Guide aids disabled access

UK charity the Royal National Institute of the Blind is continuing its campaign to make online goods and services accessible to the UK's blind and partially-sighted technology users.

This month The RNIB and online forms specialist Mandoforms have released free guidelines to help companies design appropriate forms for their Internet sites.

Separately, mobile phone operator Vodafone, backed by the RNIB, has launched a specially adapted Nokia 9210i handset capable of "audible display".

The UK Disability Discrimination Act stipulates that all goods and services should be made available to all people. This means that wheelchair ramps should accompany stairs into premises, but it also means that people such as the blind and partially-sighted should have equal access to online resources. If they are denied access to a site then the owner or operator of the site might face legal penalties.

The free Mandoforms document is designed to educate Web site operators about their responsibilities to blind and partially-sighted people, and to help firms create and deploy user-friendly online forms. Mandoforms used experts from the RNIB's Technology in Learning and Employment (Tile) team to help draw up the guide.

Similar laws in other countries have led to companies being prosecuted, but the UK law has yet to be tested in court.

Lawyers predict this may soon change, however. Katie Jackson-Turner, head of the discrimination unit at law firm Addleshaw Booth & Co, said that although the UK has not seen any prosecutions under the Disability Discrimination Act, "it is only a question of time". She added that once such a precedent is established "we could see a flood of [cases]".

Jackson-Turner said early complaints about Web sites breaching the law have probably been settled out of court - because no company would want the bad publicity of being the first test case.

Mandoform's guide is available from its Web site. The Vodafone Speaking Phone will be available from selected Vodafone stores. Details are available by phoning Vodafone on 0800 10 11 12 or by phoning RNIB Customer Services on 0845 766 99 99. Companies wishing to test their sites for compliance with access laws can do so by referencing the W3C's Accessibility Guidelines.

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See also:

Don't be a browser bigot

It is inexcusable that many site owners still bar users of unusual browsers  04 Nov 2003

Blind sue over site failings

The RNIB is funding court cases as many firms ignore laws requiring that web sites are made accessible to the disabled  10 Jul 2003

Sites blind to usability flaws

A lawsuit in the US has highlighted the need for UK firms to comply with disabilities legislation when building Web sites  15 Oct 2002

Comment: Deaf users challenge telecoms

While the telecoms industry has made progress in meeting its obligation to offer services for those with hearing difficulties, glitches in the system still remain, writes Bill Pechey  16 Sep 2002

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