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Businesses urged to get webwise ahead of law change
Added: (Tue Jul 05 2005)
Businesses urged to get webwise ahead of law change
A Midlands e-commerce expert has urged companies to make sure their websites are accessible to the disabled ahead of changes to the Disability Discrimination Act.
Hannah Reynolds, managing director of Rugby-based Zarr Internet Services, said company owners could follow Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines to prevent falling foul of the law.
After October companies could be sued if their websites are not equally accessible to the disabled as the able bodied.
But Mrs Reynolds said companies across the region could avoid potential problems by simply following the WAI guidelines. She added that companies should test their sites to make sure tools to help the disabled can be applied to them to make them accessible.
Visually impaired users could use specialist software to convert text on web pages into synthesised speech, reading information out loud while physically disabled people can access sites using adapted keyboards.
But companies could introduce intuitive menu systems, good contrast between colours and legible type faces to websites to make them easier to use for all visitors.
Mrs Reynolds said: “Websites were playing an increasingly important role in business and company owners should take steps to ensure they are accessible to disabled visitors to sites.
“Tools like software to create synthesised speech and adapted keyboards open up ways in which people can use the internet and the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has been created to ensure websites can be accessed by the disabled.
“Companies will face additional responsibilities when the law changes and it is imperative they should test their websites to confirm such tools can be applied to ensure disabled people can access them.
“The WAI guidelines are practical and have identified different levels of compliance, ranging from basic requirements to the highest levels of compliance to ensure all visitors can easily access information.
“Web accessibility means access to the web by everyone, regardless of disability and the benefits of businesses making their websites accessible to everyone are threefold. Businesses can reach a wider audience while reducing their legal liability and demonstrating social responsibility.”
For more information contact Hannah Reynolds at Zarr Internet Services on 01788 561778.