21 February 2007

Web accessibility for disabled people is not just about ticking boxes but about making sure that people with all kinds of impairments can use web-based services as easily as their non-disabled counterparts, according to a recent report.

This is the conclusion of the New Zealand Office for Disability Issues, which recently conducted a study into the accessibility of government websites, Computerworld reports.

It says that website operators and designers need to remove barriers for disabled people to take part in society by making sure that their websites meet certain technical requirements.

This is so that people with visual impairments, deafness or eyesight problems, as well as those with mental or intellectual disabilities, can all access information online quickly and easily in the same manner as people who are not disabled.

Paul Dickey, policy analyst at the ODI, told Computerworld: "The end goal is, not just ticking a box, but making sure that disabled people themselves are able to access the websites and publicly available information on the same basis as non-disabled people do."

In the UK, accessibility guidelines for government departments are set out by the Cabinet Office's e-government unit.

© Adfero Ltd

Keep up to date with industry and Nomensa news by signing up to Nomensa newsletters.