8 March 2006

Information on how to create a website that is user-friendly for disabled people has been released by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).

The guide was created following an investigation by the DRC revealing that over 80 per cent of UK websites were completely inaccessible for disabled people.

Aimed at encouraging good practice in building and developing usable websites, the guidance document called PAS 78 focuses on providing advice for six key areas.

These include help on commissioning and developing a site, as well as meeting targets set out by the Web Accessibility Initiative.

It also provides hints on how to get disabled people involved in the design, development and testing of accessible sites.

The guide highlights the benefits that an accessible website can bring to a company or organisation, such as being able to reach a wider audience or improve search engine listings.

Adherence to the new guidelines will mean websites will be able to comply with all the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Businesses can also tap into the estimated £80 billion per annum spending power of the disabled population.

Bert Massie, chairman of the DRC, said it makes good business sense to develop accessible sites.

"Businesses and the web industry have a responsibility to ensure the web is barrier free to disabled people," he stated.

"An accessible website is easier for both disabled and non disabled people to use and is bound to attract more customers."

Since October 1999 under the DDA legislation all website owners are legally bound to make sure their web services are accessible to disabled people. However, there are still many sites that are failing to meet basic usability requirements.

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