Accessible websites
If your organisation’s website is accessible it is more likely to attract business from disabled people, who have an estimated £80billion to spend in the UK and $175 billion in America.
- 71% of UK disabled people use the internet to find information on goods and services.
- 48% of American disabled people said that going online significantly increased their quality of life.
- 54% of disabled UK citizens sampled considered Internet access essential, compared with only 6% in the general population.
Web accessibility and inclusion for disabled people
Ensuring your wesite is as well designed and accessible as possible will mean that it's easier for everyone to use.
In 2004 the Disability Rights Commission issued a report which stated non-disabled web-users also benefit from accessible websites. It also has useful recommendations for website designers or anyone commissioning a website. It can be found on the website of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.
Website designers should also note that they are offering a service which, under the Disability Discrimination Act, should not discriminate against disabled people.
PAS 78: Guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites
PAS 78, developed with the Disability Rights Commission, provides guidance to organisations in how to go about commissioning an accessible website from a design agency. It describes what is expected from websites to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.
PAS 78 is now being developed by British Standards Institution (BSi) into a full British Standard BS8878 and EFD is pleased to be represented on IST/45, the committee responsible for creating the standard. BSi expect BS8878 to be published in the first quarter of 2009.
Web Accessibility Initiative
The Web Accessibility Initiative develops strategies, guidelinesand resources to help make the web accessible to people with disabilities.