The accessibility of web sites covers much more than just disabled access. It’s about giving people unhindered access to a web site from various devices, such as web-enabled televisions, mobile phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants). It’s also about giving access to users who have different screen sizes, browser types and settings, or those who do not have plug-ins such as Flash.
For those with disabilities such as sensory or mobility problems, the internet can be a mixed blessing. Home shopping, for example, can be invaluable to those for whom busy streets present a difficult challenge. However, in much the same way as a building may be problematic to the physically disabled, a web site may also present barriers to access.
For example, a visually impaired internet user might use a refreshable Braille display and web browser. The user will struggle to understand web pages if, for example, images are displayed on the page without a text alternative (which can be provided in HTML by an ALT tag).
This example is commonly cited when discussing disabled access. Bear in mind that visual impairment describes a wide range of problems including those who are registered blind, those who are colour blind or those who suffer from tunnel vision or cataracts. There are also those with motor disabilities, cognitive disabilities and other impairments. Barriers to access by individuals suffering any such disabilities can be interpreted as discrimination.
The UK Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 states that it is unlawful for “a provider of services” to discriminate against a disabled person in failing to comply with its provisions. There is some ambiguity because the wording of the Act does not specifically mention on-line services - but the consensus was that it could be applied to web sites.
The draft Code, which was yesterday endorsed by the publication of the official Code, specifically refers to the application of the Act to on-line services.
In explaining the services which a business should make accessible to people with hearing or visual disabilities, the Code cites “accessible web sites” among its examples. Further, in giving examples of services affected by the Act, the Code states:
“An airline company provides a flight reservation and booking service to the public on its web site. This is a provision of a service and is subject to the Act.”
Nobody knows for certain what level of disabled access is required of UK web sites. The legal obligation requires only reasonable efforts to make a site compliant. However, there is consensus that the best practice is to comply at least with a minimum accessibility level defined by the World Wide Web Consortium, or W3C. This standards-setting body was founded in 1994 by Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited with inventing the web.
The W3C provides three “conformance levels,” known as Priority 1, 2 and 3 (they are also known as Levels A, AA and AAA). According to the W3C, a web site must satisfy Priority 1, otherwise some users will find it impossible to access the site. The W3C considers that a web site should satisfy Priority 2, otherwise some users will find it difficult to access the site. Finally, a site may satisfy Priority 3, otherwise some users will find it somewhat difficult to access the site.
To date, there has been no such legal action in the UK. However, it is widely anticipated that a test case against a non-compliant site will come before the UK courts in the near future. Clearly, this is a battle which any business will want to avoid. To be safe, your web site should, as a minimum, comply with Level A / Priority 1.