European consultation on web accessibility

31st July 2008

As part of our drive to improve the accessibility of technology for disabled employees and customers, EFD’s Business Taskforce on Accessible Technology (BTAT) is participating in the European Commission (EC) consultation on web accessibility.

Accessible technology is a key issue for all our members and it is vital that the EC understands the concerns of the UK business community when considering a common approach for web accessibility in Europe.

BTAT believes that ‘PAS 78: Guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites’ is a reliable and effective tool for web developers. PAS 78 is being developed into a full British Standard on web accessibility in 2009.

BTAT recommends that any standard on accessibility is used in conjunction with robust organisational processes for commissioning and maintaining accessible websites, systems and services. We are developing a framework to support this recommendation in the coming year.

Have your say by completing the 30-minute online consultation questionnaire by 27 August:

http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=accessibility&lang=en

EFD will be submitting a position paper to the EC on web accessibility. Please contact Vanessa Hardy: vanessa.hardy@staging.efd.org.uk if you would like to contribute.

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Notes to editors

Media enquiries, please contact:

Brenda Otema, Communications & Marketing Officer
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: brenda.otema@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020

About Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 300 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

www.efd.org.uk