Introduction
Accessible Web content benefits a variety of people, not
just people with disabilities. In the physical world, ramps
are used by bicycles, people pushing strollers, and people in
wheelchairs. Similarly, accessible Web content is beneficial
to a variety of people with and without disabilities. For
example, people who are temporarily operating under
constrained conditions like operating in a noisy environment
where they can not hear well or at all, or driving their car
where their eyes are busy would benefit from an accessible
site. Likewise, a search engine can find a famous quote in a
movie if the movie is captioned.
What is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)?
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) aims to end the discrimination which many disabled people face. This Act gives disabled people rights in the areas of:
- employment
- access to goods, facilities and services
- buying or renting land or property
How does the DDA apply to my web site?
The important part for web site and online media owners is the second point;
'access to goods, facilities and services'. The Act states:
'From 1st October 2004 service providers may have to make other "reasonable adjustments" in relation to the physical features of their premises to overcome physical barriers to access.'
All web sites that are oriented towards individuals or businesses in the UK need to be compliant with the Act. There are no exceptions. Web sites that rely on public funding are under even greater pressure to comply. It is therefore now vital that all web sites offer access to those with disabilities.
What is a web site accessibility audit?
Quite simply the Web site Audit is a quick process that we carry out, that checks key areas of your web site and verifies that they are compliant with the DDA. It is a 3-stage affair:
- We assess your web site using automated tools, such as the W3C validators, which give us the details on the general areas that need to be looked at.
- Following that, we review the web site manually, with reference to the automated report, compatibility with graphic and text browsers and source code examination. These manual examinations, viewed from the perspective of disabled users, allow us to verify that the site is designed according to acceptable standards for accessible web design.
- We quality control the audit and ensure that only the specific areas that need changing are highlighted, and then create a clear and actionable report with analysis of the changes that need to be made for the web site to be compliant.
Why does my web site need an accessibility audit?
The final part of the DDA came into force in October 2004. After this date any web site that fails to conform to Disability Accessibility Standards can be pursued legally for discrimination.
By not having a compliant web site, not only is there the potential of losing out on revenue from potential clients and customers, but also there is the possibility of legal action from disabled web site users or organisations that protect the rights of disabled people.
How long does an audit take?
You will have a report on your desk within a week from commencement. All we need from you are your web site and business details.
Will I need to make any changes to my web site?
You will not need to make any changes until we have carried out the audit. After the Audit has identified the areas that need to be changed, then it is up to you whether you wish to act upon it. But often it will not be a dramatic upheaval; for most web sites, a few small changes are all that is needed. In any case, we are on hand to guide you through the process and help you make it as straightforward as possible.
How much will the audit cost?
The audit cost is £200 + VAT per site. The cost may be more for very large or complex sites; if this is the case then you will be informed before we begin work.
How can I remedy any issues identified during the audit?
We will carry the audit within one week and present you with a clear, actionable report outlining the areas that need to be changed on your web site (if any). You can then either act upon the conclusions internally, or if you need help, we would be very happy to make those changes for you. If you come to us to make any alterations, we will then carry out a final audit after our work has been completed at no cost to you, demonstrating our commitment to making your web site accessible to all.
How do I get started?
Just
contact us with the details of your web site and we will get your audit underway.
Information for owners of large or complex web sites.
Large or complex web sites will require more time to audit and may cost more than the standard prices listed. If this is the case then you will be notified before we begin your audit.