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Feedback from clients

Jim's support helped us think through the different issues associated with developing our website to meet our needs as well as accessibility essentials. His feedback at different stages of the process was also an important factor in helping us shape and improve our design.

Julia Waldman, Deputy Director Higher Education Academy's Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work (SWAP)

We are a national service working in the field of accessibility and technology in education. We were developing a particular web resource with the Publishers Association and needed someone to build that for us who fully understood the need for a website to be practically usable as well as theoretically accessible.

Jim delivered exactly what we wanted, to a difficult time scale and with constantly changing requirements. He quickly grasped what was required and constantly delivered high quality work right on target. I would have no hesitation in recommending Jim for building accessible and usable web-based resources quickly and effectively. We will certainly be using his services again in the future.

Dr Simon Ball Senior Advisor JISC TechDis Service

We are an organisation ran for and by disabled people. We needed an accessible website which was easy to use and looked good and that's what we got! Jim was exactly the right person to do this for us as he understands our sector and could interpret my lay person's ideas using his high level of technical expertise and experience to translate this into a website. We were delighted with the results. We were confident in Jim's track record- who better to do our website than someone who was joint author of the Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision in Scotland on Making Websites Accessible!

Jim is friendly, helpful and reliable: nothing is ever too much trouble. Added value in using Jim has been his range of articles and tutorials and he is on hand to respond to requests for help even now! With his former background as a lecturer and trainer, Jim was ideally placed to provide training sessions for our staff on using the website and keeping up with new developments. We are still in touch about the website and he has provided a service which has been above and beyond the contract.

I would highly recommend Jim Byrne and Associates to any organisation in need of an accessible website.

Tressa Burke, Director, Glasgow Disability Alliance

As a user-led organisation, run by, for and employing disabled people, it was critical that our new system was fully accessible and met W3C level 2 criteria. We therefore employed Jim Byrne as an independent consultant to fully analyse and test our new website to ensure that it met the high standards for web accessibility which we specified to our IT company. Jim's expertise was invaluable, he guided us through this complex area provided a bridge to translate our user voice into technical specifications and standards, we were very pleased with his work.

Grant Carson, Manager, Housing and Employment Services, GCIL

We were introduced to Jim by a current user of the product when we embarked on a website redesign, upgrade and link to a dynamic mySql database.

Our business is quite unique and it was obvious from an early stage that significant customisation of the standard product was required. This was done in a challenging time frame and at a cost which we felt was good value for money.

Our site went live without major problems and all relevant staff members have found it straightforward to use Jim's product on almost a daily basis. We have not had a need for ongoing support as yet but based on the implementation process, I am confident that Jim's service will meet our expectations.

Barry Corr, Director, Wilkinson & Corr Ltd

As an organisation providing support to visually impaired people, we had scoured the web to find a content management system that is easy to use AND that produces accessible web output. QnECMS has provided both of these things and we are now in a position where we can update content easily and we have a clean, simple website that transforms gracefully when people change the screen settings.
During the set-up, Jim provided sound and flexible support; he responded quickly to all queries and when we did have a few snags he made sure we were sorted out as quickly as possible. All-in-all a very professional service and very reasonably priced too

Dave Egan Development Director South Lakes Society for the Blind

Jim has recently completed my web-site and I have to say I am delighted with it. The results are professional, informative and also fashionable which is important to my business. I was very impressed with Jim as not only did I find him knowledgeable, helpful and patient he was quick on the uptake and seemed to know exactly what I required.

I found it a real pleasure to work with Jim therefore I would not hesitate to recommend him, in fact I have already done so.

Kathy Sharp, KAS Personal Shopping and corporate gifts.

Jim Byrne has designed and created the Scottish Pottery Society web site for us and has this has received very favourable comments from everyone. The mangement system that he has provided us to modify, alter and expand our domain is clear and very effective. His instruction to us novices has been clear and he has always been quick to help me when I have had problems in creating special items on pages. I am pleased to recommend him and his content management system.

Douglas Leishman, Secretary of the Scottish Pottery Society

Jim Byrne redesigned the Women's History Scotland website a number of years ago for us on the recommendation of a friend. Prior to its redesign we had experienced a number of problems with the site...these we have no more...the site is user friendly (for both browsers and authors). Jim's professional, helpful and friendly manner, moreover, is an added bonus!

As website co-ordinator of Women's History Scotland, it's my duty to maintain and update the site with any relevant information. I am able to do this quite easily as the website is easy to manage (even for one with limited knowledge of html) and when I need any assistance, Jim is just an email away - and nothing is ever too much trouble for him. I would certainly have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone wishing to utilise his skills and services.

Yvonne Browne

Jim Byrne was recommended to me by a friend who had recently had her website designed by him and was completely satisfied with the service she had received. I am a novice when it comes to technology but Jim took care to talk me though the whole process in plain English.

I found Jim to be most knowledgeable as well as approachable and I am now the proud owner of website I might never otherwise have had. My new business has benefited from a most professional service and the website has turned out to be one of my main sources of new clients. In the fist three months of getting the site up and running it had already paid for itself.

Feedback about my site from friends or clients is always the same: ëvery professional.í Only this evening a client commented that she had chosen to come to me for hypnotherapy as a result of a web search and that she had selected me over other therapists in the area because of the fantastic website which she described as, ëVery clear and easy to navigate as well as calming on the eyeí, which was just what I had asked Jim to produce.

I would recommend Jimís services to anyone who is considering investing in a website. Jim has a professional, patient manner and takes care to listen and act on his clientís requirements.

Karen Campbell Clinical Hypnotherapist

Jim devised, set up and, until recently, maintained the web-site for our project, Teachability. The project was all about accessibility and so we had to get the web design right! Jim did a great job for us. We were particularly impressed by how quickly he responded to our requests for help when anything went wrong, as they do periodically. At a time when the idea of accessible web design was in its infancy, Jim's help was indispensable.

Anne Simpson StrathClyde University Teachability Project.

As an organisation run by disabled people, for disabled people, LCIL needed a website which was fully accessible and capable of easy update by multiple editors with a wide range (and often lack) of web skills. The QnECMS system from Jim Byrne did all that we required. Jim's understanding of access issues was of particular value and helped us to debate this with in the organisation. At our earliest meeetings Jim referred to ensuring that "the Web should not be the Inaccessible Housing of the future" this idea has informed much of the design of our site. This means we have a site which is accessible to most people this makes sense both in terms of our philosophy but also in terms as reaching a bigger market.

On a practical level Jim's support was fast, personal, reliable and effective, this contrasts strongly with other Internet and e-mail providers we deal with. This has been the case from the inception of the site through various changes to the current time. LCIL looks forward to continuing our working relationship with Jim as the internet increasingly becomes a means of communication with all parts of society

Gareth Timms and Eddie Patterson, Lothian Centre for Integrated Living.

I work for Glasgow Association for Mental Health as the Information Manager. Last year GAMH received money to develop an online database. Our old database was on an Apple Mac computer and could only be accessed and edited via one computer. This meant that if more than one volunteer wanted to do updating it was not possible and everyone in our organisation had to phone centrally when ARC was open on a Tuesday and Friday. Other times no one could get access.

After receiving a grant from Lloyds TSB we discussed our needs with Jim and the finance available. At the meeting were service users and Jim is very good at explaining technical computer language to lay people. The database was to be online, the positive solution of the software behind the database means there are no extra software costs, or updating this on all the machines using the database.

A simple system of editing was devised that can be done by volunteer staff who have basic IT skills , i.e. below ECDL.A number of the staff are older and have mental health problems and can operate the system .A track of who is editing is also able to be monitored.

It is easier to search than the previous database. In addition because Jim produced it I can be sure that accessibility has been checked.

It now has widened access to the computer its online so can be searched 24/7 and there can be 2 or 3 volunteers at a time doing the updating. We were able to introduce virtual volunteers who want to take the work away and do it in their own time at home. In addition some of the volunteers take the work away and do it in the library on the free online access when it suits them.

Overall I found Jim to explain the technical language to you level. You may know what you want; he can tell you whatís possible within your resources. He will also point out any problems with what you are planning. I feel he designed an online database to our specifications within the resources and time frames. I would highly recommend his work.

Marie Burns Information Manager, Glasgow Association for Mental Health

Jim is a very good professional. The information was well projected to our audience in a clear and informative manner. His skill level is very high and I would definitely recommend him.

Dale Wright Business Analyst / Web Team Leader Copeland Council

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Dear Jim

I'm writing to thank you for all the improvements you have recently made to my company's website.

My existing site, though visually pleasing, was proving difficult for potential clients to find. After visiting me to listen to my problems and frustrations, you were able to offer a practical solution and helpful advice, in plain English. The work you carried out was done quickly, professionally, and in line with my specified requirements. Any changes I suggested to you were carried out immediately, and you always returned my calls - something which is a matter of importance to me.

Since the work was completed, I have spent many hours searching for my site, using various phrases and key words. Thanks to you, the improvements have been substantial; Acanthus now appears far higher in the listings of search hits than it ever did before.

Thank you very much for an excellent job. I will be delighted to recommend your services to anyone who needs help in website design and development.

Robert Corrigan, Acanthus

Testimonials recieved for work with the Making Connections Unit.

As a charitable trust, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland wanted to launch a website that was accessible to all potential applicants - including the visually impaired. The Making Connections Unit listened carefully to our objectives and was instrumental in getting our specially designed website up-and-running. We were impressed by the expertise and professionalism demonstrated by the Making Connections Unit and this is reflected in the fact that our website has been extremely well received to date.

Loyds TSB Foundation Scotland

The time that was available to do this was very short, but it looked so good on the day and everyone is really pleased with it. It was a brilliant job done in really short space of time.

Thanks from all the staff at SCLD

Development of W.A.G.E. on-line would not have taken place without the support and input from our partner organisations, including the Making Connections Unit (MCU). Jim Byrne from MCU was a member of the original planning and advisory group, which was successful in accessing development funding for the W.A.G.E. project and he has continued to provide valuable on-going support and advice to project staff and volunteers.

Working Abilities in Glasgow Explored project (W.A.G.E.)

Web developer and accessible web design consultant since 1996.

Founder of the Guild of Accessible Web Designers.

One of the 'movers and shakers in e-commerce in Scotland' (NB Magazine, 2001)

Former Director of the award winning not-for-profit project, The Making Connections Unit (MCU).