Graduation Tales | Ashley helps support adults with learning disabilities to become better digitally included
24 January, 2025
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The International Convention Centre Wales in Newport has once again seen thousands of our graduates cross the stage in their cap and gown. To celebrate, we are sharing the stories of some of our inspirational students.
Ashley Bale, who is graduating this week from the MSc in Leading Digital Transformation, developed an innovative app that helps adults with learning disabilities to socialise and engage digitally.
The 33-year-old from Pontypridd is the Digital Inclusion and Innovations Manager at Innovate Trust – a supported living organisation that helps adults with learning disabilities to live as independently as possible.
Innovate Trust supports people across Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The organisation established the UK's first supported living home, having started as a volunteering project by a group of students in the 1960s.
Their pioneering work in advocating for adults with learning disabilities effectively ended long-term institutional care, by moving people from hospital settings into the supported living models they had created. Innovate Trust continues to lead the way in empowering adults with learning disabilities.
Ashley first joined the social care sector in 2009, as a support worker for adults with disabilities. Having always had an interest in emerging technology and helping people, he has spent his career developing ways to improve digital inclusion in the social care sector, using technology to directly benefit those he works with, as well as supporting the organisation in digital transformation projects.
This has included leading work on developing Smart Housing, using the latest mainstream technology and voice assistants to help make life easier and more manageable for adults with learning disabilities to live more independently. By integrating cutting-edge assistive technologies, Ashley and his team at Innovate Trust are enabling greater autonomy and quality of life for the individuals they support and those they work with through digital inclusion projects.
The success of the project has meant that local authorities and housing associations are adopting and implementing the Smart Housing model across their properties and improvement works, underlining the wider impact and scalability of this innovative approach to increase and maximise independence.
“We are living in an increasingly digital world, and a significant part of the population still remains digitally excluded,” said Ashley.
“It’s my aim to address this digital divide and embrace every opportunity so that no-one is left behind. Through my work at Innovate Trust, I'm committed to ensuring that adults with learning disabilities have equal access to the benefits of technology and digital opportunities available."
Ashley is also the developer of the charity's Insight app, which aims to provide a social space for adults with learning disabilities. People can join the app through referrals at Innovate Trust or a partner organisation.
Since its launch in 2019, the Insight app has grown from 400 members to more than 2,000, with more than 100 organisations from across the UK joining the app, demonstrating its widespread appeal and effectiveness in fostering social connections and inclusivity.
“The app was initially developed for people we support at Innovate Trust, but when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, it became evident that many people across the UK were going to become socially isolated due to lockdown restrictions. We made the app freely available to anyone with a disability across the UK, and it became a lifeline for those who were unable to visit family and friends, access their usual community facilities and services," said Ashley.
“The idea was to bring people together who shared interests and may have never had the chance to meet before, providing access to activities and events digitally in an accessible format. This became especially crucial during lockdowns, helping to combat loneliness and maintaining a sense of community.
“Lots of members now use the app as their main social space and have formed friendships, new interests and developed new digital skills. It has become a central space to find out about the latest events and activities available, and we’re thrilled to see the app continue to grow and make a positive difference in people's lives."
Thanks to the project management element of his course, Ashley has been able to develop the Insight app further by effectively leading on new projects that add new features and functionality. One of these new features includes the newly released Volunteering Hub – which aims to provide adults with learning disabilities the ability to find and apply for volunteering opportunities with local organisations.
The hub offers accessible, easy-read resources on how to apply to be a volunteer, and allows members to input their availability, individual needs, and which sectors they are interested in. This innovative feature expands the app's scope, promoting social engagement and skills development.
Ashley said: “The Volunteering Hub has been specifically designed for adults with disabilities. We worked with the Skills and Well-being department at Innovate Trust who met with members of the app to feedback and test the hub. This collaborative, user-centric approach ensured that the app remains relevant, accessible, and truly beneficial for the user, as it was shaped directly by them.
“We’re looking for more organisations to come on board so that more volunteering opportunities in different areas can be offered to members. By expanding our network of partner organisations, we can create a richer, more diverse range of volunteering roles that cater to individual interests and aspirations."
This will be Ashley's first graduation ceremony, having returned to education many years after leaving high school. Achieving his Masters degree marks a significant personal milestone and reflects his dedication to lifelong learning and professional development.
“I’ve never really gained any formal qualifications before, so I’m proud of achieving a Masters degree," he said.
"I went straight into work at a young age, and while I have years of experience of project management and supporting academic research, achieving my Masters degree has provided me with a qualification that validates my expertise and opens up new opportunities for personal growth.
"My journey at the University of South Wales was brilliant, from the learning to the networking opportunities. It’s never too late to learn – you might just surprise yourself."