Accessibility:
We follow the accessibility guidelines set out by the W3C, WAI, and the DDA to ensure your website will fulfill its present and future legal requirements.
But What Exactly IS Accessibility?
As Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web (and Director of the W3C), once said:
“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”
Morally we have an obligation to make our websites accessible to all, but if that doesn't float your boat, so to speak, then at least recognise the potential earnings you are turning away. The World Wide Web has the potential to actually give us equality, and don't forget that customers who are visually impared, or blind, or have mobility issues have money to spend too!
Blind People Wouldn't Be Interested In My Product
Although blind users' requirements certainly need to be taken into consideration, we are not only talking about them in terms of making a website accessible. There are over 808 000 disabled persons in the UK whose disability bars them from using most websites. 5.7% of the population in the UK has a mobility disability relating to their hands and arms. Can these users enjoy your site without a mouse? Or are they considered to be a second-class citizen?
Brief History of the Disability Discrimination Act
One of the main aims of the DDA is to give disabled users equal rights in the area of access to goods, facilities and services. The act first came into force in December 1996, with further rights included in additions in October 1999 and October 2004.
Many believe that website accessibility is covered under the October 2004 part of the DDA, however, this actually covers physical adjustments to premises not websites. Section III of the DDA, which specifically refers to website accessibility actually came into force in October 1999.
The Disability Discrimination Act as Related to Websites
The code of practice is a 175 page document, and within it the points specifically relating to websites are:
- 2.2 (pg 7): "The Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for a service provider to discriminate against a disabled person by refusing to provide any service which it provides to members of the public."
- 4.7 (pg 39): "From 1st October 1999 a service provider has to take reasonable steps to change a practice which makes it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of its services."
- 2.13 - 2.17 (pg 11-13): "What services are affected by the Disability Discrimination Act? An airline company provides a flight reservation and booking service to the public on its website. This is a provision of a service and is subject to the act."
- 5.23 (pg 71): "For people with visual impairments, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include ..... accessible websites."
- 5.26 (pg 68): "For people with hearing disabilities, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include ..... accessible websites."
Implications For You
So, what does this all mean for you? The majority of websites online have actually been breaching the DDA for over 5 years! Does this have any implications? The DRC investigated over 1000 websites for breech of the DDA. An astounding 80% were shown to fail to provide even the most basic access to disabled users. Athough there have not been any prosecutions in the UK, there have been several successful cases in both Australia (which has a similar Disability Law to the UK) and the USA.
There is no specific information currently available to tell companies exactly what their websites need to do to fulfill their comitment to the DDA. However, it is widely believed that the W3C's Accessibility Guidelines will be used when a case makes it to court to assess if the website meets the DDA Guidelines. Therefore we will ensure that all websites developed will meet the W3C's Guidelines.
It is a distinct possibility in the future that websites that do not comply with the DDA will be closed down and possibly face financial penalties. In addition, there is the negative publicity surrounding this situation that should also be taken into account.
Conclusion
When hiring a web developer make certain that they will be following the guidelines to ensure that you will not face prosecution or have to redevelop your site when the DRC begin seriously enforcing the DDA. If you are interested, we are able to explain exactly how we ensure your website is accessible to the largest number of people.
Finally, if you have any suggestions that you feel would make our website more accessible, please do not hesitate to contact us.