Eisteddfod President for 2026

Published

21 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIR KARL JENKINS has been named President of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for 2026.

The internationally acclaimed Welsh composer, one of the world’s most performed living composers, will take on the role as the festival prepares to welcome performers, competitors and visitors from across the globe.

Sir Karl is best known for works including The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, Adiemus and Requiem.

His appointment comes in a landmark year after The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was voted the most popular work in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026.

Opening night return

Sir Karl’s presidential year will begin with the opening night concert, Uniting Nations: One World, on Tuesday, July 7.

The concert had been due to take place in 2025 but was postponed, causing disappointment for volunteers, performers and audience members who had travelled from across the UK and overseas.

The Eisteddfod has now brought the event back with support from the Arts Council of Wales.

Sir Karl said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Llangollen Festival this year and especially honoured to do so in the role of President.

“Llangollen is always a very special place to be, with its unique sense of community and international spirit.

“I’m greatly looking forward to conducting my most recent choral work, One World, particularly following the postponement of last year’s performance.

“It’s a piece that I feel reflects the very essence of the festival, bringing together outstanding musicians from across the globe to form one powerful collective voice.”

Global chorus

The evening will feature a full performance of One World, conducted by Sir Karl and performed by an international massed chorus made up of WorldChoir and NEW Voices, accompanied by the Llangollen International Orchestra.

The work blends Jenkins’ distinctive musical style with themes of humanity, compassion and environmental stewardship.

The concert will also include a complete staging of Peace Child: The Musical, which places young people at the heart of its message of peace and global citizenship.

Opening the evening will be the world premiere of Greeting the Dawn, a newly commissioned bilingual work by emerging Welsh composer Sam Buttler.

The piece was written for the 2026 Eisteddfod through the Harmony Without Borders initiative, continuing Llangollen’s tradition of supporting new talent and giving Welsh composers an international platform.

‘Great cultural ambassador’

John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Sir Karl Jenkins has agreed to serve as President of the Eisteddfod for 2026.

“Few musicians have done more to promote the values of peace, friendship and international understanding that lie at the heart of our festival.

“Sir Karl is one of Wales’s greatest cultural ambassadors and his music has inspired audiences across every continent.

“The fact that The Armed Man has just been voted the nation’s favourite classical work is a testament not only to his extraordinary talent, but also to the universal appeal of the messages of peace, hope and humanity that run through so much of his music.”

Mr Gambles added: “The postponement of One World last year was heartbreaking for everyone involved.

“We knew how much the concert meant to audiences, performers and volunteers alike, and we were determined to find a way to bring it back.

“Thanks to the support of the Arts Council of Wales, we can now finally give this extraordinary concert the audience it deserves.

“With Sir Karl as our President, the return of One World, the world premiere of a major new Welsh composition and the powerful message of Peace Child, this promises to be one of the most memorable and significant opening nights in the Eisteddfod’s history.”

Festival programme

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returns for its 79th year on Tuesday, July 7.

This year’s programme includes performances from Michael Ball, Emeli Sandé with the Absolute Orchestra, Uniting Nations: One World featuring Sir Karl Jenkins, and the Choir of the World competition.

Thousands of competitors from around the world will also take part in the daytime programme, with the Parade of Nations returning on Friday, July 10.

Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from £33.

Further information is available at llangollen.net.

Community

Lord Rhys emerges from the mist in St Davids

Published

24 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Giant puppet begins historic journey marking 850 years since the first Eisteddfod

MIST swirled around St Davids Cathedral on Friday evening as a giant Lord Rhys puppet emerged from the fog to begin a journey celebrating 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod.

Accompanied by traditional musicians and followed by crowds of spectators, the towering figure cut an imposing sight against the backdrop of the ancient cathedral.

The procession marked the start of Taith yr Arglwydd Rhys (The Journey of Lord Rhys), a cultural pilgrimage retracing the legacy of the Welsh prince whose gathering of poets and musicians at Cardigan Castle in 1176 is widely regarded as the first recorded Eisteddfod.

As fog drifted across the city and church towers faded into the background, the scene felt more like a chapter from Welsh folklore than a modern-day celebration.

The giant puppet, accompanied by fellow performers and musicians, travelled from St Davids Cathedral to Oriel y Parc before beginning a wider journey through west Wales.

The travelling celebration will visit communities across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion before culminating in Cardigan, where Lord Rhys originally staged his famous cultural gathering eight and a half centuries ago.

Video and photographs shared by DrifterStDavids captured the remarkable atmosphere, with many describing the spectacle as one of the most memorable cultural events seen in St Davids for years.

Photo caption: Lord Rhys emerges from the mist outside St Davids Cathedral as celebrations begin to mark the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod

(Pic: SmallWorld – Video: Drifter St Davids)